The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-05-08 00:00:00

LORD SPENCER AT LEEDS.

Lord Spencer on Monday evening visited Leeds,
and addressed a meeting of the Liberals of the
borough and the Pudsey Division in support of the
Government measures for dealing with Ireland.
Nearly four thousand persons found accommodation
within the four walls of the Colosseum, while
thousands of eager sympathisers from physical
inability to obtain admittance crowded the
street without. These were addressed by various
speakers despatched from within the building,
Mr. Herbert Gladstone, .M.P., who had a warmth of
welcome which had a special meaning., leading the van.
Mr. James Kitson, President of the United Liberal
Association, occupied the chair at the Colosseum meet-
ing, and was supported by Lord Spencer, Mr. H. J.
Gladstone, M.P., Mr. Briggs Priestley, M.P., and
nearly all the prominent Liberals of the district. Mr.
Lawrence Gene, Q.C., moved, "That this meeting of
the Liberals of Leeds and the Pudsey Division of the
West Riding of Yorkshire endorses the resolution
passed by the Leeds United Liberal Association, re-
cognising the fact that the time has arrived for a
radical solution of the Irish problem, and, believing
that the principles embodied in the measures of the
Prime Minister are those upon which a safe and satis-
factory settlement of the difficulty can be arrived at, it
expresses its unabated confidence in the Right Hon. W.
E. Gladstone (loud cheers) and her Majesty's Govern-
ment,and would assure them of the support of this met t-
ing." (Cheers.) Mr. Wemyss Reid seconded, and Mr.
Briggs Priestley, M.P., supported the resolution,
which was carried with about half-a-dozen dissentients.
Lord Spencer, who was received with rounds of cheer-
ing and Kentish fire, and the singing of "For he's a
jolly good fellow," thanked the meeting for passing
the resolution. Turning to the serious division
which for the first time for many years had taken
place in the Liberal ranks he said that though it could
not yet be told what effect it would have upon the
votes in the House of Commons, it must clearly add
greatly to the difficulties the great Liberal leader had
to face if he was to pass his great measure. He (Lord
Spencer) had had a long connection with Ireland.
He had served as her Majesty's representative there
for eight years, and though he had received hard
words there, he had also received the greatest kind-
ness from all classes, and had the deepest fondness for
Ireland and her people. (Cheers). While readily
admitting that men of the same party might take
different views with this question, he claimed that
the Government was following the ancient lines of
Liberal policy. They were told that in the days of
O'Connell the great leaders of Liberal cpinion were
opposed to the repeal of the Union. He admitted
that, but denied most positively that anything was
being done at this moment to repeal the Union.
They were strengthening the Union. He believed
they were following the true Liberal principle that of
discoverieg the source of any objection to our rule,
and then seeking a safe and radical cure for the
grievance. How was it with those who differed from
them? When it came to a policy they hardly knew
how to describe it. They were not agreed. The funda-
mental objection to the policies of these other Liberals
who were unable to follow Mr. Gladstone was
that their policies would not satisfy the Irish people,
nor any party in the three kingdoms. (Cheers.) They
were ready to consider, and, if possible, meet the
objections made to the Government proposals, but
there was the fundamental difference between those
who made them and those who supported the mea-
sure, that the latter had confidence in their proposals
and the Irish constituencies—(cheers)----while their
opponents had no definite propositions whatever.
That being so, he could not see what alteration in the
measures could be made to meet those objections. If
he felt these measures were going to weaken the
Empire, to lead to separation, or to weaken religious
toleration in Ireland, he should at once join Lord
Hartington and the Tories. But so far from sharing
those fears, he believed the bills would have a con-
trary effect, and would lead not only to the content-
ment of Ireland, but would give a real strength to
the Empire of which they were all so proud.