The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-01-22 00:00:00

THE NEW COLONIAL SECRETARY.

The Press Association, in a despatch of Tuesday
morning, says :—We are enabled to state positively
that Sir Henry Holland has been offered and has ac-
cepted the position of Secretary of State for th Co-
lonies. On Tuesday afternoon, Sir Henry Holland
paid a visit to the Colonial Offiee, where, in company
with Lord Dunraven, the Under-Secretary, he pro-
ceeded to the offices of the Secretary of State for the
Department, and saw Sir R. Herbert, the Permanent
Under-Secretary. Sir Henry Holland is no stranger
to the Colonial Office. He was legal adviser at the
Colonial Office from January, 1867, to February, 1870,
and Assistant Under-Secretary of State for the
Colonies from March, 1870, to August, 1874, when he
resigned to enter Parliament.

Speaking at Ashton on Tuesday night, Viscount
Cross referred briefly to the resignation of Lord R.
Churchill, but observed that it was impossible to allude
to the differences which had led to it. No explana-
tion could be given till Parliament met. Referring
to Mr. Goschen's accession to the Ministry, his lot d-
ship observed that it was with the consent of Lord
Hartington and his followers, and that the union of
Unionists was now stronger than ever.
Sir C. Russell, speaking at St. Helen's on Tuesday
night, said when the Irish difficulty was solved people
would be surprised that the solution had ever been
beset with so much prejudice. This and ignorance
were the great obstacles in the path of the Liberal
party; but they were entitled to be hopeful of the
ultimate issue.

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL'S RESIGNA-
TION.

Mr. Gladstone has sent the following reply to a
correspondent: "Dar Sir,—Want not of will but of
time prevents my answering more than a part of my
, innnmerable letters. It is reported that Lord Ran-
dolph Churchill's resignation was due to his opinion
that more economy ought to be practised in our
Estimates for Army and Navy. If this be true, I for
one shall be very slow, as a Liberal to condemn him.
Your faithful and obedient, W. E. G., Jan. 8, 1887."
Replying to a letter of condolence from the St.
Stephen's (Wallingford) Habitation of the Primrose
League, Lord R. Churchill writes :—"My dear Sir,—
' I desire to express to you my deep gratification with
the communication which you have made to me.
The working men of Wallingford have certainly
shown themselves to be more generous and more
I reserved in their political judgment than many
Conservative members of Parliament, who have
been prompt, not to say precipitate, in pro-
nouncing unqualified condemnation on my recent
action. Although, as regards the nature and causes
of that action, they are almost entirely without infor-
mation, I am not without some amount of confidence
that when that action becomes a matter of public per-
sonal explanation, the opportunity for which at the
present moment is rigorously denied to me, much of
the hasty, adverse criticism may be modified. But
whether that be so or not I care little. The approval
of such persons as I allude to is as worthless an
article as their disapproval. lam perfectly and fully
?conscious of having sought for nothing but the publio
interest, and I have elso a very considerable expecta-
tion that before long the public interest will by no
means suffer from the increased activity of criticism
which Parliament may be tempted to bestow on the
proposals of the Executive as regards finance and ex-
penditure. I am, yours faithfully, RANDOLPII S.
Cnuncum..."