The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-05-05 00:00:00

COMMENTS ON CURRENT NEWS.

TUE political sensation of the week in
Britain has been the interference of the heads
of the Roman Catholic Church in Irish tem-
poral affairs, by the expression of decided
disapproval of both boycotting and the Plan
of Campaign favoured by the adherents of
the National League. A good deal has been
said in various quarters concerning the Papal
rescript ; but though the bulk of the Irish
folk are deeply reverent regarding any utter-
ance from Rome, it is doubtful whether the
letter to their chief pastors will have any
greater effect upon the masses of the people
than an edict of Convocation, yondemnin7
some phase of purely political action, ad-
dressed to all the Anglican clergy, would
have upon the general population in Britain.
This, nevertheless, there is likely to be a
strong attempt made by the Nationalists to
get the matter of Ireland's position set in
quite another light befure the Inquisition at
Rome, so that .a new manifesto, qualifying
the one which has this week been the sub-
ject of so much comment, may, if possible,
be issued from the Vatican.

A DUEL has at last been fought in France
with fatal result. Perhaps our impulsive
neighbours across the Channel will now be-
stir themselves to get an alteration made in
the law concerning "meetings" so disgrace-
ful as are these frequent "callings out" after
every trivial disagreement. "Affairs of hon.
our" they are styled by those concerned, but
an unprejudiced observer would rather con-
sider them ridiculous and always dangerous
exhibitions of the result of unbridled passion,
exhibitions which should be sternly repressed.
The duello is dead and gone, happily, in Eng-
land. It is high time it became extinct in
France.

THE little quarrel between the doctors in
attendance upon the poor German Emperor
has resulted in the discontinuance of Pro-
fessor von Bergmann's attendances at Char-
lottenburg. Whatever may be the merits of
the case as regards the rapture between Sir
Itorell Mackenzie and the eminent German
medico, it is certainly lamentable that pro-
fessional jealousy should have led to a result
which cannot but have grievously troubled
the illustrious sufferer.

THE Australian cricketers are here amongst
us, and in a very few days now considerable
space '6ll begin to be devoted by the news-
papers to reports of the more important fix-
tures of the cricket year, county and other-
wise. Exhibition cricket, so to speak, will be
somewhat robbed of its attractions this sea-
son by the stay of Arthur Shrewsbury, the
Notts crack and the best bat the world has,
in Australia; the absence of Mr. Stoddart,
the dashing amateur hitter, from English
greenswards, he preferring midsummer foot-
ball at the antipodes to willow-wielding here;
and the disablement—pro tern., at any rate
—of "Billy" Bates, the brilliant Yorkshire
professional, who had done many notable
things at wicket and with leather, as well as
in the field. Of the Cornstalks who are with
us we may say that we should much have
liked to have seen Moses, the big scorer of
whom we have heard so much, among them,
and to have welcomed George Giffen once
again; but as it is, the team is by no means
one to be made light of, being remarkably
strong in the bowling element. Big things
are looked for from Turner, who will take, it
is hoped, the place of terror once held by
Spofforth, and there is scarcely a man among
the Australian visitors who cannot do well
with the ball. In the county contests an easy
supremacy is prophesied this summer for
Surrey; but cricket chances are so proverb-
ially uncertain that it is quite unsafe to make
any prediction of the sort, especially as Not t,
Yorks, and Lancashire have lost nothing of
the delight of battle With ball and bat, and
little of their cricket resource, while Glou-
cester has still its Graces, Kent its erthusi-
astic and noble captain, Sussex its munifi-
cent patron and plenitude of rising talent,
and Middlesex London in which to recruit
its strength. The cricket year will have many
interested on-lookers, both in leading end
minor county matches, and the Australian,
Universities, and other first-class fixtures.
All devotees of the game are now wishing
for auspicious weather for flannel wear and
perfect wickets.

HEARSIS are oat of the coming wheel tax
a wise provision of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer—for otherwise funeral expene •
would have become heavier than they are a G
present, and that is needless, for ni:t ay a. po
family is impoverished for month,. hv I,ason
of the mistaken desire to give a dea relative
what is called "comfortable" burial, the oust
notwithstanding. The exemption of all trade
carts under half a ton in weight from the
new duty will deliver, too, many a poor
hawker from a burden which he had feared
and which he could ill afford to pay. We ex-
pect- that, wit h the modifications be has made,
Mr. Goschvn will now get this part of his
Batigc t through, though he has by no means
e ced the protestors to the contrary. But
what controller of the Treasury ever pro-
pose.' a tax which did not rouse the antag-
onism of those on whom it was to be levied?

Judging from the legislative attention it
is to receive, Mr Ritchie's Local Govern.
rnent scheme must certainly be regarded as
a measure of much importance. No less than
30 separate attempts are to be made to
amend tlw bill, and of thesc are proposed
by Const vativo colhague- •.f its author.
Liberal ionist members ...It,. to improve
tilt. ware-- iu 66 different way.-t ; while the
Cil,,iston;uS ennsider it so capable of change
f4)r the I,Jrter that they have placed 207 no-
tices affecting it on the paper. Oat of all this
ace um ula tion of concentrated thought and