The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-02-15 00:00:00

111■1

3totufyize 0115nter.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1808.

THE SESSION.

The parlianientary basilicas transacted last
November was entirely exceptional, Parliament
being summoned for one special object, and
little but that one object having been accom-
plishea. The session commences this week, and
it may be well to glance at sonic important sub-
jects wl‘ieli will necessarily occupy the attention
of the public, even if they all do not ootue licfdre
Parliament.

The great question of parliamentary reform
will assuredly claim the atteution of both houses
of the Legislature, In reference to liaised and
Scotland, and it is probable that the Reform
Ant passed last session will also be called into
question, much dissatisfaction having been et.
prested by the Liberal party inj reaard te the
ratepaying Manse.. Thete is not likely to be
any gk4at dilliculty with the Scotch Reform Hill,
and at least the compound householder there,
owing to the ahnplicity of Scotch holdings, will
not give any trouble. The general principles
on which parliamentary representation is to bo
extended nave already be decided on, and
the only thing to be done is to adopt these prin.
eiphis tO the circumstances of Ireland and Scot-
land. lint we must not expect that all will be
plain sailing, and we may look for stirring and
animated debates before these t.vo great quas-
lions are settled. We inlet that both censerva-
lives and Liberals will on:te ti tn.Lke the electo-
ral powers an 1 privileges of the three parts of
the United Kingdom as nearly similar as pos-
siale. The coalEct of laws in various parts of
the same empire is always a s nine of confusion,
heartburning, and ill-feeling.

There (tre two promiamt topics which are now
even more earnestly discussed than that of Re-
form. Taese are Ireland and Edimatian. The
Irish problem consists of two leading propod-
tions—what shall he done in reference to the
Irish Church, and wintt in reference to the land ?

Both theso tines; MIA indicate alleged grievomma
if long standing in the sister isle. There must
be very few indeed who will dsny that the Cath-
OUCH have a grievance in reference to the com-
pulsory support of the Protestant Established
Church, and that the tenant farmers and Pea.
sautry have a grievance in connection with the
tenure of land ; hut to what extent these griev-
ances affect the prosperity of Ireland, aril what
legislative measures ought to be appliod, are
matters in dispute. The present Goverm»eat
as yet holds out no promise of grappling with
these alleged evils, and Lord Stanley thinks
that this is not work which a "dying Parlia-
ment " should be called upon to do. But the
Liberal party do not generally coincide with this
opinion, and, as ith an Irish Reform Bill before
the House, it aid be very difficult for the Min-
istry to ignore other reforms pressingly de-
manded by the Irish. The Pall Mat/ G4:etre
proposes the following method of cleating with
the land question : " That every tenant shall be
secured liberal compenaation for the whole of
his improving outlay ; that leaaea should be
granted to such good farntera as deserve them
and desire them and w.nhi put them to use ;
that, in the absence of leases and agreements,
the principle of 'implied contracts' should be
interpreted in the occupier's favour, as with as;
and that every legal obstacle to the sale of land
in moderate-sized lota should be removel, so as
to enable really competent and suitable holders
to purchase the freeliohl of their occupancies."
Such plans as these would undoubtedly benefit
the agricultural community, and we cannot be,
lievo that they would be the slightest injury to
the landlord class. They are of course not what
agitators mean by "Ireland for the Irish," and
. .

. ,
would do littlo toward placating Fonianisin
but we inuat, not be led away by either. The
Irish Church is a subject that must be dealt with
sooner or later, and we confesa we cannot admit
the force of the argument about a dying Parlia-
mmit.

Time other great quextion of the day is elona-
flux'' and there is reason to believe that Govern-
wont Intends to deal with this question this see-
Ilion. It is rumoured that the Duke of Marlbo-
rough is preparing a bill to develop° the existing
system ; that local taxation is not to he substitu-
ted for i•nperial taxatiou, but that aid is to be
given to the poorer parishes now debarred from
the grant, and that uncertilicrited ministers will,
under certain conditions, be aided. Supposing
this rumour to he true, we doubt whether such

a proposition would meet public expectation or
demands in this matter. It would be less thin

the country has a right to expect, and though
it would mitigate existing OVii:l it would not re-
move them. A scheme providing for coa.pul-
sory primary education is wanted, and this want
some educational reformer on the Liberal side
of the House will essay t supply. Under any
circumstances education will be a topic that will
be no doubt vigorously discussed this session,
and it could surprise no one, after the speeches
we have had on this subject all over the coun-
try, if the session of 1801 should become as
memorable for an educational measure as that of
1867 Will for a Reform Act.

Among other subjects which will occupy the
attention of our senators nil most probable be
trades unions. It is proposed to introduce a bill
giving protection to the funds of unions, giving
them a legal status, and allowing their members
to take legal means for the protection of their
rules without being subject to a charge of con-
spiracy. Thi3 would bring the whole theory and
practice of trades unious under consideration,
and indeed other CallSei will preclude this im-
portant and dililcult subject being ignored.
The near approach of dissolution and the
natural anxiety to see how the Reform Act will
work in constituting the Parliament may tend to
deaden political activity this session, but with
such great une.dions demanding an answer as
those we have referred to we cannot see how
this sossion ran be otherwise than fruitful of
legislation which will considerably infinenen tho
future of the country. There is no reason why
the existing Parliament, dying though it be,
should not energetically devote itself to. the
work to be done. 'Hie knowledge that its end
is approaching ought to render it all the more
anxious to leave some goodly legacy or other to
the country.