The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-09-19 00:00:00

ELECTION NEWS.

The following address has been sent to us for
insertion by the Committee of the Protestant
Alliance :

'To THE ELECTORS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

Gentlemen,
The Committee of the Protestant Alliance
deem ic their duty, in view of the approaching
General Election, to urge upon all true patriots
the necessity id obtaining a distinct declaration
front every candidate as to the endowment ot
Roman Cathode Institutions.

.... .....
We may be well assured that whatever
modi-
fications Protestant Institutions may undergo,
Christian truth cannot fail while the Bible is
freely read, the sense of personal responsibility
cherished, and religious liberty faithfully main-
tained.
And yet the Committee believe that to endow,
or in any way to aid Popery, the pronounced
enemy of an open Bible, of private judgment,
and of religious liberty, is not only treason to
Protestant truth,but ruinous policy in a Protest-
ant nation, therefore to be steadily resisted by
every earnest Christian and every well-wisher to
his country. . .

The vain hope of quieting the perpetual rest-
lessness of the R. monist priesthood in Ireland
has induced both the great political parties in
the state to identify themselves with the disas-
trous policy of continual surrender; and even
now the Prime Minister, while pledging himself
to uphold Protestant Institutions, is careful to
avoid any statement which would prevent his en-
dowment of humanism at the first convenient
opportunity.
Following his example, Conservative candi-
dates may perhaps declare their readiness to up.
hold the Irish Church, and increase the Presby-
terian Royal Bounty, who will nevertheless hesi-
tate to pledge themselves against the endowment
of Romanist universities, schools, or priests.
Liberal candidates, on the other hand, while
advocating the disestablishment of the Irish
Church, and throwing the Presbyterians on their
own resources, may hesitate to pledge themselves
against giving the public money to Roman Cath-
olic schools, although such a gift is one of the
most effective modes of perpetuating Popery in
its most exclusive and disloyal form.
Under such circumstances, the Electors must
be true to themselves and their Protestant prin-
ciples, and they must not vote fur ally man,
Conservative or Liberal, who will not openly
declare that he will resist the endowment of
Popery in every shape and in every degree.
It is by keeping the ODO object of the advance-
ment of the Roman Catholic hierarchy before
them that the Irish Romanists have obtained a
position of SO much influence in the govern-
ment, and that influence can only be counter-
acted by the Protestants of the empire firmly
resolving that, whatever improvements they may
introduce into their own institutions, they will
give no public support to the upholders of a
system which crushes all civil and religious
liberty to the dust, wherever it has the power.
Let the common watchword on all sides be—
"No Endowment of Popery I "
BE ORDER or TEE COMMITTER.
Protestant Alliance,
7, Serjeant's Inn, Fleet-street, E.C."

WEST STAFFORDSHIRE RECOSTRATION.
HEIEELEY HILL.

Mr. George Browne, revising barrister, held
his court on Wednesday, at the Star Hotel,
Brierley Hill, for the revision of the voting lists
for the parishes of Kingswinford and Aniblecote.
The Liberals were represented by Mr. Fowler
(Wolverhampton), Mr. G. Hexwaril, Mr. Jordan
(Stourbridge), and Mr. Homer; and the Conser-
vatives by Mr. Ferule (Stafford), Mr. Rowland
Price (Stourbridge), Mr. W. Waldron, (Brierley
Hill), and Mr. J. L. Holberton.
The parish of Amblecote was taken first, and
24 claims were made and allowed. The name of
Robert Drake, of Brierley Hill, claiming to vote
for the parish of Amblecote, was struck off upon
objedtion being taken to the deseription of his
qualification, which was as follows :—" The Roe-
buck Inn, and three adjoining houses." The
Revising Barrister said the qualification should
have referred to the property as freehold, and
the description could not be amended.
In the parish of Kingswinford the Conserva-
tives made 420 objections, and of these 218
were sustained. Nearly the whole of the per-
sons struck off were those who possessed votes
for the borough (Dudley), but claimed for the
county. In the case of a voter named Budd,
the Conservatives objected upon the ground that
his qualification was insufficient for the county;
he might claim for the borough. On the other
hand, it was argued by the Liberals that Budd
resided more than seven miles from the parish,
and this gave him the right to vote. Ultimately
the objection was withdrawn.
There were 230 claims in Kingswinford on the
part of freeholders, all allowed but one; and
206 new claims as occupiers, of which 89 were
struck off.
It will be seen by the above figures that al-
though 227 claims os freeholders and 117 as oc-
cupiers were allowed, still the addition to the
register is only 128, in consequence of the large
number struck out by objection. It is impos-
sible to state the party objections, inasmuch as
the Liberal party made but few objections, and
the Conservative party objected to the persons
on the list irrespective of political opinions.
PENN.
On Thursday, the Revising Barrister, Mr.
George Browne held his Court for the revision
a the voting lists for the parishes of Hiniley,
Trysull, Seisdon, Wombourne, and Penn (upper
and lower), at the Rose and Crown Inn, at the
latter place.
Mr. J. S. Walker, solicitor, of Wolverhamp-
ton, appeared for the Liberals, and Mr. Edward
Fearnie, electioneering agent, for the Conserva-
tives.
On the old lists for the different parishes six
names were struck out as dead, six other claims
were expunged, two were transferred to the free-
holders' list, and three new claims were allowed.
On the new list, 19 claims were struck out,
and 53 claims allowed. Excepting in respect of
two Conservatives, there were no party objec-
tions. The claims were those of Mr. 'Monies
Cope and Mr. Henry Cope, of Upper Penn.