The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-06-07 00:00:00

1111MORIAL TO THE LATE RR
ROBERT PEEL.

A atatue t,f the late Sir Robert Peel waa unveil.'

lon Tuesday at Huddersfield by Lord Houghton. The
statue has been provided by public subscription, anti
I sten& in SL George'e-square, the principal open space
lin the town. The figure is of white Sicilian marble,
and, including the pedestal, is 201 t. in height. Mr.
Theed is the sculptor, and the cost of the pedestal and
figure is £l,OOO. The day was a general holiday m
Huddersfield, and there were assembled in the square
during the proceedings probibly 20,000 spectators.
Before the uncovering of the statue Lord Houghton
addressed the crowd, and referred to the accident
which caused Sir Robert Peel's death 23 years ago, and
the public exhibition of sorrow at that event. He said
the feeling of gratitude for the man who had given
them bread for themselves and their children was
re-echoed on the present occasion. Great and wonder-
ful events had happened mince then, yet through and
beyond them all had gone back their memory to the
good deeds of Sir Robert Peel. The English were an
unostentatious people; they were not in the habit of
putting up a memorial to any one who happened to
strike their fancy for the moment, or who had served
for the time their political interest ; anti when they
saw such a symbol as that before them of a nation's re-
collection, they might be sure that it wee thoroughly
deserved. Ile did not mean to say that Sir Robert
Peel was the first man to enunciate those great
principles of free trade which had resulted in so
much prosperity to the country, but what others
had thought he had put into practice, and so be
was identified with that principle of free trade
which among the teemlrg population had received
its fullest confirmation and its most perfect illustration.
Since 1842 more than 25 millions sterling of Customs
and Excise duties had been remitted, and yet Rug-
land was richer and more powerful than ever. The
importation of grain hid increased thrse-fold ;
the woollen manufactures were five times greater
now than at that time, and the iron and steel manufac-
tures ten times as great. All these results had en-
dorsed the policy of free trade; and this was a lesson
to statesmen that if they only stood by what they
thought was good, and at the same time Inspired their
thoughts with true philanthropic sentiments, this Was
not the country where they would fail of their reward.
(Cheers.) As he had said, Sir Robert l'eel WAR not the
first man to initiate the policy of Free Trade, but he
was the first man who combined the statesman and the
philanthropist to such an extent that he could foresee
all the great benefit@ which were to come from that
wonderful policy, anti at the same time was moved by
a desire to do good to the masses of the people, to
benefitthe humblest labourer in his home, toenable the
artisan to en to his work with an easier heart,
and to enable man to put an end, if he could,
for ever to war and to disputes between ela.ss and class
in this country. This was the feeling which urged
him on above all the ties of party, above all the ordi-
nary principles of political life, and which enabled him
to carry out with much rapidity and urgency that
mighty scheme of Free Trade. He thought it A good
thing that there should be these memorials of our
public men. Children would ask their parents about
that statue and would be told how great and good a
man l'eel was. it was this which enabled our public
men be endure much obloquy. When Sir Robert Peel
passed away the obloquy with which he had been
assailed had not entirely subsided, but now it had. And
now, when all those old pasty divisions had been up-
set, when there were new phases of politico, and fresh
subjects for political men to think about, he urged
them to do all they could to support politic illy those
men who were carrying out the policy which Peel
inaugurated, and not to forget that the one aide-de-
camp who helped him by his young, fresh, practical
genius was Mr. Gladstone, now the First Minister of
England. (Cheers.) Most of the followers of Sir Robert
Peel had been swept away by an inscrutable fate, but
Mr. Gladstone remained, the sagacious, prudent, and
wise governor of the country. (Cheers.) Mr. Cardwell
ako still remained to adapt his intellect and patience to
the administration of the army in England, to the
Cordes, wisher', and desires of the people, and to the
effective defence of the nation They must remember
to stand by these men when.. ey were in a difficulty,
knowing they were suppor of Sir Robert Peel.

(Cheers.)
In the evening more than a hnndred gentlemen eat
down to a baro,uot at the "George" Hotel, under the
presidency of Mr. Wright Manor, the Mayor of
Huddersfield.
Lord Houghton, in proposing the " Memory of the
late Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel." referred to the part
he took as a supporter of Sir Robert Peel from ha
entry into Parliament in 1837. He gave statistics of
the magnificent result of Free Trade meamres, and
quoted his opinions on the question of the f, reification
of Paris and the unity of Germany igt showing that
faculty of previslon, the possession of which proved
him a real statesman. He also referred to the charm
and sincerity of his manner, his simplicity of mind,
and his thoughtful and judicious disposition of
patronage.

Mr. Leathern responded to the toaat of "The
Borough and County Members."