The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-09-12 00:00:00

OF THE

WESTERN DIVISION OF THE COUNTY

OF STAFFORD,

GENTLEMEN,—
THE large and inflnential constituency of
South Staffordshire having been divided ty the
new Reform Act I bug to tiff, r myself as a Candidate for
the representation in Parliament of that Division with
which Lam more immediately connected, and in bidding
farewell to my Constituents in the Eastion portion of the
County I tender them my heartfelt thanks for the kind
support and indulgence whirl] they have accorded to me
during the eleven years I have had the bononr of repre-
senting them.

The enlarged Franchises conferred by recent 1. giala-
lion will be the means of info,ing new vigour into our
political life.

Direct and importai • i,..mes are now before the Coun.
try. You, with the i.11,r Constituencies of the Empire,
will bare to deride whether the Administration of the
Government of the Country is to be retained by States-
men who, when in office, have sacrificed the political
principles which in opposition they always professed, or
whether it is to be entrusted to the consistent and con-
scientious advocates of those Lib,•ril principles to which
we are indebted to a great extent for our national pro-
gress and prosperity.

If yoa do me the honour to elect me as one of your
representatives I shall give my willing and cordial support
to Mr. Gladstone, as the Leader of the united Liberal
party, and as the Statesman pre.emfnently qualified to
carry its policy into practical effect.

gave my vote in the lost Session of Parliament in
favour of the resolutions for the disestablishment of the
Irish Church. I hope and confidently believe that the
coming Parliament will confirm the decision approved
by a large majority of the present House of Commons.
and while dealing in the most liberal manner with all
vested interests and personal or private rights, pat an
end to an anomaly which has, for SO many years, been
associated in the minds of a vast portion of the Irish
people with ideas of conquest and anpreinacv. and has
thug tended to kindle and kegp alive feelings of religious
animosity and discord.

A sincerely attached member myself of the Established
Church of England, I licher° that livr welfare and
security, so far from being endangered, will be increased
and consolidated by tbid policy, while the reinoval of a
grievance deeply felt by nor Roman Catholic fellow sub-
jeets in Ireland will contribute in no slight degree to the
well-being of the empire at large.

The attention of the New Parliament must he directed
at an early day to the state of our National Education.
Althouggh much advance 11118 been made under our pre-
sent system. a large portion of the population are grow-
ing up without the blessings of education. I shall
support any well-considered measure which will tend to
the removal of this great national reproach.

I am in favour of placing the honours and emoluments
of our Universities within reach of all, emancipated
from religious tests.

I consider our National Expenditure (largely increased
under the present Government) to be greatly in excess of
the public myths ',tents, and I mu prepared to support a
financial policy a Lich by a wise economy will diminish
the present heavy taxation.

The system of our local taxation requires revision, and
I think the time has arrived for the formation of County
Financial Boards.

There are other questions of cnnsh' ruble importance
upon which I h.q., to bane future np.mrtunities of en.
pressing my views.

Personally concerned in the great 1' niug and Manu-
facturing industry of
.iour Gandy, and no less interrated
in it, Agricultural welfare, I alien, if lo moored by your
confidence, sedidolsly devote my 1,-,t efforts to promote
the various local interests of your itoportant couati-
tueucy,

I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,

Your obedient Servant,

WILLIAM ORME FOSTER.

Apley, September sth, 1668.