The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-10-22 00:00:00

SIR C. RUSSELL AT EASTBOURNE.

At a Home Rule meeting in the Town Hall, East-
bourne, on Monday night, Sir Charles Russell, M.P.,
said the duty of Liberals in regard to the Dissentient
Liberals was to treat them with fairness and tolera-
tion, and to try and •do without them, always endea-
vouring by legitimate argument and by the force of
reason to win them back. He held that Mr.
Chamberlain's position, in view of his past
pronouncements, was utterly incomprehensible.
His action in sowing seeds of dissension in
Ulster, and urging the people there to separate
themselves from those with whom their fortunes were
east, could not be too severely condemned. That Howe
Rule would lead to separation was a proposition which
could only be treated as ludicrous, having regard to
the superior force of England and Scotland, and to the
knowledge of the Irish that the English and Scotch
were their best customers. Sir Charles ridiculed the
land scheme of Mr. Chamberlain, and said it was im-
possible to deal with the Irish land question apart from
British credit, which Great Britain would never give
without a central national body in Ireland.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
AT BRADFORD.

Mr. Goschen was present at a Unionist Demons-
tration held at Bradford on Tuesday evening, in St.
George's Hall. Replying to a resolution according a
hearty support to the Government in their struggle
for the efficiency and supremacy of Parliament, :and
the maintenance of law and order, he declared that
the Government did not abate one jot of
the policy to which they were committed at the last
Zlection. They had to prevent incitement to crime
on the part of the League, to put down crime, and to
bring it home to tbe offenders. In that task Ministers
would not falter. The issue was no longer an Irish,
but was an Imperial issue. Men were all equal be-
fore the law, but the Government wanted to see all
laws equal before the people; so that they should not
choose whether to obey this law or that. He confi-
dently believed that the majority of the people would
alutendon the Party of licence and rally to the Party
orlaw.

MR. GLADSTONE'S JOURNEY.
Mr. Gladstone's journey from Northenden, near
Manchester, to Nottingham on Tuesday was attended
by enthusiastic demonstrations on the part of his sup-
porters. At Sheffield an address was presented to
Mr. Gladstone, who expressed the opinion that the
mind of the people of this country was rapidly mar-
shalling itself on behalf of a policy which would
restore contentment to Ireland, freedom, and effi-
ciency to Parliament, and honour to the character of
England. At Newark Mr. Gladstone replied to
another address; but no speech was made on the
arrival at Nottingham, where, however, the rig ht
hon. gentleman had a hearty welcome from crowds
In the streets.

THE NATIONAL LIBERAL FEDERA.TION.
The annual meetings of the National Liberal
Federation commenced at Nottingham on Tuesday
and were attended by many members of Parliament
and more than 2000 delegates from all parts of the
country. Sir James Kitson presided, and spoke most
hopefully of the prospects of the Liberal parry. A
resolution was adopted re-electing Sir James Kit,on
President of the Federation, and re-appointing ot her
officials. Another resolution strongly condemned the
coercive policy of the Government. Among the

Speasers were'horallipon, Sir W. Foi-tifarEcTti—na
Mr. Asquith, M.P.

MR. GLADSTONE ON IRELAND,
Mr. Gladstone was present on Tuesday afternoon
at the annual meeting of the National Liberal Fede-
ration at the Albert Hall, Nottingham. In the
course of his speech Mr. Gladstone reminded his
hearers that the Irish question was still impendmg
over them, with its difficulties aggravated, and its
prospects still uncertain so far as the present was
concerned. ahe spectacle which Ireland now pro
sented under a Government of coercion was one for
grave reflection, and it was certain that, should the
present policy be continued, the country would be
come politically demoralised and the question
rendered more difficult than ever of settlement.
He denied that he had ever proposed a Home
Rule policy simply in the Liberal party in-
terests. What he asked for was a statutory Par-
liament in Ireland subject to Imperial control.
He described the action of the police at Mitchelstown
as an abomination, and declared that in consequence
there was a very grave account to be settled between
the Government and the nation. The Irish adminis-
tration required to be thoroughly reformed, root and
branch. The Government had shown themselves to
be hostile to liberty of the Press and of public meet-
ing, and the violence of their Policy had only been
equalled by its impotence. He appealed to the
country to bring about a radical change in the consti-
tution of Parliament, as by tbst means only could
they attain their object. Resolutions condemning t
Irish policy of the Government were proposed by Mr.
Asquith and Mr. Robertson, supported by Sir William
Harcourt and Mr. John Morley, and carried.