The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-10-11 00:00:00

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SA.TURDAY. OC rOBER 1111.1834.


PARLIAMENTARY PROSPECTS.

As the time approaches for the meeting
of Parliament speculation abounds with re-
to the subjects which will be likely to
occupy the Great Council of the Nation when
in obedience to tl.e R)yal proclamation our
senators and legislators have once more as-
sembled at Westminster. The first ques-
tion before the country, and the chief reason
for the gathering of the national representa-
tives is, no doubt, that of the Franchise.
Had. the Lords passel the bill sent up from
the Commons no Ant nem Session would have
been necessary. Noble lords and honour-
a')le gentlemen, instead of beins, granted
Merely two month's' leave, would have had
the Customary half year's recess, and might
in that time have gone on a circuit rouiel
the globe, or have enjoyed themselves ia
1 inds Washed by the uttermost parts of the
sea. Bat as matters are, a long holiday is
impossible. Lord Salisbury has told his
sapporters that every Conservative peer
will be wanted when the Franchise Bill again
comes before the Upper Chamber for con-
sideration. Sir tafford Northcote has.ex-
pressed an earnest hope that his followers
may find it convenient to be in their plaess
on the 23rd -instant. There was an auturne
sitting two years ago, beginning NN Wain a
day or two of that now in prospect. That
was for the revision of the rules of proce-
dure, of which not much seems to have conies
as yet. These autumn sittings can scarcely
be popular with either House. They break
up the recess in a way which, by taking the
middle part clean out of it, leaves the Par-
liamentary vacation neither one thing nor
the other. 'Bat the summons to Westmin-
ster must be obeyed, and when the inevitable
has to be accepted, it may as well be done
with as good grace as possible.
Franchise and possibly redistribution will
he the main questions fur the consideration
of the Parliament which is so soon to meet.,
Bat the topics which are discussed every
day in London sufficiently indicate that it
will by no means be the only subject to comes
before the collective wisdom of these islands.
For instance, there are the mission of Lord
Northbrook to Egypt, the expedition to the
Soudan, and the relations of England to the
other Powers of Europe, so far as the pelief
of oar Ministers in the East is concerned.
The terms of the Royal proclamation sum-
moning Parliament tell its members that
there are divers urgent and. -important affai• s
for them to attend to. It meets for the
.de-
spatch of business, and it is competent for
any peer or commoner to bring before either
House what subject he pleases, and for the
House to decide what is to ho done with it.
In the autumn sitting of two years ago,
held as it was for a specific purpose, Lord
Wolseley- was a prominent figure in the de-
bates on the votes of thanks to the forces in
Egypt, and in connection with the Soudan
expedition, of which tie has s'ow , the com-
mand, he is likely to come before Parliament
again. The fate of (I..:•ne, al Crorclon and the
gallant defence of Kartonm have excited
such general interest amongst all classes,
that the sklvenee of the expeditionary force,
its strength, and its prospects of success,
are certain to occnpy the attention of both
Houses of the Legislature. The results of
Lord Northbrook 's journey will also be
eagerly looked for. Pasch, in a recent car-
toon, !described the visit of the First Lord
of the Admiralty to Cairo as being connected
with money matters, and the public will be
anxious to know to what extent this country
pleilesed to help Egypt out of the
financial morass into which she has been
plunged.
There is another questioe which came to
the front somewhat sin iderily. doubtless as a
result of the meeting, Of the three Emperors
of Austria, Germany, anti That is
the condition of tlae British navy-. The
people of this country le-lieve that our fleets
ought to be able to imeet :saw possible coins
binatien which mi,ght be broil' gout against us.
Our policy in Egypt arouses the susceptibil-
ities of France, which it will be remembered
declined to render anYeactive assistance ii
bringing Arabi Pasha to his senses in 188.11
France which had set great store upon what
was termed the dual control, left Great
Britain unsupported in carrying out a thank..
less ta,vik, and now carps at the steps which
have been taken w:th a view of evolving
orAler out Of eisaos in Egypt. The three great
military despotisms of northern and central
Europe look with distrust uponany measures
taken by hug and for the secniity and con-
solidation of her power in the East. This
is especially the ease with Russia, which is
credited with eternally castliag a longing eye
upon our Indian empire. Jealousy in Frances

and suspicion in Austria, Germany, and 1
Russia are the er\rlitions which have been
presented to us during the past few months.
In such circamstances, naturally enough,
the English people have cast an anxious
glance at their navy. Our army could not
be expected to cope with such a combination
as that represented by the meeting of the
three Emperors, should one be formed, but.
our navy is the arm of the sery ce on which
the strength, Lonour, and dignity of England
depend. Its maintenance in a state of un-
questioned efficiency, is a matter totally out-
side considerations of party, and its cost is
• cheerfully borne so 10-- gas we remain nu-
• disputed sovereign of the seas. This is one
of the topics likely to be heard of when Par-
liament assembles; and none of • greater
moment, let it be what it may, can command
the notice of the Imperial Legislature.