The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-12-02 00:00:00

THE STOURBBIDGE OBSERVER.

he was a good sportsman. (Cheers.)
Mr. C. W. Collis proposed "The Health of the
Members of Parliament for the Eastern Division."
He might say they have been well represented in
Parliament for a long time by Mr. Amphlett and
Mr. Lyttelton, and now by Messrs. Walker and
Allsopp. (Cheers.)
The health was drunk with musical honours.
Mr. Walker, in responding, said the Houh of
Commons, as constituted in 1874, represented the
opinion of the people of England. He believed
it still represented the opinion of the people of
England. He believed that, notwithstanding
all that had occurred in the course of the
last few weeks or months, the great
majority of the people of England had still confi-
dence in the House of Commons, and, conse-
quently, in her Majesty's Ministers. (Hear, hear.)
He knew perfectly well that a member of Parlia-
ment in responding to the toast was usually expec-
ted to enter at some length into the present policy
of the Government. (Hear, hear.) He always
observed when one got up to return thanks for
that toast that the reporters sharpened their
pencils, and he knew from experience it was a very
dangerous subject to speak on, for whatever one
said the speaker's words were taken to carry a
greater weight than he himself intended them to.
If one spoke in a peaceful way, it was always taken
that he had had some special information, and that ,
the chances of war were more remote than a few
days ago. He could only say he had every reason
to believe that her Majesty's Government had only
one policy at heart—that was to reinstate and to
maintain the peace of Europe. (Cheers.) He
knew perfectly well that many people held different
views to what he did himself, but this he did know
—that the present Ministers had never for one
moment wavered from the course of policy they
had marked out to themselves at the beginning, and
that was, as far as possible, to do all they could to
re-establiSh the peace of Europe. It was only in
the event of their efforts proving unsuccessful that
they were prepared to adopt any course. His
belief was that the voice of England was powerful
enough for peace, but he believed with Mr. Cross
that if England was forced into war she was strong
enough for war. The sword of England was never
drawn except as a last resource, but, when drawn,
it was not sheathed till it was sheathed in the
blood of the enemy, and till their fleet had swept
the seas, as it would again, if necessary. Their
trade and commercial relations with other countries
made it essential they should be at peace with the
rest of Europe. He had every confidence in the
sagacity of Lord Salisbury, who has gone out as
the envoy of this country, and with Lord Derby
and Lord Salisbury at the head of the Diplomatic
department he believed it would be possible to
maintain the peace of Europe.
Song, Mr. Butterworth.
Mr. T. Wall proposed "The Army, Navy,
Yeomanry, and Rifle Volunteers." In doing so he
referred to the great doings of our Army and Navy.
They all knew it was best to be at peace with our
neighbour but if there is to be war he believed the
Army and Navy would do as well as they had done
before cud Volunteers do the work at home. He
believed there was still a Nelson, or Wellington to
be found: (Applause.)
Mr. J. Bridges (an old artillery man), responded.
In doing so he said he had no doubt there would be
found in the Army and Navy as good men as there
had been, and that another six hundred cavalry men
could be found to make another such charge as was
made at Balaclava. (Cheers.)
Mr. Fennell proposed "The Health of the Chair-
man" in eulogistic terms.
The toast was drunk with musical honours.

Song, Councilor Cook (Kidderminster.)
The Chairman said he, like other members of the
Conservative party, had been taunted with attach-
ing too much importance to the friendship extended
to them at the last general election by the licensed
victuallers. He believed before the present Govern-
ment came into power the trade had been trodden
down and harassed and troubled; and the present
Government had felt it their duty to take up their
cause. The measure they had brought in was per-
haps not so thoroughly satisfactory as they might
have wished, but they had done what they could,
and removed the pressure which before existed.
He believed, among the licensed victuallers were
to be found as good members of society as among
other classes of the community, ani he had
pleasure in being present with them.
Mr. J. Ewards proposed "The Honorarz Mem-
bers of the Society, the Delegates, and Visitors."
Mr. Wall replied for the honorary members.
Mr. Edwards (secretary to the Birmingham
Licensed Victuallers Society), in responding, urged
the importance of union among members of the
trade, not because they had any great or burning
grievance at the present time, but because their
opponents would not let them alone. They were
still exposed to danger, and though he did not
apprehend that the plan of the junior member for
Birmingham immediately threatened them, it was
a plan which would command support from per-
sons who would not support the Permissive Bill.
Some time ago it was said they made idols in
Birmingham and sent them out to the heathen, ,
but now they manufactured an idol, and kept it at '
home. (Laughter.) He was afraid no niche
would be found large enough for the idol by-and-
bye. There was an old French proverb, that in
the kingdom of the blind the one-eyed were kings,
and he supposed that accounted for the supremacy
of Joseph Chamberlain. Whatever that too fluent
gentleman said would be accepted in Birmingham,
and he was afraid people at a distance would
attach more importance to the action of the
Council and governing body there than it really
deserved. If Mr. Chamberlain's plan received the
approval of that most docile Council, as he
believed it would, it would not receive the
approval of the constituency, Referring to the
committee of the House of Lords on the alleged
prevalence of intemperance, he said he believed
the enquiry would put the trade in baster position
before the country than it has been for many years
past.
Mr. Cook also replied, and said he was on the
Watch Committee at Kidderminster, and he was
glad to say they had not done as other watch
committees had done. Stourbridge he believed
had done very well. Their society was repre-
sented and he hoped they would continue to be re-
presented. (Cheers.)
The Chairman proposed "The Health of the
vice-Chairman," which was drunk with musical
honours and duly responded to.
The Chairman proposed, "Success to the
Licensed Victuallers' Society and their Chair-
man." He said Mr. Edwards had told them that
Birmingham had set up for itself a golden calf.
(Laughter.) He had nothing to say in opposition
to the will of that great town, and he desired least
of all to say anything derogatory to Mr. Chamber-
lain and his plan; but, at the same time, he must
say that if Mr. Chamberlain could have charge,
as he understood he desired, of all the public-
houses in Birmingham, at the end of six months
he believed he would wish he had never undertaken
the office. With regard to Sir Wilfrid Lawson, he
believed he was one of the greatest friends of the
licensed victuallers, for the way in which he took
up the Permissive Bill made it to be regarded as
a subject of ridicule rather than one calling for
the attention of serious politicians.
Song' Mr. R. Kelley.
Mr. Hughes, late Chairman, and Mr. Pagett
replied.
Mr. Woolley proposed, "The Town and Trade
of Stourbridge." He stated that he had received
an invitation to attend the dinner and felt great
pleasure in being present. He thought the toast
might have been proposed by some older and
abler man than himself. However, he had great
pleasure in proposing, "The Town and Trade of
Stourbridge.' He believed the licensed victuallers

_
in the town would compare favourably with other 1
trades in the district. He much regretted the ,
absence of some of the old tradesmen in the town.
During the twelvemonths that had elapsed since
the last meeting the society had lost some good
supporters, and concluded by coupling with the
toast, Mr. T. Parkes.
Mr. B. Kelley, in the absence of Mr. Parkes,
responded to the toast, and said that Sturbridge,
although small, would compare favourably with
any other town of its size. During the last twelve
months not a single person connected with the
society had been summoned for an infringement
,of the law. He believed with sir Wilfrid Lawson
, that men should be temperate. There was not a
greater nuisance than to have drunken persons on
his premises for it was impossible for a landlord
to be in three or four places at a time, awl it often
appeared that a drunken man would come into a
house and call for a pint of ale, he would stand up
straight and by so doing the person waiting upon
him would not see that he was drunk, but when
found out and requested to leave he would defy
them by saying that he had paid for the ale and
should not go out until he had drank it, and the
result was that often the landlord was summoned
for allowing that man to be on his premises when
he knew nothing about it. He thought that was
rather hard and wanted the attention of the
legislation. (Cheers.)
Mr. J. Hughes proposed, "The Health of Mr.
George Perry, Solicitor to the Society."
(Applause.) He stated that when the society
was first established the choice of solicitor fell on
Mr. Perry and he was unanimously elected, and he
was glad to say he had done his duty to thy
society to the entire satisfaction of the whole bod
1 . Bong, Mr. a Field.
IMr. T. Wall proposed, "The Ladies" in a
humorous speech, which was responded to by Mr.
G. Young,
Song, Mr. Butterworth.
The vice-Chairman proposed, "The Press,"
which was ackhowledged by Mr. S. Field.