The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-11-15 00:00:00

favour of such a law. (A laugh.) But lam about to
break it in the present instance' and I do not think
that I shall be blamed even by the severity of Attic
taste, for I am about to propose the health of our
host. (Cheers.) You, my Lord Mayor, occupy a
position which is respected, not only in England, ba
throughout Europe. (Cheers.) You represent the
municipal principle, to which the civilization of the
world is so much indebted (cheers), in its most die.
tinguished form. and, my Lord Mayor, next year,
when, in all probability, I shall have the honour of
addressing you (cheers and much laughter), I am sure
I shall be enabled to congratulate you on the success
of your administration and the brilliancy of your reign.
(Cheers.) I propose "The Health of the Lord Mayor."
(Cheers,)
The Lord Mayor having responded, gave "The
Howe of Lords,' associating with the toast the name
of the Duke of Northumberland. (Cheers.)
The Duke of Northumberland, in responding, ob-
served that there was one pdint in which the
House of Lords differed from another legislative
Assembly—namely, in the calm and deliberate
manner in which the measures laid before it were
argued and discussed. Opposition in the House of
Lords was always conducted accolding to the laws of
fair dealing and fair speaking. (Hear, hear.) There
had of late years sprung up a new branch, as it
were, of political science, which went by the name of
Obstruction. That Obstruction consisted not in
Opposing the measures themselves on their merits, but
in employing every form and every ingenuity by which
the progress of public affairs might be delayed and
legislation brought to a standstill. The House of
Lords, he was happy to say, was entirely exempt from
that unfortunate and novel mode of treating the busi-
ntes of the country, and until that evil practice found
its way into that Assembly, the House of Lords
would, he thought, by its plain, straightforward, and
honest manner of considering all the matters which
came before it, continue to deserve and enjoy the re-
spect and goodwill of the nation. (Cheers.)
The Lord Mayor next proposed the health of
Her Majesty's Judges, which was cordially received
and. briefly acknowledged by Lord Justiceßrett.
The Lord Mayor then gave "The House of Corn.
mona," connecting with the toast the name of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, who, he said, had by his
urbanity and good temper done much to maintain the
dignity of that great assembly. (Cheers.)
The Chancellor of the Exchequer said,—My Lord
Mayor, my Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen,—l rise, not
for the first time in this hall, to return thanks for the
toast you have done us the honour to drink—" The
Health of the House of Commons." I know very well
that this ie a toast which has been on all occasions
well received in the city of London, but I must own'
that I feel peculiar gratification at finding that on the
present occasion your customary welcome is not
withheld from us. For within a very short period
we have been informed on very high authority
—no Jess an authority than that of the leader ef
Her Majesty's Opposition in the House of Commons
—that the nation—by which I understand he
means himself and his friends (a laugh)—has ceased to
to take an interest in the discussions of that assembly.
And the reason which has been given for the failure
of the interest that ought to be felt in them is this—
that on every question on which discussions have
arisen the verdict of the House of Commons has been
invariably given in favour of Her Majesty's Ministers
and against the Opposition. (Cheers and laughter.)
The moment I saw that statement I could not help
remembering a story which I once heard of a conversa-
tion between an Englishman and an American. The
American was saying that in every battle which had
been fought between the two nations the Ameri-
cans had been invariably victorious. The Eng-
lishmen challenged this statement by referring
to a battle in which the event had u. questionably
been the other way. The answer of the American
was exceedingly like that of the leader of the
Opposition, for he said, "Well, all I can say is that
we Americans seemed to take no interest in that
battle." (Laughter.) Now, I must say for the House
of Commons ),hat during the existence of the present
House, when we come calmly to look at the work which
it has done and the position it has taken in the conduct
of the affairs of the Empire, I fearlessly challenge for
the House the credit of having been earnest and con-
sistent in support of the principles which it believes to
be for the honour and interest of the nation. (Cheers.)
And if it is true—as I know it is—that the verdict of
the House of Commons has been over and over again
given in support of the policy of Her Majesty's Go-
vernment, I am sure that verdict has been given in
conformity with the spirit and the principles of those
whom the House represents. (Cheers.) But we are
reminded that we find ourselves in a position in
which we shall be seriously brought to join issue •
with our opponents; and I am not a little proud and
pleased to find that I myself, as the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, am the lightning conductor, as it were, of
the wrath of the nation. (A laugh.) Our opponents
find that they can make nothing of our foreign policy,
that they can make nothing of our general policy, and
that the best course they can take is to fall foul of
our finance. Well, gentlemen, I accept the challenge,
and I do it with all the more pleasure because I feel
that thereby testimony is borne to the fact that our
general policy cannot be safely impugned by our
opp,reats ; and when they challenge us on finance,
they challenge Us on points in which we are
strong ard sure of victory. But now, the most
extraordinary things are said and bugbears are
brought forward to alarm the British public. We are
told that the deficits are accumulating year after year
until they are about to crush the people. I have had
occasion to look into some of these stories, and though
this is not the right place or hour to detain you with
statistics or figures, I think I may give you a clue to
solve the mystery which envelopes these terrible de-
ficits by which they seek to alarm you. No doubt
many of you have attended a theatre, and may have
seen an army marching across the stage. If you have
looked very attentively you will have seen six men
acting somewhat in this way—they pass from one side
to the other, and then pass behind the scenes and over
the stage again and again. Well, that is something
like the poor six millions of deficit which we were nut
able to defray out of the revenue of a particular year,
and which we had to let stand over until next
year owing to the pressure of an emergency. Well,
but on each occasion these very six millions are
made to figure again and again by our opponents,
until at last we are informed that there is
great reason to believe we shall meet Parliament
next year with a deficit of upwards of twenty mil-
lions. (Cheers and laughter.) lam really sorry to
dissipate an illusion so pleasing, no doubt, to the minds
of our opponents. But when we come face to face with
them, and when we shall go into the story of the
deficit, which I hope we shall do on the next occasion,
we shall be able to dispel those fearful clouds which are
conjured up against us, and we shall be able to show
that during a period of great depression of trade,
of great depression in our agricultural interests owing
to unfavourable seasons, and during a period in which
we have been called upon to make special and unusual
exertions for the maintenance of the honour of the
country, not only have we been able to dispense with
any considerable addition to the taxation of the country,
but we shall be able to present a good account at the
close of a period such as I have described. The
amount of the deficit, accumulated as it may be, will
be one that is perfectly manageable; and if we are
to deal with it on such principles as those which I am
sure guide our commercial men and men of business,
you will see there is nothing whatever that need
frighten you. (Cheers.) The country is not less rich
now than it was six years ago. On the contrary, every
penny of income-tax would now, if calculated on the
same basis as formerly, produce £lOO,OOO at least more
than at the beginning of our administration. (Cheers.)
The savings of the people are not affected. The
savings-banks deposits are at least £11,000,000 more
than when we came into office, (Cheers.) Look where
you will, you will see that the credit and the
position of thei country have not been shaken, and that
Consols stand higher than they did. Our debt has
been reduced in one direction and increased in another.
But how has it been increased? By raising money to
make advances to large bodies like the corporations of
London and Birmingham, and many others who desire
to have such loans. But look at matters fairly, and
you will find that the account which we have to
render is one of which there is no reason to be ashamed,
(Cheers.) The right hon. gentleman concluded by
thanking the company for the cordial manner in
which the toast had been received.

Several other toasts having been given and responded
to, the company then separated.

The Times, in a leader commenting upon Lord
Beaconsfield's speech, remarks :

This may be a judicious speech, but it is to be feared the
public will think it a little dull. There is not a word on the
Eastern Question or the Auglo-Turirish Convention. There
is no hint of any excitement awaiting us, and no illumina-
tion Is thrown on the political scene. Toe Ministry appear
enamoured of the resource which we are told promises to
solve the silver question e they are content to trust themselves
to "the magic or patience." Lord Beaconsfield, as usual, looks
forward to having the honour of addressing the Lord Mayor
at the Guildhall Bencidet of the next year. In other respects
no one will be the wiser, except that, perhaps, some people
will at last learn the lesson that it is no use forming ex-
pectations of what Lord Beaconsfield will say or do. He
concluded, however, with a spirited vindication of the
position which the country has recently re-assumed in the
councils of Europe; and be went so far as to predict tbat so
long as the power and advice at England are felt in those
councils peace will be maintained. He repels the insinuation
that in maintaining our Empire we are imperiling our
liberties, and suggests as the motto for a Britt's!) Ministry,
Imperium et Libertas. It is a good text;; and will doubt-
less be the subjeco of many discourses. But it would be a
more satisfactory prospect if the peace of Europe were some-
what less dependent than Lord Beaconsfield seems to think
upon the influence of England. On the whole, however, it
Lord Beaconsliele's speech is not excithre, it is at the same
time not disturbing; and the explanations which were
offered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer respect-
iog our finances will combine with the Premier's
account of the revival of trade to produce a
re-assuring impression. Sir Stafford Northcote's representa-
tions confirm the anticipations we have expressed, and eon.
stitute a fair and not ineffective reply to the attacks which
have been directed against his management of the Exchequer.
If, as the Ministry believe, the revival of trade proves to be
permanent, his difficulties will be greatly; diminished • and
if, in addition, Lord Beaconsfield can produce that Iran-
quility in "Central Asia," and that peace in Europe, for
which he feels himself so responsible, he and his Govern-
ment may expect the thanks of the country.