The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-10-15 00:00:00

MR. H. H. FOWLER AND MB

CONSTITUENTS.

The Right Hon. H. H. Fowler, M.P., addressing
meeting of his constituents on Monday night at Wil-
lenhall, spoke aL some length on the work of the past
session of:Parliament, the manner in which the busi-
ness of the House of Commons had been conducted,
and of the legislation passed for dealing with the Irish
question. At the commencement of his remarks the
right hon. gentleman said he desired in the first place
to avail himself of the opportunity publicly to acknow-
ledge the great services which had been rendered to
the cause of public economy by Lord R. Churchill.
His action had lifted the great quettion of the reduction
of public expenditure and the consequent lessening of
the public burdens into the forefront of practical
politic, and he had indicated a mode by which the
control of the House of Commons could be intelli-
gently and effectively exercised in all tha departments
of the public service without impairing the constitu-
tional respemsibility of the executive. Mr. Fowler
then proceeded to discuss the work of the session and
said he thought the closure should be applied on both
sides of the House. As to working-men's represen-
tatives he referred to the Mines Regulation Bill of
the past session, and said that the exclusion of Mr.
Burt from Parliament would be a public loss. In
conclusion, he said I was in favour of some mode of
conciliation being tn in Ireland.

THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY ON

IRELAND.

Mr. A. B. Forwood, Secretary to the Admiralty,
addressing the electors of the Scotland division of
Liverpool, represented by Mr. T. P. O'Connor, on
Monday night, said that by perseverance and organisa-
tion the Unionists hoped they would be able to re-
move the stigma of an English constituency return-
ing to Parliament a member whose aim was the dis-
memberment of the Empire. Their opponents
adopted catching titles, such as successful advertisers
resorted to. The Harcourts, Laboucheres, and
Conybeares were not the men to be trusted with
the welfare of the nation. It was clearly the
object of Mr. Gladstone's last Cabinet to en-
courage the people of Ireland to resist laws passed
by the House of Commons. Heeded by Mr.
Gladstone they commented on events such as the
murder of Constable Whelan and the disturbance
at Mitchelstown before the inquiries were half
finished. These utterances caused the government of
Ireland to be more difficult, for 'obstacles were placed
in the way of the Irish Executive, whose first duty it
was to see the law properly carried out. The ques-
tion at issue in Ireland now was whether recent legis-
lation was to be overridden by a private association.
Home Rule would only last until an attempt Was
made to enforce any of the few checks that might be
left in the hands of the British Parliament. This
would be the fulcrum to make separation broader, to
be followed by a renewal of the agitation that has
disturbed the country for the last ten or fifteen years.
He would regard aS a lessor evil, but as very impro-
bable, the complete separation from that part of
Ireland that would not remain in'union with us.

GOVERNMENT AND THE MASH PRESS.
At an adjourned meeting of the Dublin Town
Council, held at the City Hall on Monday, under the
presidency of the Lord Mayor, the recent appearance
of the civic fathers at the Police-court, when 'Lord
Mayor Sullivan was charged with publishing proceed-
ings of prohibited bodies, and the fight for the mace
and sword in court, were referred to. The Lord
Mayor thanked his brother members for having
honoured him with their company when the most
"clumsy and inefficient" clauses of the Crimes Act
Wig sought, but in vain, to be put in force against him.
Aicierman Dillon moved that the action of the policff
on the occasion, and the indignity cast upon the civic
insignia, be referred to a committee of the whole
House. By a charter of Henry IV. .the Lord
Mayor and Corporation were panted a license
to carry before them at all times, "for the
honour of the king and his fieirs," a sword and
mace, and the police had now, for
.the first time
prevented the assertion of the privilege. , After con-
siderable discussion the Lord Mayor,' in putting the
resolution, which was adopted, expressed surprise
that the Conservative members had not been the
loudest in their protest against the indignity cast norm
the civic mace seeing that these were the gift of Wil-
liam 111. to the Corporation.
On Monday evening a meeting was held in the.
Round Room, Dublin, to protest against the press
prosecutions. lhe attendance was exceedingly large,
the number reeking aamission being ha numerous
that many, of the doors wore, burst open. Mr. Sexton,
&LP. (Lord Mayor-elect) presided, and besides a
number of English and foreign journalists, Mena.
T. M. Healy, W. O'Brien, J. Dillon, Rowntree, and
Fuller, M.P.'s, Professor Galbraith, and Miss Cobden
_
addressed the gathering.

SIR W. HA.RT-DYKE AT II'ARNINGHADI.
Sir W. Hart .Dyke, Nr.P.,•- presided on Monday
night at a dinner of the Wellington Lodge of the
National Conservative League, of which ha is the
Grand Master. The-gathering was held at the Lion;
Hotel, Farningharo, and the right hon. gentleman
spoke in response to the toast Of his health given by
Mr. L-iwley, who mentioned incidentally that there
were 47 lodges of the League in -various counties of
England, each with a large number of members; who
were working actively'and effectively for the Confer-
va iVe cause.
Sir William first reviewed the work .of the past
'Parliamentary session. Dealing next with the present'
Position of the House of Commons, he said it would
be matter of bitter re/rot if the new Parliament,
elected for the first time under so widely extended a',
suffrage, should lose its utility, and, still worse,. ita
popnlarity'amongst the masses of the country. The
remedy; to be applied was that which was adopted
when any one persistently obstructed any other
meeting—viz., the obstructionists in Parliament must
be turned out. (Cheers.) Unless' some measure of
that kind were adopted it would be hopeless for
them to deal with and rightly conduct the business in -
the House of Commons. If a member were exp lied
for the Session his constituents qiiight • complain
of 'disfranchisement, but the reply would, be that if
they sent a gentleman who would act in.an orderly
manner, - •and not -obstruct, • the Hodge would,
be_ charmed L.) see him, and would'give him a fair..
hearing; but if they sent a member' like the last he
would be treated- in the same Manner. (Cheers.)
Turning next to the Irish question, 'the right hon.
gentleman said he might be asked' when that inter-
ipinable. difficulty Was going to lie disposed of, so that
Parliament could Willits attention.
,to legislation of
benefit to the agricultural and otherelasses of the"
country. His answer. was-that, they. Were swiftkr
entering upon a state of things fraught with thr
utmost danger to the State and to the
Commonwealth, Many of their opponents nOeded
reminding in ,the stertest ppssible language
what was 'their position from a Constitut
point of view in a 'Constitutional State such,.,ai
ours. When in Act like the Criints Act.
.became law it was the duty of the Executive
ment of the day to see that the Act IF.Fis obeyed4iB its
entirety by all classes of her Majestes subjects, s it
was the duty of the Executive also to maintaik
tandtyranny
n norder,y o f
aanmdaiporriottye.ct
(-Canhyeernsi.i)norwityha-ateahiand been
s,i.t , the
Ottypepodsaiytir wvvithhartergwaordultdo
mr.
this great
.
Glad-
tlrishquestion
pol
-stone' have.said- if his measure, with- respect to
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t boef
Irish Charchlti 1870, and to ..the Land Act in 18814:1
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