The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-02-18 00:00:00

TKO PUBLIC PROSECUTOR.

The Lord Chancellor informed Lord Ellenborough
that it was not intended to make any change in the
existing arrangements in reference to the duties of the
Public Prosecutor.
Their lordships rose at a quarter to five o'clock.

ARRANGEMENTS WITH FOREIGN NATIONS.
In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, Sir J. Fergusson again
stated, in answer to Mr. Labouchere, that this country
was under no engagement to Italy or Austria pledging
the military action—which, he explained, included
naval action—of this country, except such as were
known to the House. In accordance with uniform
precedent, he declined to produce any correspondence
that had passed with regard to the present eendition'of
affairs on the Continent. Mr. Labouchere asked
whether no arrangement of any kind had been made
with Italy; but the right hon. baronet replied that he
was not in a position to give any further answer.
THE UNEMPLOYED.
Mr. W. H. Smith informed Mr. H. Vincent that the
main causes of the existing distress and want of em-
ployment was well known, and the initiation of an
inquiry by Royal Commission or Select Committee
might have the reverse effect of that desired. The
Government would carefully consider whether anything
could or ought to be done, but he was glad to say that
there were many signs of improvement in trade and
increase of employment, which the Government hoped
would materially lessen the evils referred to.
ASH WEDNESDAY.

A motion by the First Lord of the Treasury that,
next day being Ash Wednesday, the House should not
meet until two c'clock, was opposed by Mr. Caine, but
on a division was carried by 161 to 91.

THE DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS.
Sir G. Trevelyan, in resuming the adjourned debate
on Mr. Parnell's amendment to the Address, contrasted
the Crimes Act of 1882 and its administration with that
passed last session, condemning the latter mainly
because it was so drawn as to include the National
League amongst unlawful associations. He deprecated
the infliction of punishment for speeches on the ground
that they might lead to crime, condemned the im-
prisonment of Irish members, and censured the Irish
administration of the Government generally. Their
policy, instead of pacifying and conciliating Ireland, was
alienating Irish sympathy and decreasing respect for
the law. It was, he contended, impossible to govern
Ireland by coercion; and it must be governed by a
policy of consent, sympathy, and confidence.
Colonel Saunderson taunted the right hon. gentle-
man with his change of opinion, for which he had given
no grounds whatever, and complained that the
Government had had to confront not only the action of
the National League, whose decrees were enforced by
murder, but the deliberate incitement of the Irish
people by the Liberal party to disobey the law. Look-
ing forward now to a resolute and just Government in
Ireland, and the re-establishment of respect for law
and order, he saw in it the only foundation that could
be laid for the future happiness and contentment of his
country.
Mr. Labouchere charged the Government not only
with having used the Coercion Act in a harsh and mis-
chievous manner, but with having perverted it to uses
for which it was never intended. Directing special
attention to the Mitchelstown affair, he declared that it
commenced with a violation of the law by the police
officers, which culminated in murder, and that the Chief
Secretary instead of trying to bring the murderers to
trial, had done all he could to shield them from the
consequences of their acts. •
Sir C. Russell, explained in reference to an allusion
by Colonel Saunderson, that Mr. Gladstone had agreed
to omit from the revised version of his Nottingham
speech, and to apologise for, his statement with regard '
to Colonel Dopping, before there was any mention of a
lawyer's letter, or threat of legal proceedings.
Dr. Commins and Mr. Murphy having spoken, Mr.
T. W. Russell claimed for the Government that they
had not only diminished crime by the working of the.
Act of last Session, but had been able to get evidence
of crime which they were totall7 unable to get before
the Act was passed. He ridiculed the would-be
martyrs of the National League, and exhorted the
Chief Secretary to continue firmly and fearlessly to
enforce the Act regardless whether it was against priest
or layman, member of Parliament or peasant. The
session commenced with hopeful auguries for the
future, and he trusted that before it closed the Govern-
ment would endeavour to deal with the question of
arrears, which was now the most urgent point of the
Irish difficulty.
Mr. Clancy remarked that not a single moonlighter
had been brought under the operation of the Coercion
Act which had been used by the Government for the
persecution of their political opponents, and to enable
the landlords to get in their rents. The "plan of
campaign," he declared, had been a conspicuous success,
and it could not be suppressed.
After some remarks by Mr. Handel Cossham, the
debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr. J. E. Ellis.
The House adjourned at a ouarter to one.