The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-11-03 00:00:00

POLITICAL GATHERINGS.

A great Conservative gathering was held on Tues.
day at Reading. Numerous addresses from Conserva-
tive associations in the county were presented to Lord
Saifsbury, who in acknowledgment said that a change
in manners and legislation had vested the power of
deciding which party sh4.uld govern in the hands of
the voters, and }ear by year the battle of politics was
more and more transferred from Westminster to the
constituencies.

Speaking at a subsequent banquet Lord Salisbury
reviewed the home, foreign, and colonial policy of the
Government, and urged on Conservative associations
the necessity of taking steps to secure the return of a
majority at the next election.
A crowded meeting of Conservatives was held in the
evening in the Congress Hall, over which Sir John
Mowbray, M.P., presided. The Marquis of Salisbury
adversely criticised the policy of the Government with
regard to the proposed ,Reform Bill. He warned the
country not to accept any Suffrage Bill without having
at the same time a Redistribution of Seats Bill before
it, otherwise by the American process of " jerry.
mandering " the balance of political power would by
some specious arrangement be given to one of the
great political parties in the State.

A conference of Liberal delegates was held at
Glasgow on Tuesday, at which representatives of the
National Liberal Federation were present. Resolu-
tions In favour of the extension of the franchise and of
the appointment of a Local GoTernment Board for Scot-
land and condemning the minority clause were adopted,
a statement by the chairman, that members of Parlia-
ment were not sent to think for their constituents,
being received with much applause.
Speaking at an evening meeting in connection with
the conference Sir Charles Dilke reviewed the pro-
ceedings of the past session, and said that, considering
the difficulties, he was amazed that Parliament had
accomplished so much work. The Government, he
Gbserved, were still strong in the measures they in-
tended to carry, whilst their opponents were divided
by personal feuds and differences as to tactics. As
to the future, the Local Board system in Scot-
land needed change ; the Irish system of local
government was even more imperfect ; whilst the
condition of Loudon government needed no comment.
Tne task of the Liberals should be to revive 100.1 self-
government throughout the country. He justitied the
plan of deaqug with the county franchise in a separate
measure ; but said redistribution was the key to the
whole future of politics.

In London, on Tuesday night, a crowded meeting
was held in St, James's Hall for the purpose of hearing
an address from Michael Devitt on " The Land for the
People," The Rev. Stewart D. Headlam presided.
Mr. Devitt urged that social legislation was the ques-
tion of the hour, and the land monopoly ought to re-
ceive early attention. If the land were distributed
among a larger number and properly cultivated he
believed sufficient food for the use of the people might
be raised, and he contended that would be a preferable
scheme to emigration. He eulogiqed the land schemes
of Mr. Henry George and Mr. A. R. Wallace,
and said that vested interests ought not to be allowed to
stand in the way of the interests of the people at large.
—A resolution WSO carried declaring that the nation
should hold the entire soil of its territory as national
property for the benefit of the people.

Lord Hartington, speaking at Buxton on Tuesday
said the'peace of Europe was the great element in our
future commercial prosperity, and, referring to the
gravity of affairs in Coma, remarked that it would
need all our English good feeling to keep out of serious
delicate complications with France there. He main•
tamed that England had kept faith with Europe as to
the Egyptian occupation, and adverting to the condi-
tion of the poor, said the chief help must come from
themselves and from extended education, otherwise
the statesman and the philanthropist would work in
vain.