The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-10-13 00:00:00

SIR S. NORTHCOTE AT BELFAST.

The proceedings in connection with Sir Stafford
Northcote'a visit to Belfast terminated on Saturday
afternoon with the holding of a monster open air
meeting in the Botanic Gardens. A platform had
been specially erected, and there was an eager com-
petition for tickets for the reserved seats. It had been
anticipated that Sir Stafford would have been present
at the laying of the foundation-stones of the new Orange
Club, Clifton-street, in the morning, but he decided to
reserve himself for the afternoon meeting. In the early
morning the streets of Belfast were crowded, and many
processions of Orangemen, headed by their bands and
wearing their scarves, marched to the rallying point in
Clifton•street. Here an immense crowd had assem-
bled in anticipation of Sir Stafford's visit, and much
disappointment was expressed upon it becoming known
that the right hon, gentleman would not be present.
A large portion of the crowd were, however, under
the impression until the end of the proceedings that
Sir Stafford Northcote was present, and mistaking
the Duke of Abercorn for the right hon. gentle-
man, they raised, "Three sheers for Sir Stafford."
Shortly before noon the Duke of Abercorn arrived,
accompanied by Sir Thomas and Lady Bateson, Lord
Crichton, the Marquis of Hamilton, Lord George
Hamilton, M.P., Lord Claud Hamilton, M.P., Sir
James MGarel-Hogg, M.P., Lord Arthur Hill, M.P.,
and Colonel King-Harman M.P. Before the pro-
ceedings commenced a hoarding upon which a number
of people were seated gave way, and two or three men
sustained somewhat serious injuries. The four stones
were laid by Viscountess Criohton, Lord Arthur Hill,
Sir John Preston, and Colonel King-Harman. "God
save the Queen "having been sung, the Orange lodges
again formed themselves into procession and marched
to the Botanic Gardens. Sir Stafford Northcote
arrived about one o'clock, and was received with great
enthusiasm by the immense assemblage. The Duke of
Abercorn occupied the chair.
Mr. J. E. Harland moved, Colonel Waring
seconded, and Mr. Samuel Munro supported the fol-
lowing resolution :—" That this meeting of loyalists of
Ulster heartily welcomes to Ireland Sir Stafford
Northcote, the distinguished Leader of the Constitu-
tional Party in the House of Commons,"—The resolu-
tion was passed with great enthusiasm.
In his reply Sir Stafford Northcote addressed him-
self to the position held by Ulster in the Conmils of
the nation, which, he said, was inferior to what her
population and enterprise demanded. In the Reform
Bill which was now talked of, he advised his hearers
to see that due attention was paid to their claims. He
cautioned them to beware of any attempt to change
their local government in the guise of a Reform Bill,
and expressed a fear lest the Government should play
Into the hands of the so-called National Party. The
battle of the Union would have to be fought mainly
at the Ulster polls; and he besought the electors
to be resolute and vigilant in defence of Constitutional
principles.
The National Anthem was played by the combined
bands on the ground, and the Orangemen then re-
turned home in procession. A contingent of them re-
turning from the meeting attacked the police with
stones. A riot ensued in which four policemen were
injured, and some of the processionists received scalp
wounds. Constable Crowley, whose skull has been
fractured, was removed in a critical condition. About
noon an assault was committed on a man named
O'Toole—who received a severe stab on the head and
was conveyed to the hospital in a sinking condition.
Sir Stafford Northcote left Belfast at five o'clock fo
Baron's Court, the seat of the Duke of Abercorn.
There was a large crowd at the station, and as the
train left repeated cheers were given for the right hon.
baronet. The train passes through Dungannon
Station later in the evening, and in response to the
cries of the crowd on the platform Sir Stafford North-
cote made a brief speech. He said he was proud to
have the pleasure of addressing them, as Dungannon
was a town in which he had taken a great interest
during the last few days. He was proud of what they
had done, for they had made their mark in history.
He hoped that when the general election came both
town and county would do th&r duty by returning
Conservatives. The right hon. gentleman was en-
thusiastically applauded.
At night there was some stone throwing in the town,
and a few windows were broken, but order subse-
quently prevailed. As the train was between Dan.
gannon and Omagh a very heavy stone was thrown in
the darkness, smashing the window of one of the
carriages and striking Lady Crichton on the back.
Her ladyship's injury was not, however, of a serious
character.

Sir Stafford Northcote was presented with an
address from the inhabitants of Strabane on Monday,
in the drawing-room of the mansion of the Duke of
Abercorn.
Sir Stafford Northcote replied as follows :—I thank
you very sincerely for the kind words which you
have inserted in this address and for the spirit
which has prompted you to present it to me. I
need not tell you—for I have no doubt you are perfectly
well aware—that it was not my intention in coming to
Ireland this year to do anything beyond attending
the meeting in Belfast. I had no idea of making
any further progress or holding any meetings, or
of otherwise impoaing interviews upon you. In
coming to Belfast 1 have been invited to pay some
private visits to friends and opportunity has been
taken, to an extent that lias certainly greatly surprised
as well as greatly pleased me, by friends from all parts
of the provinces to express to me seetiments of a very
gratifying charaeter. I oar assure you that the feeling
called forth by these meetings have been very encou-
raging. This is a moment at which, it beems to me, we
are on the eve of a great fight for the maintenance of
the principles of the Union between the three countries.
Matters have been going on in a manner far from Baas-
faetery since the accession of the present Government.
From time to time we have seen concessions made, bar-
gains concluded, and steps sanctioned or feebly resisted,
which are all directly tending to the severance of the
Union, and it is high time that those in this country
whether in the north or in the south, whether Pro-
testant or well disposed Catholic, should all be
beginning to take measures to prevent that which, I
am quite sure, would be destructive of the interests of
the whole country, and also against the feelings of a
large majority if they are allowed a fair opportunity
to express their opinions. In future I hope our
friends in different parts of Ulster and other parts of
Ireland will remember that the battle will have to be
fought not only by their representatives in Perlis-
ment, but at the hustings and at the poll when
the next election comes. They must be pre-
pared to make their arrangements beforehand and
not be taken by surprise. They will have to con-
tend against well arranged organization. There
will be only a poor resistance on the part of the
Government, who do not in their hearts hold those
desires to which I have referred. Therefore we must
rely upon our own strengeh. At the same time we do
not desire to repel any advances that may be made to
us by those who are really interested in the mainten-
ance of the institutions of the State. Remember that
it rests upon us, and no one else, to fight the battle,
not merely by passing resolutions and holding meet-
ings, but by good, sound, solid work at registration
and organisation. I may say I have seen this spirit in
many of the addresses that have been presented to me
since I came among you. I rejoice to think that this
is so, and I will say personally that I have warmly to
thank the many Irish friends I have met since I have
been here.
The deputation then retired.

On Tuesday morning Sir Stafford Northoote re-
ceived addresses at Baron's Court, Newtownstewart,
and Strabane, on his journey to Londonderry where having
lunched had an highly enthusiastic reception.
lunched with the Bishop, he was present at a crowded
meeting in the City-hall, where Sir William Millar
presided.—ln reply to addresses from the working
men of Derry and Conservative citizens, Sir Stafford
Northcote said the Conservative party was often
accused of being inactive and backward, but a cautious
general never advanced at the wrong moment. He
cautioned them not to give their adversaries the least
ground for complaint against them, as though they
were in any way deficient in their respect for law and
order, because they were in reality the defenders of
law and order. The Marquis of Hamilton, Lord Oland
Hamilton, and Mr. Macartney,M. P., also spoke.—ln
the evening Sir Stafford Northcote proceeded to
Coleraine, to visit Sir Hervey Bruce.