The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-02-26 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the HotrsE or LORDS, February 21, Lord Lathom gave
notice that Lord Lytton would postpone till next Thursday
week his motion with reference to Candahar.

Earl Cadogan asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies
whether the Government could give any information with
respect to statements which had appeared in the newspapers,
in somewhat ambiguous language, that a Commissioner was
to be appointed to carry on negotiations with the Boers. It
was stated that overtures for peace were being made through
the intervention of President Brand. He would like to
know whether any fresh negotiations had been made since
the disaster at Laing's Nek on the 28th of January last.
Lord Kimberley replied that Her Majesty's Government
were taking such steps as seemed to them best calculated to
spare the effusien of blood and lead to a permanent settle-
ment consistently with the honour of the British Crown.
They did not, however, think that it would be for the
public advantage to at present enter on details. A com-
munication had been sent from the Boers to Sir George
Colley through President Brand.
Lord Brabourne, in calling attention to the recent pro-
clamation of the Dutch Triumvirate in the Transvaal, con-
tended on the authority of Dr. Livingstone and other mis-
sionaries, that the Boers had violated the Treaty of 1852, on
numerous occasions by the capture of slaves; and this
allegation he supported by reference to official autho-
ritie

Lord Kimberley admitted that irrefutable evidence had
been forthcoming to show that from time to time the
Boers—he believed without the sanction of their Govern-
ment—had violated those articles of the Convention which
forbade the practice of slavery. It was one community
out of the three of which the Republic had been con-
stituted that had been guilty of slave practices, but
It was right to say that the transactions which went to
prove that fact occurred a long time ago, It was clear,
however, that the statement in the proclamation that
the articles of the Convention had never been violated by
the Boers was not correct. He referred to facts to show, on
the other hand, that the Triumvirate were equally incorrect
in their assertion that we had violated the Convention. The
Government had a difficulty to contend with, tome of the
elements of which were dangerous; and he was sure the
House would pardon him if he did not enter on any ex-
planation of present negotiations or future policy. The sym-
pathy between the races in South Africa was one of the most
serious elements of difficulty. Having paid a warm tribute
to President Brand, the noble earl concluded by expressing
his belief that it was for the interest of all our South African
colonies that the war in the Transvaal should be brought to
an end as soon as it could be with due regard to the honour
of this country.
Lord Cadogan having read all he could and made all the
inquiries he could on this subject, continued to be of opinion
that there had been no misapprehension on the part of Lord
Carnarvon, and that annexation was the only policy which
that noble earl could properly have adopted.
The Solicitors' Remuneration Bill was read a third time
and passed. and their Lordships adjourned at a quarter to
seven o'clock.

In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, in answer to Sir G. Campbell,
Mr. Gladstone said the Government had taken such steps as
they thought best calculated to bring about a settlement
with the Boers and spare effusion of blood consistently with
the honour of the British Crown, but it was not for the
public advantage to enter into details.
In answer to Baron de Worms, Sir C. Dilke said the
Government had come to the conclusion that Russia did not
intend to advance to Mery from information received from
Lord Dufferin.
Mr. M'Coan asked the Secretary of State for the Home
Department whether, in view of the precedent established
by the report of the Select Committee on the Post Office in
1844, he would as soon as might be consistent with the
public interests be prepared to lay upon the table of the
House a return of all the warrants issued by him since
April, 1880, to authorize the opening or detention of letters
passing through the Post Office in Great Britain and Ire-
land.

Sir W. Harcourt said:' I can only give the hon. member
the same answer which I gave the other day to the hon.
member for Newcastle. I should consider it inconsistent
with my duty, in the absence of any directions from the
House, to do anything to impair or limit the power con-
ferred on the Secretary of State by statute by adding to it a
condition which Parliament has not thought it right to im-
pose.
In answer to Mr. A. Dilke Mr. Gladstone said that he and
his colleagues were of opinion that the restrictive measures
adopted for a period of urgency did not cover the whole
necessities of the case, and further arrangements might be
necessary for enabling the House of Commons to discharge
Its arduous duties. But it was not probable that they could
submit any proposals to the House until they saw a much
better opening than at present.
Sir H. Maxwell asked the Secretary to the Admiralty
whether he would state what reasons exist for delaying the
issue of the war medal to the men and officers of the Naval
Brigade engaged in the late Zulu war; and whether, in con-
sideration of the fact that the medal has been issued to aU
our land forces engaged in that war, and in view of the dis-
advantage occasioned to men who leave the service before
the medal is conferred upon them, he could hold out any
hope of an early distribution of these medals to the men of
the Naval Brigade.

Mr. Trevelyan in reply said with regard to the men engaged
in the operations in Zululand, it has been necessary to
correspond with the Commodore at the Cape and with
Admiral Sir Francis Sullivan, the late Commodore, in order
to ascertain the ships entitled to the medal and the men
entitled to the clasp. Orders have now been issued for the
preparation of the rolls: but these preliminary investiga-
tions have taken up so much time as seriously to retard the
distribution. Arrangements have been made during the
present military operations in the Transvaal to secure
a contemporary record of services, which will be adopted
In all future cases, and will obviate this cause of delay.
Various questions were addressed to the Speaker and the
Prime Minister in reference to the New Rule. In reply to
Mr. Torrens, Mr. Gladstone expressed the opinion that
"Ministers of the Crown" would mean all members of the
Cabinet and none others; but his understanding of the Rule
was that the initiative would always be taken by the Leader
of the House, whatever office he might hold.
Mr. Tottenham having asked what course the Government
Intended to take on Mr. Labouchere' new clause providing
compensation for evictions for nonpayment of rent in
certain cases, Mr. Gladstone declined to anticipate the
ordinary time for stating the views of the Government.
Sir S. Northcote thereupon asked the Speaker whether
this new clause would be in order, but the Speaker said that
Was a question which ought to be addressed to the Chairman
of Committees, on whom it would devolve to decide the
Point. Sir S. Northcote then asked whether he could put
the question to Mr. Playfair now, to which the Speaker
replied that the course proposed to be taken was so novel
that if he were called on to rule at once, he should say that
the question could not be put.

Mr. Gladstone then, pursuant to notice, moved, in the
terms of the New Rule promulgated at the close of Friday's
sitting, that if the Committee on the Protection Bill be not
Closed before midnight, the remaining clauses of the Bill
and any amendments and new clauses then standing on the
notice paper be put forthwith.
The division was taken at once, and the motion was carried
by 415 to 63.
The Rouse then went into Committee on the Protection
Bill.

Mr. Errington moved to limit the Act to March, 1882,
Instead of September, and Mr. W. E. Forster, in opposing
the amendment, pointed out that the precedents were in
favour of the longer term, and that, having spent six or
seven weeks in passing the Bill, it would be absurd for the
House to impose on itself beforehand the same labour next
Year in reuewing it.
Mr. C. Lewis and Mr. M. Lloyd also supported the longer
termrwhile the amendment was supported by Mr. Labouchere,
Mr. A. Dilke, Mr. Itylands, Mr. Serjeant Simon, Mr.
O'Shaughnessy, Sir J. M'Kenna, Mr. Daly, Mr. Leamy, Mr.
Gray, Mr. T. P. O'Connor, and Mr. Sexton, some of whom
Urged that if remedial measures, were passed coercion would
not be needed; while others argued that if the landlords got
the protection of the Coercion Bill for so long a period they
would be relieved from the temptation to assent to a good
Land Bill. On a division, the amendment was negatived by
211 to 68.
A similar amendment, moved by Mr. Healy, to bring the
Act to an end on September 30, 1881, was next discussed for
some time, and ultimately negatived by 162 to 48.
•

In reply to an appeal from Mr. Gray, Mr. Forster under-
took that if it became necessary to continue the Bill it
~,.B.llould be by a separate measure, and not in the annual
z-mPiring Laws Continuance Bill, and the Committee divided
on Clause 3, affirming it by 199 to 47.
The Committee then took up the new clauses. The first
Was in the name of Mr. O'Shaughnessy, and provided that
ever"' person arrested should on liberation receive a certill-
te which would be a bar to any subsequent arrest, but
.o
e Solicitor-General objecting to it, it was negatived by 258
46.

• next new clause was Mr. Labouchere's, making tern-
provision for compensation for disturbance, but this
▪ ten other new clauses succeeding it were ruled inad-
Vasible by the Chairman as being out of the scope of the
'nil or inconsistent with clauses already sanctioned.

When twelve o'clock arrived the Committee had been for
some time discussing a clause providing that any police-
t4an. magistrate, or Government official guilty of an act
Of intimidation shall be liable to the penalties of mis-
gerneanour.

Mr. O'Donnell was speaking to an impatient House, when
the Chairman rose and, amid loud cheers and counter-
Cheers, proceeded to put the question.
. _. . .

A division was taken at once, and, the clause having been
tegatived by 392 to 43, the Chairman declared the remaining
!low clauses to be out of order, and put the question "that the
Bill as amended be reported to the House." Another
division was taken on this, the, motion being carried
97 377 to 47, and yet another on the final question, that the
t;aairman do leave the chair. This was carried by 324 to 32,
atid Mr. Playfair left the chair and, amid prolonged cheering
from both sides of the House, reported the Bill.
Con the question that the Report be taken on Tuesday
'ar. Parnell moved to defer it until Monday next, but on It
division the House determined by 287 to 33 to proceed with
tho Bill on Tuesday.
Some other business was disposed of, and the House
adjourned at half-past one o'clock.

In the HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 22, Lord Strathnairn asked
Whether the report of Lord Airey's Committee ought not to
be presented to Parliament before the Army Estimates for
the ensuing year were brought forward in the House if
commons.
Lord Granville replied that it was the intention of the
Government that the report should be in the hands of the
members of both Houses on the morning after Mr. Childers
made his statement in introducing the Army Estimates.

P• Lord Dunraven, in a comprehensive speech, brought under
the notice of the House the question of a general opening
Of the public galleries and museums on Sundays. He con-
tended that the mode of observing the Sunday which pre-
vailed in this country was one originated by the Puritans,
d not by the Roman Catholic Church or the first Reformers.
Jle contrasted the way in which Sunday was spent by the
Wclrting people of other countries as compared with that in
wuich it is 'pent by ours. In the course of his speech the
noble lord said :—" Look at other Protestant countries,
Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Holland, and
witzerland. We found that in all these countries public
Institutions devoted to science and art were open on
onndays, and the results were good. In Berlin we find a
lin)Usenta and a national grillery ; Brunswick, a museum;
t,_r"iden, three museums and a picture gallery; Copenhagen,
uree museums and a picture gallery; Stockholm. a national
museum. Christiana, three museums and a pictuie gallery;
The Hague, a museum of antiquities; Amsterdam, a
Infiseum and picture gallery; Geneva, two museums; Berne,
ranseum ; Basle, a museum and picture . allery. In the
c.nitpd States they had public libraries open on Sunday at
4icilinati, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Chicago, and
orceater. But while these privileges were enjoyed by our
l'ielghbours it was in England alone that we found them with-
eta from the people. In England we had also to lament a
'taut of artistic feeling and taste among our artisans which
...,°ld greatly to their disadvantage, and we would gladly see
•uere of that humanizignentiment wkich enabled people to
tbioy themselves soberly, quietly, and rationally in their
• YB. He did not anticipate any great and immediate
ge would follow upon granting to England the same
E`Lviieges that all other Protestant countries enjoyed. But
e believed an improvement in the tone and tastes of the
people would gradually be brought about. The effect on the
I:irlesent generation might not be great, but it would soon
itself on the plastic, impressionable minds of children.
ie experiment had been tried in England, and wherever
'Lllen. trial had been made the results had been excellent. In
Ondon and the immediate neighbourhood the people now
free admission on Sundays to Hampton-court Palace,
-eiely Gardens and Museum, the Royal Military College,
toreenwich, and Free Libraries at Notting-hilltnd Kenning-
In the provinces we had a public library at Binning-
Fort. ; t h e National Gallery, Natural History Museum, and
r,,,,a,nieal Gardens at Dublin; no less tnan rive libraries and
biZing rooms at Manchester, and free libraries at Middles-
ha, and Wigan. In addition to these free institutions we
• u the following open lo subscribers and shareholders,
plowes or members :--The Alexandra Palaae, the Crystal
the Royal Botanical Society's Gardens and Museum
Gra; Val Horticultural Society's Gardens, the Zoological
logicard at Belfast, Royal Botanic Gardens; Dublin Zoo-
the .„ ardena; Manchester, Royal Botanical Gardens, and
O .;,tnentesun ; Sheffield, St. George's Aluseum ; Stratford-
the Shakespeare Museum. The public also had
StindaYeen freely admitted by ticket, procurable from the
8
"latY, te the organ recitals at the Albert-
, u". 4 Otoeionally to the Grosvenor Gallery. Tickets

had also been freely distributed, securing admission to the
various art exhibitions organized by the Sunday Society.
In none of these places had any complaint been made. The
result had been good. The words of the resolution were per-
fectly applicable. In one instance only had any public
attempt been made to close a museum that had once been
opened on Sunday. This occurred at Maidstone, but the
decision was arrived at by the majority of a new committee,
who did not raise. the question of Sunday opening when
seeking election, and gave the inhabitants no opportunity
of expressing an opinion on the subject. This attempt was
only made after public notice of the resolution now before
their lordships had been given, and within three days of the
decision of the committee being known one of the largest
meetings ever held at Maidstone strongly condemned the
committee for their hasty and uncalled-for action in this
matter. On Sunday last the museum was again open,
and steps having been taken to count the number of
people attending, it was found to be 481 between
the hours of two and five. The meeting in Maidstone
not only protested against the closing of the museum
on Sundays, but almost unanimously adopted a peti-
tion which had been presented to their lordships."
His lordship said that, as a rule, the poorer classes in
the Unite 4 Kingdom were driven to publichouses on that
day by reason of their not having comfortable homes and
because places of innocent recreation and instruction, such
as the museums and galleries, were closed. He concluded
by moving a resolution which declared that as the opposition
to the opening of national museums and galleries in the
suburban districts of London and Dublin had entirely ceased
owing to the good resuits which had followed that opening, the
same course should be adopted in respect of all institutions
of a similar character,

Lord Shaftesbury moved, as an amendment, that the
time had come for giving effect to a recommendation of a
Select Committee of the House of Commons in 1860 that
such institutions as the British Museum and the
National Gallery should be open on week-day evenings
from seven to ten at least three evenings in the week. He
emphatically denied that the opposition to the Sunday
opening movement had ceased, and referred to very nume-
rously signed petitions against it in support of his denial.
A petition against opening the Bethnal-green Museum
had, lie said, received 84,000 signatures of the working
people. He expressed his belief that the principle which
underlay the motion of Lord Dunraven would lead to the
ultimate desecration of the Sunday by profane amusements
and servile work, and expressed his conviction that the
people of this country had never been so earnest and anxious
in opposing the Sunday opening movement as they were at
present

_
The Duke of Somerset supported the motion, for which he
did not anticipate any such results as those predicted by
Lord Shaftesbury.

The Archbishop of Canterbury suggested that it was
rather hard that the House should be called on to pronounce
.on the accuracy or inaccuracy of the statements in the
motion, though he gave Lord Danraven every credit for the
very conciliatory tone of his speech, which was as well cal-
culated to reconcile opponents as any speech on the subject
could be. But it was a dangerous thing to tamper by an ab-
stract resolution with a long-established sentiment without
knowing what was to follow. Why was it that the working
classes showed so little disposition for the opening of those
institutions on Sundays? Perhaps it was because they thought
they saw what it would lead to, and feared that it would
lead to general work on Sunday. He thought that the
correct course to take was to increase the number of open
spaces for the innocent enjoyment of the poor on Sundays
and week-days. He believed that English men and women
enjoyed themselves when at recreation as much as any other
people in the world, though they might not find amusement
In the frivolities which the people of some Continental
countries indulged in. He supported the amendment.
Lord Rosebery did not admit that the number of petitions
in this case was a test of the popular feeling, and as to the
Bethnal-green petition observed that if the 84,000 petitioners
didnot wish to go into the museum if it were opened they could
keep out of it. He did not think the experiment which we
had tried for two or three centuries of making Sunday a
miserable day had succeeded. He sarcastically met the
argument which sent the people to the parks as an only
resource by reminding their Lordships of the weather of
this country. He denied that this was a movement for open-
ing everything on Sunday. It was confined to the public
museums and galleries.
- - •

-
Lord Cairns, in opposing the motion, quoted the results
of divisions in the House of Commons to show that the
movement had not grown in public favour, but the contrary.
Last Session it was not even submitted to the House of
Commons. He argued that if you brought large numbers
of people to the great collections on Sundays you
would cause them to pass the publichouses at the
hours when those drinking places were open. He
was for opening the collections at night, when, by means of
the electric light, they could be seen without injury to the
works of art. He believed that the sacredness of Sunday
was not preserved by Act of Parliament, but by the senti-
ment of the vast majority of the population, and that the
adoption of the motion would be regarded with pain or dis-
may by those who composed that majority.
Lora Granville, who stated that tne Government took no
part in the question, was personally in favour of the
motion. He pointed out that the amendment was not in-
compatible with the motion, because the museums and gal-
leries might be opened in the evenings as well as on Sundays.
He thought that the people, whether young or old, would
be muca better in those institutions than in publichouses ;
and he was of opinion that it was right to have brought this
question before that House, as no assembly was more fitted
to pronounce an opinion on it.

After a few remarks from the Duke of Argyll against and
by Lord Thurlow tn favour of the Motion, the House
divided, and the motion was negatived by 41 "Non-con-
tents" to 34 "Contents" and, on the amendment being
then put as an original motion, it was agreed to without a
division.

Their Lordships adjourned at ten minutes past eight
o'clock.

In the HOUSE OF ConniottS. Mr. M. Lloyd having asked
the Attorney-General whether the attention of the Govern-
ment had been directed to Mr. Parnell's recent speech in
Ireland, the Attorney-General for Ireland said that he had
only seen the report which appeared in some of the morning
papers' but the matter was receiving and would receive
careful consideration.
In answer to Sir J. Bailey, Mr. Childers stated that there
are 329 commissioned officers in the British Army who have
risen from the ranks, of whom one is a lieutenant-general
and one a major-general, three are colonels and seven lieu-
tenant-colonels; and, in answer to Mr. Pugh, Mr. Shaw-
Lefevre stated that he is taking Supplementary Estimates
for the Ordnance Survey, and hopes that it may be com-
pleted by the end of 184)0.
- - •

On the order for considering the Report of the Prote c
tion of Person and Property (Ireland) Biil as amended, a new
Clause was inserted for granting out-door relief to the
families of persons detained under the Act. A Clause,
proposed by Mr. Callan, that the Lord Lieutenant's
warrant should issue only on sworn information, was re-
jected by 317 to 41. The retrospective action of the Bill
was limited to September 30, in preference to the 31st
January proposed by the Irish members, by 164 to 41.
Mr. Parnell moved to strike out of the Bill the crimes of
treason and treason felony. The Government resisted this
proposal, and on a division the words objected to were
retained by 126 to 33; and a subsequent amendment by Mr.
Sullivan to omit treasonable practices was also negatived by
165 to 29.

Mr. A. 31. Sullivan moved to except the press from the
operation Of the Bill, and was defeated by 250 to 45.
After some further discussion, the debate on the Report
was adjourned, and the House adjourned at a quarter past
two o'clock.