The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-11-04 00:00:00

_itouttage Olperber.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1871.

XII. GLADSTONE AND HIS

CONSTITUENTS.

One of the six points of the People's Charter
was " annual Parliaments," the idea being that
constituents wonid thus have a firm hold of
their representatives. We hope we may never
see any such an absurdity as a general election
every year, and even advanced Liberals have
now abandoned an idea which was once persist-
ently urged. In default of annual Parliaments,
the custom of members meeting their constitu-
ents during the parliamentary recess is a whole-
some one, and it could be wished that the prac-
tice were more generally adopted. It was high
CLUB, we think, that Mr. tiladstoue met the large
and popular constituency that sent him to the
House of Commons. He had been absent from
them for three years. and during this period
many important political events had taken place,
besides which the policy of the Government of
which be is the head, was declared to have been
M sonic respects antagonistic to the interests of
those who had sent him to Parliament. Beyond
all these considerations, a political speech from
the Premier was looked forward to with deep
interest by the country at large. On the whole,
expectation has not been disappointed. The
right hon. member for Greenwich was enabled
So justify himself and his policy with a large
somber of his constituents.
A very large proportion of the Premier's au.
awl were of the working class, and they felt
Tory keenly on one subject with which he dealt
in the . most matter.of.fact style. lie showed
that when the present Government came into
eIllo• the number of dockyard labourers was
16,974 and that on the lit of October of this
year the number was 14,511, beings decrease of
1,4611, whereas the preceding Government had
Mimed the number of workers from about
110,000. to about 15,000, so that about three-
loarthe of the reductions of which so much had
been said was the work of the previous Conser-
vative ministry. So much Mr. Gladstone felt
eompelled to say in self-defence, but he did not
blame his predecessors for this; on the contrary
he maintained that it was all part of a necessary
talky, for the good of the entire country, though
involving a certain amount of distress to a few.
But this sort of thing more or less always oc-
curs. Economy in public departments cannot
be effected without it; and our dockyards can
be no exception to the rule.
With regard to the more general topics of the
epoch, Mr. Gladstone dealt with them in a dig-
nified way and with considerable spirit. He has
spoken as the advocate and champion of his
party, and has ably maintained their policy.
" There is pith in us vet," he said, "and the
speech I make to you to-day is not a last dying
speech and confession.- On the contrary, it was
• powerful vindication of the course which Min-
isters had taken during the past Session. As a
matter of course he had to deal with several
ministerial failures—notably with the Licensing
Bill, the Scotch Education bill, the Local Go-
vernment Bill, and the Mines Regulation Lill.
Measures had been introduced fruitlessly, and
She first-mentioned occupied a very large portion
of the time of the House of Commune. But
the failure to carry these bills cannot he wholl;
charged upon the Ministry. They, in fact, at-
tempted too much; and though Mr. Gladstone
tells us that public opinion forces a Government
to introduce more measures than there is any
'hence of carrying, it is to be hoped that Miuis-
Mrs will be a little more sparing of their pro-
mises next session, so that the ratio between
promise and performance may not be so dispro-
portionate. Whatever else may be omitted,
however, from next year's programme, it muy be
presumed that the four measures to which Mr.
Gladstone alluded will, with souls modifications,
perhaps, be brought forward next year. The
Licensing Bill alone would be very heavy work
lot any Ministry. It deals with a 'matter on
which there is immense difference of opinion,
and on which a large proportion of our fellow
subject. feel intensely. No Government is to
be envied that essays to legislate on the licensing
system and on the sale of intoxicating liquors,
and yet public opinion imperatively calls for
legislation on the subject, though of what char-
acter that legislation should be is a question that
I. answered in many different ways. To set off
against' the many failures of the Session, th,
premier modestly referred to the triumphs
achieviby Government.
Loag at the speech as a whole, and not
through party spectacles, it must generally be
iidraitted that it is of a cheerful and encouraging
character. The reference to the advances which
anti country has made during the last 18 years is
specially worthy of consideration. One fact,
however, which Mr. Gladstone adduced must be
taken with a grain of salt. He tells us that dur-
ing this time sonic 15 or 20 millions of taxation
have been remitted. This may be true enough
per se, but we fear that while imperial taxation
bar been reduced, local taxation has been in-
creased, and that the terrible problem of pauper.
Lam reutains as far off of solution as ever. Rut
in many other respects the country undoubtedly
has advanced, and this advance cannot be wholly
attributed to any political party.

LIUHT, DELICATE, PALE SHERRIES. A great and
beneficial change has already taken place in the habits of
our upper and middle classes by the more extended in-
troduction of a variety of light wines of varied and un-
impeachable dietetic value. The reduction of the wine
duties has been a great boon, as not only has it had the
effect of doubling the consumption of wine within the
short space of to years, but it has made light wine—
what it should undoubtedly be--an article of dailf and
ordinary consumption, and far loss halite to be taken in
(MC., than when wine Was a highly rt.:kW:o.lllg anti
costly luxury. At the present time the facilities for ob-
taining cheap and wholesome wines and other stimulants,
bearing the guarantee of large and respectable dealers,
in almost every town and village, is an advantage which
deserves to be kept in view. Cheap wine has no doubt a
certain am tent of prejudice yet to overcome, and the
mescal man may do much in assisting to dispel this.
Cheapness in wine does not necessarily argue a deficiency
In stimuistieg and nourishing qualities, still less uu whole
...Aeneas. In our mane of January last we touched upon
Ile oracle Sherry, and drew attention to the important
plies *meted by Spain as • wine-producing isowary.
Sane shot time we have continued to two opportanitiee
ef testing and comparing the relative qualities 'caprices
of varies. Sherries offered tor sale, sal have been etre.
etally struck by some light, delmate, pale Sherries
obtained from trio Ite•era. W. A: A. Gdbey. W. think it
due to She commercial enterprise, alio • fair recognition
of the taidonoteo uenetit winch tins firm has conferred
•oun Medical patients in the introduction of sound whole-
wises at moderate prices, to say that some of these
approach nearer to our Idea of what • good,
-ulatiug wine should be than anything we
time pest, while the price places them
whim required for medicinal and
Methrul Journal.;
4, for the sure of Coughs
'iima, Catarrh, or anj
,ow imported ami
-via the form
,leasaht,
• the