The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-05-15 00:00:00

SIR C. DIM) M.P., ON THE POLICY
OF THE *GOVERNMENT.

On Tuesday night Sir C. Dilkc, M.P., and Mr. J. F. B.
Firth, M.P., were entertained at the Vestrygiall, Chelsea, by
the Borough Liberal Association, at a complimentary dinner
in celebration of their recent return to Parliament. The
Right lion. A: S. Ayrton presided, and about 200 gentlemen
were present, including the Right Hon, .1": Chamberlain,
M.P., President of the Board Of Trade, and the principal
Liberals resident in the district.

Sir Charles Dilke, M.P., in responding to the toast
of "The Borough Members," said that the recent
elections, in which that borough played a not un-
worthy part, eventuated, as everyone knew, in
(Irking the late Government out of office. They
feW in " a shower of stars." Most of them took
the Bath, and he certainly wondered that the late
Home Secretary should have taken that particular de-
coration after his recent experiences in connelion with
London Water. (Laughter.) With regard to the policy
of the present Government he could say little, because,
not being a member of the Cabinet, he was not in pos-
session of the latest facts with regard to the position
of home questions.; and, on the other hand, being
in the Foreign Office, he Could say nothing of foreign
affairs, because he might know too Much. (Laughter.)
He could say. this much, however, regarding home
affairs—that in the composition of the. Cabinet all
shades of Liberalism were now well represented.
(Cheers.) They had a complete security not only that
their views would •be understood, but that in the
shaping of the general legislation of the future due
consideration would be paid to the desires of the people.
The Bill, which had been promised by those now at
the head of the Administration undoubtedly would
be brought before Parliament in due time. With
regard to foreign questions he might say this much—
that the policy of the present Government would be a
policy of firmness, consistent with due respect to
the rights of all the other nations of the world.
(Cheers.) Lord Granville and the Cabinet of which
he was a member were pursuing the ends of the reform
of Turkey and of the complete execution of the un-
fulfilled portions of the Treaty •of Berlin, and they
were pursuing those ends by the means of the con-
certed action of the whole of the European powers.
(Cheers.) Sir H. D. Wolff made a speech last week at
Portsmouth on the Conservative side, in which he said
he hoped that in the future there would be no swagger
in the policy of the Government. What greater con-
demnation in so few words could he have pronounced
upon the policy of the late Government? (Hear,
hear.) He (Sir C. Dilke) could say but little of the
foreign policy of this Government, but at least he
could promise that there would be no swagger in it.
What was said would be meant. (Cheers.)
Mr. Chamberlain, M.P., in responding to the toast
o f the
said' h
"Houses
the es of Parliament,"
had
, d wsponkoeatgosotmteh
e stlenmgtoh,
,and
Liberal Government and the largest Liberal majority
which had been Imown since 1832, and everyone was
naturally asking, "What is this Government going
to do with its majority?" Their record lay behind
them, and he did not wish that a single promise which
any one of the Ministry had made upon any subject
had been unsaid, or that it shOuld be forgotten by the
electors.