The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-13 00:00:00

The foHowing is an extract from a leader in The
Times commenting upon the Earl of Beaconsfield's
letter :

. . . . Within five or six weeks a great controversy will be
finally closed, and a new Parliament will be in a position to
take a new departure in the guidance of our national life.
What will be the issue before the country? That is the
great question of the'hour ; and the Prime Minister has lost
no time in stating it from his own punt of view. We print
this morning a letter he has addressed to the Duke of
Marlborough, which, like Sir Stafford Nerthcote's observe.
lions, starts from the question of Ireland, but which tnds
with a statement and an appeal on momentous considera-
tions of foreign policy. It is, perhaps, only too ingenious
in the skill with which the main point is gradually
approached; and few political writers would have con-
ducted us in so short a space, and by a continuous argument,
from famine ii, Ireland to the position of England in the
ciounclis of Europe. It the method is circuitous, the
language also is occasionally a little startling, but
these defects, as many will consider them, will not
diminish the importance of the document, or cm
they obscure its purport. It must be allowed to have
been in the past a characteristic of Lord Beaconsfield that
even his moss startling utterances have been found to be
atimated by a serious purpose, and to have realities behind
them; and the important declarations made at the close of
this letter mast carry all the weight which belongs to the
ntterances of one of the most responsible statesmen in
Europe. The main drift of this inditect address to the con-
stituencies may be very briefly summed up. Lord Beacons-
field appeals to the country for a vote of confidence
on his ioreign policy. Ile tells the, electors that it is a
critical moment in the history of Europe; and he Invites
them to declare, in the face of foreign countries, whether
the course of policy on which England has entered is to he
maintained. He begins by representing that under the
guidance of theGoverument England, which bad been charged
with indifference to Ireland, has shown itself "a generous
and sympabhlV.ng friend "in the recent distress, and that
during the six years of their administration the Ministry have
done much to improve the condition of the Irish people. But a
dist ger, "in its ultimate results scarcely less disastrous
"than pestilence and famine," now distracts that country.
The Home Rule party Is attempting to sever "the constitu.-
tiotial tie which unites it to Great B•ltain in that bond
which has favoured the power and prosperity of both." It
Is to be hoped, Lord Beaconstield says, that "all men of
light and leading" will resist this destructive doctrine.
But he observes that there are some persons who chal-
lenge the expediency of the Imperial character of this
realm.
Htheemdaoses "having not I"
who
they are, but he
describes attempted and felled to enfeeble
"our colonies by their policy of decomposition ; " and
he suggests that these persons may now reo Inise in the
disintegration of the United Kingdom "a mode which will
nob only accomplish, but precipitate their, purpose." As a
description of the general course of Liberal policy, this
language would be, to say the least, excessive. No consider-
able party that we know of has endeavoured "to enfeeble
our celonies by a policy of decomposition," and it is inoon•
cetveble how they can entertain a design of accompllabing
such a purpose by disintegrating the United Kingdom. But
these exaggerations lead directly to the main subject of the
letter. the country is to be asked to decide whether
it approves of a policy which aims at maintaining its
Imperial charaoter and its position in Europe. "Rarely,"
Lord Beaconsfield says, "in this century has there been an
occasion more critical." Her Majesty's Ministers have
hitherto been able to preserve peace. "But this ineffable
blessing cannot be obtained by the passive principle of non-
interference. Peace rests on the presence, not to say the
ascendancy, of England in the Councils of Europe." These
are strong expressions, and perhaps imprudently strong. Bat
the country will not fail to be impressed with the import-
ance of the facts which must be assumed to have prompted
them. They are a plain declaration that there are
dangers in the present position of affairs in Europe, and
that in the judgment of the Premier they can only be suc-
cessfully averted by the due exercise of English influence.
Ascendency, of course, in one sense, we should all repudiate.
But so far as it may be taken to mean the exertion of a mode-
rating influence Is is legitimate, and natty be necessary.
Such is Lord Beaconsfield's opinion; but he says that a
doubt, supposed to be inseparable from popular elections,
If it does not diminish, certainly arrests the influence of
England. This, he adds, 'is a main reason for not delay-
ing an appeal to the national voice." We may safely con-
clude that it is the main reason. If great political questions
are before Europe, it is a matter of vital importance to know
whether the Ministry of the day has the confidence of the
country, and whether its policy, therefore, can be relied
upon. This is the issue raised, and Lord Beaconsfield con-
eludes by expressing a hope that, whatever may be the con-
sequences to Her Mejeety's present aevisers of the appeal he
makes, the country will return to Westminster "a Patna-
dient nob unworthy of the power of England, aad resolved
to Maintain It."
. There can be no doubt that for some important reasons
this constitutes a forci,ie appeal. Recent elections have
shown that at this moment, on a mere issue of Foreign and
trepestei policy the Government may fairly count on the sup-
port of publis opinion. The Liberal party daring the last few
years have made such fatal errors that it may almost be said
f them they hive left no further Units to be committed.
But it wilt probably rot be forgotten by the constitu-
encies that a general election will not have the passing
consequences ot a contest for a single seat. The Parliament
which meets in May will, perhaps, have the whole future of
the country for several years in its hands; and it is de-
sirable, if it be possible, to look beyond the immediate
Issue, and to consider what set of men are, on the whole,
likely to deal most satisfactorily with permanent public
Interests. But at the same time it is not less certain that
the immediate issue cannot be ignored; and It will be
traposathla to,nlace in power men who cannot
to carry forward at the present time the general policy
of which the country approves. In these circumstances
the interest of the moment centres in the inquiry what will
be the policy adopted by the leaders of the Liberal party.
They are at a crisis in their career. To adhere obstinately
to the lines which they have followed the last three years
worad be fatal to their influence. But the case would be
different if they were frankly to accept what has been ad'
complished,in the past, and to give clear pledges to the
country and to Europe that, in the event of their returning to
powe., there would be no dislocation in the foreign policy of
England. At present their real views are utterly obscure. The
word has been passed to sink everything in the one object
of turning out the present Ministry. But as a serious
programme this must be pronounced impracticable. The
oountry has a right to know what position Liberal states-
men intend to assume in view of such dangers ant
duties as Lord 3eaconeseld refers te. The whole
result of the coming struggle will in all probability
depend on the manner in which these questions are
answered within the next few days. The public mill not
prejudge the case until both sides have been
heard. There are, of course, partisans on each side
absolutely pledged; but the issue of the election will
depend on the verdict of the intervening mass oi impartial
opinion. At present, on a question of foreign policy, the
presumption is decidedly in favour of the Ministry, end it is
upon foreign policy that the b..tsle will be fought. But the
Liberals have yet to declare themselves • and the country
will scan their utterances without prejudece.

The Decay News ef Tuesday (in a leader) remarks that the
letter of tho Prime Minister is an electioneering manifesto
in a novel form. As a letter to the Lord Lieutenant
of Ireland it has no meaning, It is not even
meant for Irishmen exciusively, and is misdirected
in being sent to Dublin Yet as an appeal to Eqglish
constituensies it is, to say the least, disappointing.
There is no outline of policy. There Is nothing dis-
tinctive in it as a political manifesto excevt the pecu-
liar phraseology of the present Prime Minister. the
present Ministry in this manifesto of its chief gives evidence
of incapacity to understand or unwillingness to face the
Problems which the country needs to have finally settled;
and makes It evident that if the arrested course of bene-
ficient legislation is to be resumed, it must be under another
policy and with other okiefs.

The Hominy Post believes the prevalent opinion will
undoubtedly be that the Government have acted wisely.
Everything is ripe for the judgment about to be pronounced;
and as the Chancellor of the Exchequer will a few days
hence announce his Budget for the present year the can.
stituencies will have the opportunity of forming their
opinion respecting the financial outcome of the ministerial
Policy both at home smclAbroad. In Lord Beaconsfield's
opinion rarely has an °cession arisen more critical
than the present. The keynote uf his declaration
Ls that the presence, not to say the ascendency
Of England in the councils of Europe are indi-
spensable to the 12142150111111C0 Of peace, and that

Iclaratlon

this end cannot be seetued by mere non-intervention. If,
however, this ascendency is to be maintained, and if Great
Britain and Ireland are to present a united front, the mis-
chievous agitation which now gives the semblance of dis-
union roust be extinguished like the old fashioned cry for
the repeal of the union which preceded it many years ago.
And herein those Liberal politicians who have se
recently been coquetting with Rome Rule in England may
derive a profitable lesson.

The Daily Telegraph thinks the country will gladly seize
the offered opporatuity to put its seal on the larger issues
which have don.' wed the recent course of public affairs.
No candid man can blame the Prime Minister for having
deferred the appeal until now. He was leg illy and morally
—if the two• ideas on such a subject are not the same—
entitled to choose his own time, having regard to
public intents', as well as mere party convenience.
There never wit,' anything solid in the famous special
pleading about the six and seven sessions, and the guilt of
proceeding in accordance with the Septennial Act As a
matter of tact, the nation, whatever it may do in future, as
well as the Parliament, sustained the Goverment In the
course they pursued abroad from the purchase of the Suez
Canal Shares to the Afghan War. Nor is there any symptom
now, far otherwise, that the people have changed their mani-
fest attitude on this head.

The Standard says it will be clear to every one from the
letter of the Prime Minister that circumstances of far
greater gravity than even the progress of domestic legisla-
tion have determined the Governrinnt on the step which
they have taken. It is to be gathered from Lord Beacons-
field's manifesto that there are two questions on which it is
considered necetsary that the country should decide at once.
The first is the maintenance of the union between Great
Britain and Ireland. The second is the foreign policy of
the present Administration. The opinion of the country
must be proclaimed in unmistakable terms both on the
question of Irish disaffection and on the necessity of a pre-
dominating English influence in the councils of European
Governments. As soon as these are convinced that the
policy of the present Administration is supporrted by the
nation at large, designs will die away which have been only
kept alive by doubts about English publics opinion, the
peace of the world will be ensured, and the integrity of the
British Empire will be sate.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN PARLIAA§ENT.

A Correspondent in the House of Commons writes (says
The Times of Tuesday) :
" Tne announcement of the Dissolution in the
House of Commons this evening was a perfect sur-
prise. It is admitted on all hands that the Govern-
ment kept its secret well. Even after the meeting of
the House many honn members discussing the question
of the Dissolution agreed that it could not come be-
foreWhicauntide at the earliest, and the autumn was
the period almost unanimously agreed open. When the
Chancellor of the Exchequea 'Quito make his all-import-
ant statement of an Easter disaolution there was a much
smaller attendance than nsual at question-time. Per-
haps there were 300 members all told in and about the
Palace of Westminster; but within the House of
Commons itself there were not more than 200 when
the Chancellor of the Exchequer rose. Those who
heard the decision of the Governmtnt soon spread the
news among these who had not, and all seemed to
have but one inspiration in the circumstances—
namely, to rush to the telegraph office in the central
lobby. Here the spectacle was remarkable. In a
very few. seconds the little angular office was filled,
and Ministers, ex-Ministers, and other members
flowed out from the House to find that the
only means of communicating at once with
their friends in the country, were cut off by
a sturdy crowd of earlier corners, who had the
telegraph office and its precincts entirely in
their possession. Inside the little office the multi-
plicity of the telegrams and the earnestness- of the not
overpatient though distinguished senders of the
messages were quite bewildering. Telegraph forms,
usually handed to customers in neat parcels, were
torn into single sheets and scattered promiscuously
among the crowd, each one to be picked up and
returned across the counter in a few seconds with the
message hurriedly scratched upon it. This lasted for
over an hour, but just at that lapse of time a distin-
guished legal member of the Opposition found the
office still blocked, and was forced to write his
address to his constituents on the crown of his
hat in the central lobby. A Cabinet Minister
was just as anxious in the first rush to announce
the news to his constituents as the most ob-
scure representative of the most obscure borough,
but he had to struggle hard first for a telegraph form
and then for the momentary but much-prized attention
of the telegraph clerk. Between five o'clock and six
o'clock 400 messages were handed in. The firstto send
off the news to the provinces was the hon. and learned
member for an Irish county, and it was not until close
on nine o'clock that the strain on the telegraph clerks
was removed. By this time nearly 650 messages
had been despatched—about 500 by wire and 150 by
pneumatic tube—all the telegrams going through the
central office. One member despatched 40 telegrams on
his own account, but the great majority of members
were satisfied with one message. It is suggestive
of the care taken by the Government that the news
should not leak out pqmaturely that though, of
course, an enormous strain was to be expected on
the telegraph department at the House of Commons,
no intimation was made of the necessity of an
increase of the staff. Five clerks, the ordinary
staff, discharged the duties of the entire evening.
There has been no such pressure duce the night
on which Lords Derby and Carnarvon resigned
their offices in the Government. The conversation in
the lobbies included some complaints against Ministers,
of course, and these came chi, fly from hon. members
who take a lively interest in such measures as the
Bankruptcy and the Chartered Banks Bill. The Irish
members received the announcement of the Dissolu-
tion with apparent satisfaction. Most of them have
announced their intention to stand again and—to be
returned. Indeed, it was remarkable last night that
very few of the present members of the House of
Commons intend to ?esign."

It is said that the Dlesol.*lo. Ans.ll7
decided upon until the Cabinet Council held on Mon-
day.—On Tuesday night the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer stated in the House of Commons that Parlia-
ment will be prorogued on the 23rd, and the-writs
issued on the 24th init.

The present Parliament met on March 5, 1874, and
will consequently have reached the age of six years
and 19 days when it is dissolved. This will be the
longest Parliament but one during the Qaeen's reign—
the longest having been that called by Lord Derby in
May, 1859, which lasted just 13 days imager than the
present one. The dissolution of the present Perna.
ment is the 21st of the century and the 9th of Her
Majesty, and it is the second Parliament which will
have been dissolved in the month of March.

The month of March has witnesaPd many dissoln-
lutions of Parliament (;ay s the Pail Mall Gaulle). In
the reign of Henry VIII. there were two march dn..
epantions—namely, on March 4. 1513, and March 29
1544; in the reign of Edward VI. one, on March 31,
1553; in the:reign of Qaeen Elizabeth two, on March
23, 1587, and March 29 1589; in the reign of James
I. one, on March 27, 1652; in the reign of Charles I.
one, on March 10, 1629; during the Commonwealth
one, on March 16, 1660 ; in the reign of Charles IL
one, on March 28, 161; in the reign of George
one, on March 10, 1722; in the reign of Gorge IL
one, on March 21, 1761; in the reign of George 111,
two, on March 12, 1768, and March 25, 1781.

The Daily News says :—" The dissolution has come sud-
denly. The Government has been more than a year think-
ing about it, and has at length made up ite mind in a hurry.
The Easter holidays are not to be holidays to politicians this
year. The very crisis of the election will be in Easter week.
The dissolution takes place immediately upon the adjourn-
ment on this day fortnight, and the borough elections
will consequently become due in Eraster week, and
the county elections in the week after. The writs,
we understand, will be sent out on the evening of the
23rd. It so they will be received in most of the constitu-
encies on Wednesday, the 24th. In the boroughs they may
be proclaimed on that day or on the next day. The norni-
nit, ion may then take place either on Saturday, the day
after Good Friday, or on one of the first two days in
Easter week, or these proceedirgs may be all one or
two days later, if the writs are delayed. In case of
a contest the ballot mutt take place not more than
three clear days after the nomination, and is Usually
held on the next day The borough elections all
through England and Wales will therefore certainly
take place during the Easter week. In counties
and district boroughs there must be three clear days
the receipt of the writ and the nomination,
put elf more than nine days. Tnese elem.
twbieohtnivicsheellialnlntobt be
etore follow not later than the week after the
Easter week, and the more distant returns will come in
during the succeeding week. The time which must ektpse
between the proclamation of the dissolution and the re-
assembling of Parliament must not be less than
thirty-five days. The earliest date on which the
new parliament could meet is therefore the 27th of
April, and the time actually fixed h the first week in May.
The whole election contest is therefore concentrated into the
next three weeks in the boroughs and the next four weeks
In the counties In a month from this time we shall duo w
the political constitution of the new Parliament with
sufficient accuracy to see to which party in the State the
destiny of the country is likely to be committed for the
next few years."

Tuesday's Evening Standard remarks :—" The social
:rnspilacitns. f ah duto.truktohn oh;
Lk P. a rwl
ehrme eynet taerr ed a svi nvgeur lya r
batun dy
in sending word that an election was as nanu 41) evoly v...
of the United Kingdom, and wherever the news arrived it
created a feeling of excitement. It was as the bonfire on a
distant hill, which tells an army waiting in readiness, but
yet hardly expecting an early attack, that the enemy have
Pasted the frontier. -In many plaoes the news found the com-
batants prepared for the fray, with candidates chosen, com-
mittees forzued,and a quiet canvass already going on. In others
private jealousies, constitutional inertness, and a difficulty
to choose between various candidates, have as yet prevented
any decision being arrived at. But with the news of the
approaching diseotution all hesitation will be over, and in
every town in England influential members of committees
hastily assembled yesterday evening and discussed their
plan of campaign. Even in the female breast the news of
elecAors at hand will everywhere produce a lively excite-
ment. Women, whatever the supporters of female suffrage
may say, are not warm politicians, although they are
eager partisans. The distinction is obvious. They care
keenly and eagerly for the success of the party that they
may favour; but, the local battle over, they watch with
but feeble interest the events of the Parliamentary struggle.
Into an election tight they enter as heartily and cordially
as do the male population, and a flutter of intense excite-
ment will run yound the breakfast table of every country
mansion and of every urban rksidence whtaa It is known that
tile contest is a, hand. Plans for the Easter vacation will
be ungrndgingly laid aside, projected excarsions will be
Riven up, and society will make an exodus down to country
resideeces to take part in the campaign. It is probable that
the disputed elections will be numerous beyond precedent.
Radicals will certainly attack many Conservative seats ; and
seeing what has taken place, and lookieg at Oats urgency
and importance of the occasion, Conservatives will 1) el
seriously to blame it they do not assail every Liberal strong-
hold, however hopeless the attempt may seem to be."

There was a sensible diminution in the excitement
in the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday night,
,though the lobbies still showed strong symptoms of
the disturbance of the previous evening. A large
number of members had taken their departure for the
provinces, but the members lobby of the House of
Commons was crowded. The rooms of both the Go-
vernment and Opvosition Whips were seldom un-
tenanted, anxione members and expectant candidates
equally requiring . advice and instruction.—On the
oc-
cupied by crowds of People,
.awaiting the prominent-
outside, Westminster-hall and Palace-yard were
leaders of the political Parties, and vehemently dis-
cussing the proapects of the general election. In the
lobbies nearly 100 election agents were actively ocou-
pied interviewing hon. members, and a large number
of candidates were engaged discussing their chances
with sitting members.

Colonel Buller arrived at Downee, Crediton, on
Tuesday evening, much better in health, and the bells were
rung merrily on the eocaidoll.

MR. FORSTER'S ADDRESS.

The address of Mr. W. E Forster, M.P., to the electors of
Bradford was issued on Tuesday. The right hon. gentleman
says :

"The Prime Minister, in a letter to the Duke of
Marlborough, has appealed to the country, but in his
address he says hardly anything about the measures
which his Government has passed in its six years of.
office, and nothing of any measures which, if be re-
main in office, he would hope to pass. Lord
Beaconsfield has, however, thought fit to charge
his political opponents with attempts to 'en-
feeble our Colonies,' and to pursue a 'policy
of disintegration of the United Kingdom. A
charge so absurdly unfound,d can only have been
made in the hope of thereby diverting the attention of
the public from the mischievous foreign and Indian
policy of himself and his colleagues and from their
proved incompetency to deal with domestie re-
forms, I do not fear that you, the electors of
Bradford, will be forgetful either of what has or
what has not been done by this Parliament or what
ought to be done in the next Parliament. For
my part I agree with Lord Beaconsfield that' the
strength of this nation depends on the unity of feel-
ing which should pervade the United Kingdom and
its widespread dependencies; but I believe that the
power of England can only be upheld by a foreign and
colonial policy wise and just, and by a home policy
which will increase the welfare of her people; and,
while I am determined to maintain the union with
Ireland, I am also determined to do what in me
lien to make Irishmen as anxious as Eng-
lishmen and Scotchmen to preserve that ,:union.
I need not tell you that I shall continue to
endeavour to advocate your local interests; but no
local interests, however important, can be compared
with the national issue now before you, I cannot
doubt that in the decision of this issue the voice of
Bradford will be beard with unmistakeable clearness,
and that by earnest and united action Bradford will
again stand in the van of popular and orderly progress
at home, and of wise and just and peace-loving policy
abroad."