The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-02-24 00:00:00

THE MEMBERS FOR CHELSEA.
(From The Timee.)

On Monday evening Sir Charles Dilke and Sir
Henry Hoare, the members for Cheleea, met their
constituents at the Chelsea Vestry-hall, London; Mr,
John Boyd occupied the chair.

Sir Charles 'hike, who was received with much
cheering, expressed his regret that public interest had
this year been aloe more diverted to foreign affairs by
the possibility of war with America. The Government,
he thought, should have foreseen the difficulties of the
case as they were foreseen by individuals, and if we
should, moreover, be plunged into war and the devil's
game sh ould be played between the two most independent
and civilized Powers in the world, an indignant people
would exclude from power, if they did not impeach the
i men through whose carelessness, gnorance, and pre-
judices so fearful a calamity had been brought upon
mankind. In the face of such a gigantic calamity
as .an American war it was difficult to compose one's
mind to speak of other things. Until a few
weeks ago a man might say in England, not
without ridicule, but without abuse, that his
leanings were Republican. Now, however, any
such declaration was dignified with the name of
. . . .

treason. This probably aiose from the fact that those
who in their writings asserted that the unanimous
opinion of the people was favourably to monarchy were
well aware that there was a growing belief that a
cure for many evils might lie the other way. He
had himself been accused of treason and of making
personal attacks on the Queen. He would not
then repeat or stiongthen the statements he had
made twice during the recess, but he would do so shortly
in the House of Commons. Sir Charles then went on
to explain and defend some of the statements he had
made on the occasion referred to. He had been
accused of having contravened the oath of allegiance

taken by every nember of the House. But he had not
done so. The oafs taken by members simply
amounted
to a declaration lust they would not rise against the
law, but did not imply that they would not use all
lawful means te change it. The Queen herself had
tat en an oath, from which she herself had departed
when the sense ef the country required that the laws to
which she had dedged herself should be changed.
Besides an inquiry into the Civil LiSt &Will:ni-
tration, there were other subjects upon which he pro-
posed to move :his year in the House of Commons.
He meant to re-introduce his Public Lands and Com-
mons Bills, with which he had been intrusted by the
Land Tenure Reform Association, to support a Bill to
repeal the obnoxious clauses of the Criminal Law
Amendment Act, and, above all, to continue to labour
for the universal instruction of the children of the
people in free common schools.
Sir Henry Hoare, who was received with mingled
cheers and hisses, then said lie entertained the highest
respect for the honesty and ability of his colleague,
but had no sympathy with his Republican opinions.
The system of government he approved was a Con-
stitutional Monarchy, such as was possessed in Eng-
land. In the course of his speech, Sir Henry said he
regretted the A/akima complications, but had every
faith that the Government would maintain the national
honour. He would not join in any vote the object of
which was to turn them out.
Mr. Wells then moved, and Mr. James Beal se-
conded a resolution of confidence in the hon. members,
which was carried.
Mr. Moy Thomas then moved, and Mr. Wises
seconded, a special vote of thanks to Sir Charles Dilke
for his votes against the Royal dowries and against the
second reading of the Parks Bill
The resolution was carried amid the most enthu-
siastic cheering, again and again renewed, after which
Sir Charles briefly acknowledged the special vote.
The proceedings closed at a late hour with a vote of
thanks to the chairman.