The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-10-01 00:00:00

THE HOME SECRETARY ON THE WAR.

The Right Hon. H. A. Ernce addressed a crowded
meeting of his constituents on Monday at Glasgow.
The hon. gentleman, in reviewing the past session. said
Parliament had passed a measure for the pscitication of
Ireland, had reduced our national expenditure by four
nullions, and though not able to carry a Stmtch Edu-
cation LIR probably the measure would not super by
the delay. It was impossible to carry a Licensing Bill.
and a measure dealing with trades' unions last session,
but they would be introduced at the earliest possible
' moment next session. He was gratified at having di
-
rooted inquiry to the truck syatem, and hoped to intro-
duce a Bid upon the subject Having acknowledged
the deep interest which England had is the restoration
of peace, the iiiht hon. gentleman took a retrospect of
the history of Germany during the last four yew, and
then proceeded :--

.-- - - -
It appeared to be an article of French patriotism, not that
France should he united and hajoy and prosperoin in her-
self, but that she ehould exercise a preponderating thfluenee
over the rest of Enrope. Well, advanta ie was taken of that
unfortuuate event (German unli.V, aml there has been war.
V. the preseut Freuch Government is of the same
opiniou, I thick, as that of the people of England, that gene,
telly the aspirations of Germany were just and ought not to
have been opposed. Into tho terms upon which prime may be
, made it would he, as I have said, premature ter me to eater
! I cannot myself abstain from expreniug my eernest hope
that these may be so moderate as loot to low the seeds of
future wan. The Germans are naturally excited now by
the prodigious losses they have undergone It is
almost inevitable Mit et this moment tiny should not be
hicined to . moderate or reasonable counsel, butt have
the great ,need in the generel wisdom of the GerunD
I.opb) I. •r. t, no people so well instructed in, or who
have eta h the philosophy of Mangy, audit will
take but ,• - lion for them to see that in the growth
that three!, t Er rope there are the se dis of danger to them
• •:se. Ic a,.tub hut he that if nay nation attempts to assume
anowderattleg inflermee in Europe, and to dictete to the
316,r 1., thee e will no tbatt amount of resistance which
CA end .111 result is. iht overthrow ; and I am satisfied
hi weirs haa studied history too ueeply, and that her
t...lsesnes, We toe wise awl too sagacious to raise
antleloniatie throughiut Europe. We hove
beeh •old that „ones we have witnessed to Europa
are those watch ought to inspire in us the greatest
alarm kg the safety of this country. Well. in the nfiel,t
ot all our sympathy for the 'offerings of neighbouring
countries, I think it is our ditty to avail ourselves of any
lessons which those &Minion may afford, and if by giving
vigilant attention to the scenes of the present war we C• 11
discover in them the means of adding to the security of this
couutry, that Government would be most blamable which
did not avail itself of the knowledge thus acquired. but I
COLINss that although the subject is one c ( the greatest in-
terest—one that ought to oniony, as turn sure it does occupy,
the earliest attention of her Majesty's Government, and espe-
cially of those Ministers who are cuarged with tale War De-
partreents—l ion not oue of those who can discover in the
present state of things any eu,h immediate or pressing danger
to this country as would leaf us suddenly to change our
system, or to rush into rash resolution. Where lies the danger
to England l Waco France was stooge a great military and
naval rower, there uudoiestedly existed a certain ain•iunt of
danger. The naval power of France was only inferior
I to that of this country; moreover, under the new system,
warfare with new ships and new gunn-ry hat not been
tried, and it was impossible to say what the mutt of a
naval action might be. or with whom might temporarily rest
the cornea sod of the seas. France, beanie., had a prodigious
military power, which, once mistress of the seas, she might
have brought into this country, and perhaps found us in-
capable of resistance. That was a daeger which had to be
guarded agahmt, and it was owing to the existence of that
deuger that means were not only taken of strengthening our
ordinary appliances. but that the volunteer m. cement,
which did no much credit to this country, took it. elev. But
where is the immediate Jaeger eve Certainly net from
France; she will have enough to do for many a year to come
to repair the injury she has received in this war. Then, is
it from Prussia; Vedoubteelly the Prussian armies are so
strong that at this moment we Could hardly erect them upon
equal terms in the field but how 12 Freesia to transport
her army here; llow is she to reinforce it sod to simply
It with all the ponderous material of war without which
no army can move! The timer; itself hardly requires argu-
ing . and it therefore seems to me that, while we should
wifely turn to account the experience which we have
gained during these last weeks, liste enough is before us hi
enable us to do so caution/0y The questions nisei are of
the greatest importance. Tone are at present before Ul
three system, from which to choose—the syeem of OOP.
tcrintion In France. and met sent Into the army f ..r a certain
period of service; the German system, by which every
citigsn is forced to take& portion of milituir duty upon him-
self in the course of his life and our own system, depending
at sinly upon the voluntary devotion of our countrymen.
how, you cannot deal upon the same principle with
tones so differently constituted. Take the volunteer
system We have some 10.0.000 •ohasteers—men who have
devoted th-mselves patriotically to the lerice of their
country ; but if you mean to apply to them such stringent
reculatious as would alone make them a force equal in
efficiency to the Landwehr of Germany, we must esti
upon them for sacrifices of thee, and more than time,
ehich it is very hard ludeed to require from volunteers.
1 have 40 doubt myself that as this subject is more
studied by the volunteers they will show themselves
more and more reedy to underuo obligations which perhaps
at this moment might be repugnant to them, and I quite
admit, that if no arrangemeut can ultimately be made with
the volunteers ler which we cal ultanntely ,l,penti upon
the efficiency of the force in case of invasi•ai it may he nee.-
eery to recognise the whole of the question and to put our
defences on a nicer permanent tooth.. hut I atu turn yen
will agree with me that it le not until every expedient has
been exhausted that we should do away WI h • force raised
under remarkable circumstances, and SO creditable to the
palriothm and honow of the country as the volunteer form ;
therefore. lam of opinion, that though Mr. Cadwell may be
chargel with prcneding slowly in the creation of a great
reserve force, he is Jultilied by the Circumstances in doing
SO, and that a great change might have the effect of undoing
, that which has :Ailed so much to the strength oi the country
I in the e) es of all Europe dation the past times; I mean that
duploy of coal in arming for the defence of the country.