The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-04-20 00:00:00

dates did not forget bat in recent years like
second week in February and not the third
week in January bad been deemed sufficient
time to open the work of Parliament. In 1871,
after the great war between France and Ger-
many, our Parliament was not brought together
until the 9th of February ; and it was assumed
that the convocation of the legislative cham-
bers at such an abnormal period was an indica-
tion that business of an unusually serious
character was to be laid before them. Yet the
Royal Message to the Lozds and Commons did
not convey an idea of the extreme urgency that
had appeared to render necessary the gathering
together of the Council of the nation. A week
afterwards, however, the withdrawal of the
Colonial Secretary from the Cabinet roused
public interest to a high pitch, and then came
the Vote of Credit for six millions st( ruing, the
debates upon which were long and animated.
The money was granted by an enormous
majority, and a part of it has been devoted to '
the purchase of three or four ironclade as an
addition to the British navy, these vessels hav-
ing been built in English shipyards and never
passed into the possession of any foreign
government. Closely following upon this came
the Royal Message to Parliament calling out
the Reserve Forces, the reeignetion of the
Foreign Secretary, the debates and explana-
tions thereupon arising, and another reconstruc-
tion of the Cabinet. Then we had the budget,
with the ; necessity, as demonstrated by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer of raising addi-
tional revenue. And so an additional twopence
in the pound was placed upon the income tax,
an additional duty is to be levied upon dogs,
and the tribute upon tobacco is to be augmented
by fourpence per pound.
It will, therefore, be seen that the quarter
of a year which has elapaed between the meet-
ing of the Legislature and the arrival of Easter
has been a most eventful time. The Govern-
ment is not the same which met Parliament on
the 17th January, for two Secretaries of State,
one of whom had conducted all the negotiatione
in connection with the Eastern Question, have
retired from the Cabinet, a new Lord Privy
Seal has been taken in, auu in many depart-
ments of the Administration changes of minor
consequence in the personnel have been made.
New Secretariee of State have been called into
existence for those who have left ; Lord Salis-
bury has exchanged the lUclia for the Foreign
Office; Mr. Hardy leaves the War Office, where
he has presided, for the India '• •epertment, and
is to be raised to the peerage—an honour also
conferred upon Sir Charles Addcrley. While
the composition of the Ministry has been thus
materially changed ,the administrative depart-
ments of the estate have been in full work, a
considerable portion of the estimates has been
voted, and amongst the Bills introduced has
been that for recasting the machinery of local
government in the counties. But it is a matter
of experience that important domestic legisla-
tion, political, social, or fiscal, is certain to fall
behind in the face of the all-absorbing excite-
ment consequent upon threatened, impending,
or actual war. Almost concurrently with the
declaration of hostilities against Russia. in
1854, Lord John Russell introduced into the
IHouse of Commons a Bill for the amentinn ut of
the Reform Act of 1832, but the public wind
was 60 intent upon the prosecution of the war,
that the measure was withdrawn, and Liars the
representation of the people was not dealt with
until several years afterwards. Indeed one
great question before Parliament at a time
seems to be the rule. In 1867 it was Parlia-
mentary Reform; in 1869 Irish Church Die-
establishment ; in 1870 the Irish Land Ac:; in
1871 Abolition of Purcuase in the Aral; in
1872 the Ballot Act, and so forth. Suite after
the present Government came into power, the
insurrection in the Herzegovina broke out, and
this is the third session successively in hieh
foreign affairs have occupied so conspicuous a
place in our debates. The reason is clear.
This complicated Eastern Question affects in
some of its phases valuable British interests;
hence the attention bestowed upon it by the
people. When it is felt that the honour of the
country is concerned, all classes unite in sup-
porting the executive of whatever political com-
plexion in sustaining that honour. it can
scarcely be said that the prospects of the
ft astern horizon have brightened with the
gradually lengthening days, or that the spring
time has made, any the more cheerful that which
was so dark in mid-winter. By the time the
two Houses of Parliament reassemble in May
events of tho most momentous character may
have happened. Chancellors of empires and
Ministers of responsible States may come to
decisions affecting the welfare of millions, and
involving the lives of thousands of their fellow
men. In the face of the terrible stories of the
misery and slaughter which have devasteted
Europe during the last twelve mouths, and
which may well make the nations reflect upon
the oft-quoted saying over the onward march of
civilization, well may the people pray, as
thousends of thew do Sunday after Sunday, for
the preservation of tee blessings of peace,
and for the scattering of those who deligut iu
war.