The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-02 00:00:00

COLONEL GOURLEY, M.P., AT
SUNDERLAND.

Speaking from the chair at a meeting at Sunder
land, on Tuesday night, Colonel Gourley, M.P.,
referring to the political aspect of national affairs,
said he felt bound to state that, in his opinion,
the outlook was anything but brilliant or hopeful.
It mattered not where they looked, to which quarter
they turned, dark clouds were in the horizon, threat-
ening not only the peace, but the commercial
interests of
,the British empire. Continental Europe
was bristling with loayonets, its crowned heads pos-
sessing confidence neither in themselves nor in their
people. If they considered British policy in the East,
they found the sick man, though watched by every
doctor and nurse in Europe, with Great Britain as
his chief adviser, still sick, and that the Berlin
Treaty, in place of giving peace to Europe, had
only increased the suspicion and uneasiness of
those who created it. Again, if they turned to
India, they found the Anglo•lndian Press urging war
against the Afghans and Russia. That Press, he knew,
was conducted by a few irresponsible Englishmen,
some of whom, in his opinion, were totally unfitted to
guide or educate the British nation; in fact, some
of them reminded him of the butchers and tailors
of olden days, who, when they failed in their own
work, sought shelter in opening schools in which to
educate the sons of England. To his mind the whole
business was childish and unstatesmanlike on the part
of those who were educating the British people in this
cowardising fear of Russia. If not afraid of Russia,
and if Russia, as alleged by many public men, were
the cause of the Ameer of Afghanistan refming—not
unceremoniously, as originally stated by the Indian
Press, but politely—to receive a British mission,
why not, instead of indulging in lurking suspicions,
at once challenge Russia, and be done with suspense?
This, to his mind, would be a more statesman-
like and manly policy than to be continually suspect-
ing and drew.; log Russia's influence and diplomacy.
But he did not fear Ressia, and thought the course pur-
sued towards her was nothing less than cowardice. He
sincerely trusted the home Government would place its
veto upon the policy of the Indian Government
before it was too late. In his. opinion the time

had come when our Indian polici ought to be
directed not at Calcutta, but by the British Par-
liament. In conclusion Mr. Gourley asked what were
the results of all these war whoops to the British
people? Why, that the entire industry of the country
was completely prostrated and paralysed, and if
this sort of thing were to go on the trade of Great
Britain would revert to such countries as the United
States, where it could be conducted without being
subject to suspense,- uncertainty, and a continuous
series of surprises, such as were now being sprung upon
this country. Adversity was spreading its wings ()Ter
the land, and if they would stop it the whole nation
must raise its voice loud and long against such of our
rulers who, whilst dragging us through the mud and
meddling with the affairs of other nations, were neg-
lecting and forgetting our own.