The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-04-07 00:00:00

NATIONAL FINANCE

MANY year's ago Mr. Bright made a declara-
tion which reads curiously now, when looked
at in connection with the Revenue Returns for
the financial year ending on the 31st March.
Mr. Bright, noting the gradual increase:in the
national expenditure, laid down the dictum that
no Government was worthy of the confidence of
the people which spent seventy millions a year.
That was before the right hon. gentleman
joiaey Mr. Gladstone's first Administration, and
at that time, as a matter of fact, the expen(li-
ture was within the limit mentidned. But our
ever-increasing obligations seem to render it im-
possible that au Administration can draw a
hard and fast line and declare that beyond a
certain limit it will not go. Numerous instances
have happened within the past half generation
in which the people have concurred with, the
ministry in power, of whatever political emn- ,
plexiou, that a war expenditure was absolutely
necessary. Take the ease of the rescue of the
English prisoners from the hands of Nina
Theodore of Abyssinia in the Spring of 1863'.
The late Lord Beaconfield, as Mr. Disraeli, was
IPrime Minister. The cost of the Abyssinian ex-
pedition turned out to be greater than the es-
timate ; but no one grudged the nine or ten
millions which it represented. It would never
do to allow every petty sable potentate who
choose to put Englishmen in prison, thus to
, inflict an indignity upon a great nation in the
eyes of the vast populatioas of the Eastern
world. Therefore the nine or ten millions of
money devoted to the chastisement of Keig
Theodore were by no means thrown away. '1 he
expedition of rescue was despatched from India,
which ten years before had given us a great deal
of trouble in the shape of a mutiny, and its sec-
cess produced &very wholesome impression upon
the minds of the undoes, so far as their idea-
of the far-reaching power of Great Britain were
concerned. Without eetmerating all the other
instances in which a chastening hand has been
held to be essential, it is necessary only to quote
our experience last year as applied to Egypt.
Mr. Disraeli had felt compelled to chastise King
Theodore ; Mr. Gladstone had to perform the
same process upon Arabi Pasha. The e3es of
the Mahomedan population of India had again
to be opened with respect to the power and in-
fluence of England • and Lerd Wolseley, by the
complete success of expedition, repeated the
passage of nistory which had been furnished by
Lord Napier of Magdala in 1868.
Between these two epochs, which were not
after all so very far apart, the national expendi-
ture has gone on augmenting from various
causes. It is not a matter of party government
or of political consideration. Liberal and Con-
servative administrations alike have held allhe
during the past fifteen years ; yet the outlay
upon the public service has increased and is in.
creasing. Many would be inclined to add in the
wozda of the famous resolution passed by the
House of Commons a century ago referring to
the power of the Crown, "and ought to be di-
miniahed." Mr. Bright's maximum of seventy
, mildone a year is not likely ever to be witnessed
again. The expenditure is now nearly ninety
milli )ns per annum. Such a vast figure has
never before been reached in time of peace. Of
course there is the cost of the Egyptian expendi-
ture, but it would not in itself be sufficient to
account for such an enormous comparative
growth in the national expenditdre. Between
the two periods there have, however, been
ample reasons why the figur es have gone up
['roubles in Ashantee, Zululand, the Transvaal
and Afghanistan at once suggest the causes for
this development. There was also the unsettled
state of Europe live years ago, when a very sub-
stantial addition was made to oar armaur:nts.
And in the face of growing liabilities, the
_ _ _

of the Exchequer and to the country. The
nation can very well' meet its huge liabilities.
The elasticity of the revenue is not so marked
as when Mr. Gladstone referred to it twenty
years ago as showing that the prosperity of the
country was increasing by "leaps and bounds.'
We have passed the stage of leaps and bounds
And are content with a steady rate of progress
There is, however, one point in these as in pre-
vious returns which does not escape attention.
That is the diminution in the receipts from the
Excise, and this means a less consumption of
luxuries, seeing that upon the necessaries of life
the excise duties were long since reniorecl.
They are, however, still levied very stiffly upon
tobacco, wines, and spirits; and as the receipts
from these have fallen off, it is argued that the
English are at length gradually becoming a tem-
perate nation. The time had no doubt arrived
for an amendment and a reform in this important
direction. For years the national drink bill has
been abnormally heavy, and as social reformei s
have declared, a standing reproach to us. If the
people spend less in drink, and thus diminish
the excise receipts, a far-see'ng Chancellor of
the Exchequer, so far from expressing regret
at the result, will recognise the fact that it
means more thrift and more ultimate pro-
sperity,

THROAT IsarAzrox.—Soreness dryness and ticklirg
and irriation, inducing cough and effecting the voc.
For these symptons we Epp's Glycerine Jujubes In
contact with the glands at the moment they are excited
by the act of sticking the Glycerine in these agreeabl •
confections becomes actively healing. sold only in
boxes, 7id. and Is. lid, labelled" jAmEs EPS and Co.
Homoeopathic Chemists. London, A letter received
Gentlemen— It may prehaps inter at lou to know
that, after an extended trial,' have found your Glycerin.
Jujubes of considerable benefit ( Yitu or wiiAtt
medic.' treatment) in almost all forms of throat disease
They soften and clear the volue.— Yours faithfully,
GORDOY HoLmF,s, L. R. C. i. E. Senior Physician to
the Municipal Throat and Ear Infirmary.— Epps's
Medicines are Sold by A. P. Morris, 134, High Street
Stourbridge.

UNSWIETENED CON,DENSED MlLK.—High
medical and scientific authorities state that the en
ormou:quantitv or 40 per cent. of sular addtd to the
ordinary condensed milk is injurious, and they there-
fore strongly recommend the pore unsweetened "First
iwhs Brand " By far the best infantm' food Ask fur
the" First Swiss Brand." Sold everywhere. Sale Con-
signees, Hartman, Roll and Co., Born, Lou lon, S.E.

A's TYLA SAFEST AND BEST APKRIENT 'Castor Oil is ul-
rivalle I. the only drawback being its nauseous flay. ur,
Thts is cmpletly °lmre .ate by Awl:: & tlasnuav's ne.v
process of manufacture, and the A. k H "lAa TELESS"
CAS FOR OIL shaken up in warm milk, while still the
safest, best, and in)st elf_ctive, is now one of the most
pslatable at aperients. At 6.1., Is., is, 9d., and 3s
Sold everywhere.
Pas.—The Greatest Boon of moiern
Times,—These searching Pills act directly on the liver,
correct the bile, purify the system, renovate the de.
but .ted, strengthen the stomach, increase the appetite,
invigorate the nerves, and reiustwe t' .e weak to an
ardour of feeling never before experienced. The sa!e f,f
these P,lls tl,roughout the globe a tonishes every, h,aly,
coovincinig the most scept n a! that there is no Me licine
equal to Holloway's Pills for removivg the com:)laints
wbil are incidental to the human race. They are in-
deed a blessing ti the affiieed, and a boon to those wh
suffer f out any di-order, internal or extern 1. '.l nd,
of persons have testtfied that by their use alone they
have bran restored to health after other rtmecties have
proved unavailing.
sTIIIIOAT ArxEmoNs AND 110AltSENZ:=%.—A1l suf-
fering from irritation of ftc elicoat and h.aanct...sa
be agreeably .surprised at the almost immediate
relief afforded by the use of "Browns Bronaial
Troches." These famous " lozenges " are now sold by
west reopeotable chemists in this country at is. I
per box. People troubled with a " hackit..g cough,'
"alight cold," or bronehial affections, cannot try
&era too socm, as similar troubles, if allowed to pro-
gress, result io serious Pulmonary and Asthmatic a trec.
ika,s. Sae thaA the words "Brown's Bronchial Troci, "
ire en tho Gaivr.r:..F.erit Stamp around each --
Eveparedj. t. BROWN & SONS, 803t0r..
tzurop6an .:'_2oved to 33, Earringdm
Lii.Ondea.

The Dandelion Extract cenntsined in Dr. King's P'!s
by its well-known actuol on the Liver (the t i
portent gland in the t‘kule frame). causes the hoilly
secretions to flow in a regular manner, and conjointly
with the Tonic ingredients, greatly invigo-ates, so man
taming the great portals of the system in the fit condi-
tion to secure good health. These Pills have been in
widespread use for a great umber of years. and nothing
but good is spoken of them everywhere. Any Chemists
sells them, in Boxes is. lid. and 2s. 91 each.
TA a TY.ETTI AXD Bur.Artr.—A
w ot tne " ii;:rinkted ou 3
:rot Lo,7,:ii-1,7%:,;; produces 3
cl.,auses te,th Loa: parasitts et
cr.:purities, hardets the guLt.e, la,3vonta tartar, stops
decay, given to tht teeth a peculiar pearly-whiteness,
and a delightful fragrance to the lireath. It removes
all unpleasant odour arising from dacayed teeth or
tobacco smoke. "The Fragrant l'lorilins,t," being corn-
veer.' in part of Honey and sweet herbs, is delicious to
the taste, and the greatest toilet discovery of the age,
Pike 2s. 6d., of all Chemists and Perfumers., -)Wholir
010 &VA tortuntid to 3liNglagit;.ll64oAPeigailLi