The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09 00:00:00

UOPS.

The amount of business doing in bops is rather limited.
The holders of the better qualities are still Urn], and are
unwilling to sell except on fnll terms; hilt for other kinds
the trade is slow :—Kent, 1878. 60s, to 140 s. ; Sussex, 1878,
40s. to 80s.; Farnham, 1878, 80s to 1155.; ditto countr7,
1878, 80s. to 1125.; Worcester, 1878, 955. to 120.; Belgio.lll,
1878, 568 to 60s. ; English, 1877, 40s. to 50s. ; foreign, 1877,
403. to bOa ; old, all kinds, 20a. to 433.


LITE' ASSOCINTION.

- '

ii..toatidbge elluntr.
SATURDAY, ICIOVEMBER 9, 1878,
THE 'POSITION AND PROSPECTS OF
_ „ FRANCE.

The successful results of the Exhibition in
Paris suggest some reflections full of thought
and meaning. It was a dictum of the first
Napoleon that France, by her geographical
position, the fertility of her soil, the nature of
her climate, and the energy of her people,
ought to be the leading power in Europe. He
did his best to accomplish what ho believed to
be the mission of France, and failed in the
attempt. Entering upon a war which lasted
three-and-twenty rears, and which banded
England and all the Continental Powers against
him, he was finally overthrown on the field of
Waterloo, and sent to end his days on the rock
of St. Helena. His early victories over Austria
and Prussia availed him nothing when the day
of final reckoning came. The triumphs of war
which had filled all France with the records of
his glory, turned out at last to be unsubstantial
as dreams. Another:halficentury waned away,
and France again became anxious for war.
One of her hereditary foes—for she had more
than one—was becoming too strong, and France
could brook no rival upon her frontier.
Prussia had vanquished Austria at Sadowa,
and was consolidating a united Germany, which
might become in time too strong for France.
Therefore France determined upon checking
the advancing strength of Prussia, and seized
the opportunity of declaring war against the
Teuton in the summer of 1870. We all know
the result—the destruction of one empire and
the birth of another, or rather its revival. The
French Empire dissolved like the baseless
fabric of a vision amid the ruin which was the
result of the battle of Sedan, and the Empire
of Germany took its place in Europe. One
Imperial Crown passed away and another came.
But the troubles of France did not come to an
end with the foreign war. The Communists
seized upon her capital, and before being finally
driven out, set fire to her public buildings, so
justly the pride of Paris. Gradually the new
Government, having secured peace abroad, re-
stored tranquility at home. A little more
than seven years has passed away, and a
wondrous change for the better has come over
the position and prospects of our immediate
neighbours.
Napoleon was accustomed to declare that
when France was satisfied, Europe was tranquil.
There was a great deal of truth in this saying
when it was uttered, and so indeed up to within
half a generation ago. It is not so very lows;
Einc e" a- few words of menace from the French
Emperor were sufficient to put all the continent
in a ferment; and to depreciate the stocks in
the various European markets to the extent of
a hundred millions sterling. Prosperity was at
a stand still in the face of a restless policy,
trade hung back from a land in which there
so little confidence. But since then France has
been purified by passing through the furnace of
affliction, and it is clear that her neighbours
have no longer to fear any schemes of agges-
Bien, trade has given stupendous proofs of its
confidence and prosperity by the results of the
Exhibition in the Champ de Mars. There can
be no doubt that the change has been immense,
and to all who prefer the welt ire of a country to
the triumph of this or that. particular theory of
Government, it must have feigned satisfaction.
After long hesitation and years of uncertainty
it looks as though the French people had be-
come masters of their own constitutional
destinies, and as though a nation which hal
suffered more than any other from the insta-
bility of Governments, was about to set an
example of settled order to the other peoples
of Continental Europe. Incredible as a few
years ago it would have appeared. it has now
become no paradox to declare that France can
look around her with more equanimity, and
contemplate her political and social.future with
less misgiving than any save one or two of the
most fortunate European States. She has cer-
tainly no reason to envy the Power which she
vanquished in 1859, or the Power which van-
quisued her in 1870. It is true that the French
were thrown into a state of political excitement
over the sudden dissolution of the Assembly
eighteen months ago, but when the elections
were over, tee strong political feelings which
had been aroused, died away, and the people
devoted themselves he art and soul to the pro-
motion of their Exhibition. While Great
Britain, for two years, has been hearing rumours
of war, and early in the present year was
actively preparing for it, France has been pur-
suing the peaceful path which has brought con-
tentment to her people.
It is now nearly ninety sears two that the
signs of the first French Revolution were
apparent in the political firmament. In 1789
the French people, wearied of the despotism of
centuries, and tired of heavy taxation without
having any voice in its imposition, rose in sur-
rectioa in Paris, and one of their first acts was
the destruction of the Bastille, the emblem of
State tyranny and oppression. For centuries
the structure had stood in the heart of the
capital, the embodiment of a grinding wrong,
By the odious system of lettres de cachet, a man
by paying so much money to the king could
obtain the imprisonment of any one obnoxious
to him. A political opponent could thus be
consigned to a living death, his eternal silence
being secured as effectually as though he were ,
a tenant of the grave itself. No wonder that
the people lost all patience at last with a system
which e °aid have been a disgrace to a barbarian
community, much less to a country with such Et
history, and such tradi )as as France. Un-
fortunately for the cause of freedom and
humanity, the destruction of the Bastille was
followed both in Paris and throughout the
greater part of France by excesses which will,
always be stamped with infamy in the annals of
the world's revolutions. When tho pent-up
torrents of ages burst the floodgates at last,
neither established institutiocs nor human life
were held to be sacred, for both alike were
swept away in the stream. In those ninety
years one description of government has suc-
ceeded another—Consulate and Empire, King-
dom and Republic. Each in its turn has been
assailea from both within and without; all have
professed the most pacific intentions. Napo-
leon 111. said of the second Empire that it
meant peace ; yet it dissolved amid the thunder
and slaughter, The present Republic was
raised upon the shattered fabric which that war
had left ; yet it now finds France in a higher
condition of prosperity than it has ever known.
Waile other nations stan Is with their hands
upon the I,i,t of the sword. and Gseat Britain
looks beets noon the days when the tide of
prosperity . had nit ebbed from her shores,
France is satisfied and tranquil. After ninety
years of pali?ioal unquiet, she has found rest at
last. Sae 111,;(1 V.:03 no one now; no assaitaut
threatens her. The people, at a time of de-
clining trate in many aootaer land, are fairly
prosperous and cont!nted. The picturs is one
eminently satisfactory to the lovers of peace, and
xn itt be stmll'.d wit i a lvanta;c by those who '
profess to last). to signs of tho times not only
te oas to vii hat eenntries.

'r
L
Cal Alb 1 I I'ltct

A meetirt of the above aszo..tiati(n was held at
the Institute Lecture R3Olll, Alarkct. Street, on
Monday .night.
Mr. J. B. Shephe,rl (president) was in the chair.
lle addressed tivj meeting 071 the rinks and re-
upon tho country by
spousibilities brought the
recent proc3edings of theGoreminent in regavd„
was
to Russia and Arglaa.aistan. fie sail_he
afraid that the licisitiOn in wh:eli the present
Government stood with regard to Russia would
make it difficult for this country -
.to remain at
peace with h3r, uul3ss a change took plaeo in the
policy pursued. • He &preen tedany endeavours
by England to repress the. agpirations of the pro-
vineci:i in tho kIaA ' • and turning to the question
of Afghanistan, asiced if they could be satisfied
with the present position of the Government with
regard to Sherd All. England had maintained
relations of • IL-complicated character with him
and he had sometimes been friendly and some'
times sulky. The difficulty WM how to deal with
Mixt. lie submitt3d that the right way to dell
with -a . potentate of that kind- was to have
nothing to do with him —(hE.)a,r, luar) —and leave
him alone. If, the ltussiaus couli.i get any goxl
out of him, let him try,. • hut he did not believe in
Ras3ia succeeding where England had failed.
Prom a British point of view they had already in
India so large a country, with such multitudinous
cohditions oi goverument, and. such difficulties
Flak% fron th Qci COntiitioti of the people

flat they had enough and more than enough upon
their hands, and it was beyond their scope and
desire to have more. He did not believe it was
within the realm of political possibility that
Russia should ever carry her military conquests
so far as to include Afghanistan; and if she did,
he could not conceive that she would ever attempt
the conquest of India, when the English had been
for so many years giving to that country what
Russia would never attempt to give her—the
benefits of a free Government. The President
then turned to the proceedings of the Government
as affecting the maintenance of the Constitution*
The two last sessions of Parliament had done more
to inflict upon the Constitution more serious blows
than anything which had occurred since the pass-
ing of the Reform Bill. Their quarrel was not
with the Government only, but with the House of
Commons. The House of Commons, as a body,
had condoned the wrongs done by the Govern-
ment, and it was upon the House of Commons
they must visit their indignation. He acquitted
the Government of having dealt wrongly wil h the
nation, because the House of Commons had sanc-
tioned their acts, but the House of Commons and
the Government would have to stand at the bar
of public judgment for it. He thought it was a
question which beyond all others at that moment
demanded the consideration of the Liberal party,
and it ought to be made the principal point in
their proceedings. The questions of peace and
war were questions for the nation and not for the
Government ; they were questions upon hich no
Government was to be trusted to find a right
judgment, and it was their duty to invite the
nation freely to express their views with regard
to these,igreat
'questions, and not under any cir-
cumstances, to commit the nation to a war till the
nation knew the reason why. He shuddered, as
he believed they all must have done, when they
read the language Captain Burnaby used on the
question of war. He was horrified at the exclusion
of the moral bearing from the question, for the
question of war was a question of morals in the
highest degree. (Applause.)
The Rev. J. Richards asked what they could do
in the present state of affairs? They were posi-
tively living under a despotism, and the nation
appeared dazed, and appeared not to know what to
do. They might say what they pleased, but what
did Lord Beaconsfield care?
Mr. C. Cochrane said the Government had been
behaving with a duplicity which might have been
found fault with in Russia, but which ought not
to have been found on the part of England.
Referring to the Afghan question, he said they
were entering upon a truly foolish policy to
attempt to conquer that kingdom, and he agreed
with the President that it was better to leave the
matter for Russia to deal with if she liked.
When the country was fully alive to the inroads
which the Government had been making upon
them he believed they would rise to a man, and
that Lord Beaconsfield would be the last Prime
Minister who would dare to abuse the confidence
reposed in him. He moved, "That the risk and
responsibility brought upon the country by the
recent proceedings of the Government with regard
to Russia and Afghanistan ought at once to be re-
pudiated, and a peaceful policy substituted."
The Rev. J. Richards seconded the resolution,
which was carried.

A resolution was also adopted, "That the
recent proceeding of the Government in connection
with their foreign policy are highly dangerous to
the maintenance of the Constitution."
A veto of tha,nks to the Chairman closed the
meeting.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE
CONSTITUTIONAL ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the above association
was held on Thursday night last at the Assembly
Room, Talbot Hotel. Major Walker presided,
and among those present were Messrs. C. W. Collis,
W. W. Webb, S. A. Brooks, S. Broughton, T.
Perkin, B. Wooldridge, A. Richards, J. Grainger,
J. Gillam, T. Greenfield, S. Hambrey, J. Hambrey,
J. E. Chappell, J. Edwards, E. Edwards, E.
Robins, D. Batham (secretary).
In taking the chair, Major Walker read letters
of apology for non-attendance from Mr. T. E.
Walker, M.P., and Mr. Perry (Lye). Speaking of
Eastern affairs, he was strongly of opinion that
the Plenipotentiaries did well and truly for them
at Berlin. The only country that had thrown any
difficulty in the way of the carrying out of the
treaty then drawn up was Russia; every other
Power entered into it intending to carry out its
provisions. He felt convinced that the great
Powers would not allow Russia to have it all her
own way—(hear, hear)—and that England would
not be left alone in the work of compelling Russia,
to keep her engagements. Referring to the hor-
rible atrocities committed in the withdrawal of
the Russian troops from Turkey, he commented
on the fact that those people who so loudly
denounced those committed by the Turks, were
silent Lwhen "holy Russia" was in the wrong.
As to the present difficulty in regard to Afghan-
istan, there was not the slightest doubt that
Russia had been led to go on farther than she
would by receiving the impression that England
was a divided nation, from the action taken by
Mr. Gladstone and the Radical party at the be-
ginninp• of the negotiations in regard to Turkey.
He did' not mean the moderate Liberals, who
acted splendidly. He had no fear but that the
Afghan question would be carried to a successfal,
issue by the Government. (Applause.) It had
been a question pending for ten years, and it could
not have arrived at a better time than the pre-
sent so far as England was concerned, when peace
was imperative to prevent Russia becoming
bankrupt, while England was never better pre-
pared to uphold its honour and dignity. The
forces wera raised to a higher state of efficiency,
than ever before, and we might congratulate our-
selves on the present state of affairs, gloomy as
they looked. He hoped we should be successful
in bringing peace and contentment to the nations
which had been struggling, and that a revival of
trade would result. As to trade, he believed that
if the Conservatives had been supported in pre-
senting a united front to Russia the Turkish war
would never have commenced, and we should not
have experienced the present depression. (hear,
hear.) Ile was very glad to find that the Consti-
tutional Association was progressing favourably in
Stourbridge, and he anticipated at the next general
election a larger Conservative majority in the
House of Commons than there was as present.
(Hear, hear.) He was glad to see the result of
the munisipai elections at Birmingham, and firmly
believed at the next election a Conservative mem-
ber would be returned. (Applause.) He trusted
that Captain Burnaby would live long enough to
be the man. (Hear, hear.) He was a man of
whom England might be proud. He was a soldier
and blunt, saying things in a blunt and straight-
forward manner; and he was certain there was not
a more stalwart member of the Conservative cause
living. (Loud applause.) The Chairman after-
wards read the ninth annual report of the associa-
tion. It showed that an appeal for funds had
been responded to in a most liberal manner; and
that the work of the association had flourished.
There were upwards of 400 members in the
organised associations, and the results of the work
in the outlying districts continued to exceed their
most sanguine expectations. Many members had
been enrolled during the year. The balance-sheet
for IS7S stated that the income was £7O 19s sd,
and the expenditure this amount less ..f9 17s Old
balance in hand.

The report was adopted, on the motion of Mr.
Collis, seconded by Mr. Wooldridge.
A vote of ...thanks was passed to the retiring
officers, ou behalf of whotu Mr. Perkia re-
sponded.
Mr.J. E. Chappell proposed, and Mr. Broughton
seconded, the election of Mr. Walker, M.P., as
president of the association for the year, which
was passed.
The vic)-presidents were re-elected, with the
addition of the names of Messrs. B. Woo& P. J.
W. Peel, aud J. Gillam ; and the other officers were
appointed.
On the motion of Mr. W. Webb, seconde 1 by
M. Wood, the following resolution wss adoptA :
—" We, the members of th- Stourbridge Consti-
tutional Association, in annual meeting assembled,
desire to express our full approval of the home
and foreign policy of her Majesty's Government,
being convinced from past experience ihtt at horte
it will always tend to promote the heelth, happi-
ness, and morals of the people, and that in
foreign affairs they will always make a firm and
united stand to maintain the interests and honour
Of the Empire ag.tinst the insidious attacks of
foes at home or the machinations of enemies
ab roa I. Wo would also express an earnest hope
tl :at the,y may long continue to administer the
affairs of this great nation?' •

•lE. NCThEILTAIIIM ENT.— Last night, Mis
LIT . . --
tehieterittaeive.mpeu. tiv:illtitnhuelUs
Fla k I ai'lant(italrY
lloi)ouiaiol,noenowfhiheehrolcictearsaiorny
ci
ptTolli3er
Chadwick) gave
yselecteecd" and with the exception
of • ' Airs. Caudle's Curtain aciptituerde,"t h:vee were hparii:
pieces were careful
-lyrical and dramatical Poetry,44
~. he latterbein.,g selec-
tions from Slarek6peare's 1101neo and j4l 1" t " Th
The. reading was a the most varied e • "e
description
possible, and each piece wai so faul.tledss IY rendered
that it, is illi2OSSible to single out one
paiecfe for
criticism. Great 411,=rest appeared to be m
by an appreciative audience. the reader inited
ivieds.ng
their attention. It will be seen in our advertising
columns that Miss Falklan I will give an entertain.
m nit in the Hall Barn on Tuesday next, under the
1 a collage so:f Lord and Lady Lyttelton, when no
doubt there will be a large audience. . .

zo aA
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