The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-10-15 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER

whicii had met with the bitterest opposition in Parlia-
ment from the Conservative party, who, however, had
I acquiesced and accepted the inevitable the moment they
passedinto law—had been met by Irish landlords band-
ing themselves together to oppose those Acts being car-
ried out? What would have been the righteous
horror and indignation of Mr. Gladstone if Conserva-
tives had taken such a course? Yet that was pre-
cisely the state of things the Government had to face
now that the Crimes Act had been passed. A great
majority of a political party with noble traditions.,
led by a statesman who knew the responsibilities of
office, and who had had more experience of public
affairs than any man living, were agitating in
this country and in Ireland against this new Act
of Parliament, now the law of the land, and
were pouring vituperation, vilification, and irsult upon
the Government of the day, and doing all in their
power to bring the Executive in Ireland into dis-
regard and contempt. (Hear, hear.) Those who
were adopting this course, whether from party or
factious motives, were plunging into a state of things
which, if it meant anything at all, means revolution.
(Cheers.)lSir William proceeded te,oriticise the ao,ion
of Mr. Gladstone's lieutenants. In conclusion, the
right hon. gentleman referred briefly to the question
of agricultural deprevion, and, while stating that his
views on the subject of Protection had undergone no
change, said another session would not be allowed to
pass witbout a serious consideration of the matter.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S VISIT TO ULSTER.
On Monday night Mr. Joseph Chamberlain left
Birmingham for Belfast by the 10.15 London and
North-Western express from New-street Station.
He was accompanied by Mr. Jesse Collings, M.P.,
and Mr. Thomas Lea, M.P. A considerable crowd
assembled to bid the right hon. gentleman farewell,
and, in reply to shouts for a parting word, he
addressed the gathering from the door of the
saloon carriage. He said: Ladies and Gentlemen,
—I confess that your kindness has been very unex-
pected to me, and I thank you for coming to speed
me on the mission I have undertaken. (Hear, hear.)
It seems to me that in this great question of the future
government of Ireland many of our friends, those
who were our friends but who are now unfortunately
our political opponents, have omitted altogether to
Late into account the feelings, the wishes, and the
rights of the minority in the sister country. (Hear,
hear.) That minerity is respectable, not merely
from its numbers, bat also from its character, and
when it is proposed to alter the constitution of
the United Kingdom, the minority has a right
to be heard, as well as the majority. (Cheers.) I
do not understand how some of the Liberal
party have in this discussion given every imgortance
to the views of those who have been the advocates of
sedition—(hear, hear)—and have found no room for
consideration for the views of those who have always
been loyal to the Constitution and the Throne.
(Cheers.) If, in the course of my approaching visit
to Ireland, I am able to air, ct public attention to the
claims of this minority, which has hitherto been
too much neglected, I . shall certainly think
that my labour has not been in vain. Gentle-
men, I hope to see you again in a very short
time. (A voice: "So do we.") I am never so
happy as when I am among my own people, and once
more I thank ycu for your kindness in coming to see
me off to night. Mr. your
Collings also spoke a few
words, remarking that English working men were in
the habit of hearing of only one Ireland. .They
would how bear of another part of Ireland, and be
wished to put to them the que-tion—What had Ulster
done that she was, without her consent, to b 3 put
under a Parnellite Parliament? The train moved oa
arlid a hearty cheer.