The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1875-03-16 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMSIONS.

-
MONDAY.
Sir Wilfrid LAWSON moved that the assurances of friend-
ship from all foreign Powers mentioned in the Speech
(rum the Throne warrant a reduction in the land forces
The bon. baronet, after a prefatory apology (Jr minlilling
in politics "in these times." ran through the list of
foreign nations, and categorically quesGoned the Govern-
ment as to which it was to be feared I Was it France I
Surely now France was busy enough with her own affairs.
The present condition of that nation remanded him .1 the
story of the gentleman who when he engaged • valet re-
quired of him that he should tell him three things when
be called him of • morning-what time it wal what sort
of. morning it was ; and what Government he wax under
-Haughter). Was it Pnasaia r Why they knew that Prussia
spent her whole time watching France, and they heard
everywhere from the consuls that there was • wholesale
emigration of ita people, who Iliad in disgust (non the
continued conscription-(bear, hear). Besides, England
had contracted • matri 00000 nial alliance with Prussia-
(laughter). Well, then, was it Russia We married her
last year-(laughter). We were fools enough to engage
her once, she would never lie fool enough to engage us.
Well, was it Spain-(laughter). The condition of that
country was such that there the kings *volt on strike, as
the colliers did here-(laughter)-anal the king they had
now was compelled when he took a railway journey to
back into • tunnel to avoid being shot by his subjects-
(laughter). No, it was none of these Powers which had to
be dreaded. England hail only two enemies to fear, and
thaw two enemies were -the Pope anal the Colorado
beetle -(iaughter). The first of those enemies they could
leave to the late Prime Minister, and he was sure with
regard to the second that a careful t'ouservative Ministry
would never allow that Republican insect to Americanize
our institutions-(laughtm). Alarmists talked, as though
England hail no fleet. The right hon. gentleman who
managed the fleet frightened everybody Wore he had got
acrestonisl to his office by coming clown to the House anal
talking about " paper ships and phantom fleets," when it
turned out afterwards that the fleet was no more • phantom
than the right hon. gentleman himself was • pliantoin -
(Great laughter). Suppose that the c billed nations of
Europe should attack Vgagland and that the fleet which was
believed to he inviocible should be overcome, the Myatt)
soldiers would be of as little use as 131,001) broomsticks,
In point of fact, the army was both far too small for
aggress anal far too small for defence. The argument
that we must arm became our neighbours armed went
simply. in favour of the proverb that "One fool snakes
Many. There were now in Europe 12 millions of men.
or thereabouts, under anus. (' No," from an Hots.
Meinits.) Ile might be wrong, hut he had seen It so
stets." Ile would not waste the time of the House by
attempting to delineate the waste of moral and suliatantial
wealth entailed lay this gigantic annateent • but he would
ask that the House show by its conduct that, amidst this
collection of dangerous lunatics, there MY one sense
nation.

The sight id means to do deeds
Makes ill deols done,
and nations went often to war because they were armed
after the fashion of the African chief who made war
upon a neighbouring tribe because be had • barrel of gun-
powder and did not want to allow it to spoil (Laughter.)
For England to attempt to emulate the other European
Powers in the extent of it, Army wail for it to emulate the
frog who tried to make itself a bull, and buret in the
operation. Ile was sure it would he pleasant for the
Government if they could see their way to some diminu-
tion in these military expenses. They had brought in a
number of Bills-in which they professed to tight with other
enemies- with crime, the dieeme, the pauperism of
this country. They hal honed to In something for the
relief of the harassed interests of the country, but the
only one they had yet dealt with was the army. General
Peel hail said that at a neigh estimate, each soldier cost
the country .Lliai. ; so that by knocking off ten or
twenty thousand a s;overnitient., might have a large bum of
money in hand. There were the brewers-a class for
whom he confessed to some sympahty-(• laugh) -who
wanted a relief from the licence duties, and the Govern-
ment would he obliged, from want of money, to send
them away empty. Then there warn the question of the
malt-tat, and the qestion of local taxation- no one of
which could he largely dealt with for want of funds.
Let it not Ise supposed that he was putting this upon the
Chrietims ground - that lie pressed thie from any religious
standpoint. Ile knew the early Christians did not believe
In war.but, then, he wee not addressing early Christians;
he was addressing an assembly of advanced Liberals.
(Laughter.) They had improved on Christainity since those
early days, and went by the article., of religion which
revised the sermon on the Moiiiit. In tho,e thirty nine
Articles it MY said that • loan might arm an,l light law-
fully at the bidding of a magistrate, and the country had
advanced so for as to get a service of prayer for the
launching isf ships-of-war, in which it WM Relied that no
damage might befall our yowls. but that they might he
sparesl ha inlict as much damage as possible on those of
other nations -(laughter.) Ile slid not put the question
on this ground then, but simple as a matter of business.
Ile had faith in the foreign policy of the preemt MinstrY,
for he knew who sat in the S'onaervative Cabinet, Lord
Derby, who appeared to exist in order to prove that a
statesman amid he ',notecasesl if common senso.hm, in on.
of hi, spetvliet, asked what were the uses of the army,
and haul pointed to the question of British armaments as
one which would have some day to lie put upon new
footing. The Prime Minister himself had spoken of "our
bloated armaments." Ile (sir W. Lawson) had no doubt
that the right hon. gentleman shared in every sentiment
he hal now tittered. Ile mull trust the foreign policy of
the present Government, as affairs were now going on,
when it oeented that England was more disposed to employ
the still small voice of reason and concibtation than hat
weapon which WIN the argument of the bully, the
braggart, the harharian, and the coward. Why should Gig
Tory Government throw away their grand opportunity
6n.1 confine themselves to bringing in Bille of which it
mull at most Ise said that somebody thought they might
do some goal, and nobody thought they could do much
harm Why should they not do something which should
make them for ever be remembered They had it now in
their power to introduce a policy which would not only
lighten the burdens of this country but would tend to the
tramiuility of Europe,and the happinem of the whole world.
The speech sysa much enjoyed by a fairly crowded House,
but the appeal with which it concluilesi was not answered
in an entirely satisfactory manner, only an members going
into the lobby with the hon. baronet, and ;eel voting
against him. Amongst the latter were the Marquis of
Ilartington, Mr. Lowe, and other members of the late
Ministry. Ile found supporters in, amongst others, Mr.
Cowan, Mr. I'. A. Taylor, Sir Charles Forster, Mr. John
Martin, Mr. MacGregor, Mr. Whitwell, Mr. Monk,
Csilonel Gourley, Mr. Dixon, Mr. James, Mr. Biggar, M.
O'Sullivan, Mr. Osborne Morgan, Mr. Trevelyan, and
Sir John LubleselL .

In a Committee of .0.) members Mr. Gathorne Hardy
moved the Army Estimates for the current year. The
right bon. gentleman spoke for an hour and a half,
repeatedly affirming in the course of Ins aghlrem that he
wee determined to give a fair tnal to Lord Cardwen
scheme of army organization.
Several votes were agreed to before progreu wee
reported.

TCLSDAT.
Mr. Pena moved fore Selcct (kimmittee to inquire into
the eecleaniaticai leaees in the Chapter of Durham.

The Goveniment opposed the tuotion, which, upon •
division, was rejected.
Mr. IM•on called attention to the new Education code,
and pointed out the practical effect of the changes would
be prejudicial to Board schools in town..
Alter a little discussion the motion was withdrawn.
WEDNIFSDAV.
The secoml reading of the Ilypothe• Abolition Hill was
morel by Mr. VlOll ACINIte and its rejection by Mr.
tinat.olll%

Ou a division the Bill was thrown out by 156 votes
against 13.
Th Aigh the Minhitry derlined to commit themselves to
any statemout of opinion. Sir Stafford Nurthrote, Lord
John Manners, and the Attorney-General voted in the
majority, which u as amle up chietly of (onaervative
votes. Mr. Mr. Forster. Mr. Stara! eld, and Ur.
I.) on Play-fair .oted in the minority.
THURSDAY.
Mr. Ilise.Eti announced that the House would adjourn
for the East, r recess on Thurelay. the 86th that, re...ing
business on the sth of April.
Mr. SINDfoRD challon.ied a division on Isis proposal
that ino4nrs not exceeding...JOU& year should be exempted
from lay moot 11 incouie tax, and was defeated by 213
•utirs againgt .7.
Mr. WARD lit NT moved the Naval Estimates of the
year in the presence of eleven members of his own paTtlr
and about double that number un the benches opposite.
Referring to his famous declaration about " the paper
ships and the phantom fleet.- he observed that hi. critics
had placed him on the horns of this dilemma-that either It.
had overstatesi the ease, or that he had not donealds duty

by propelling in Memos of men and Alpe saftletent to
' meet the deficiency. He pleaded eilty to committing the
latter offence "in a modified form. The condition of the
'wavy was, he insisted, as he had described it teat year, but
looking at the condition of affairs abroad,. and to the state
of foreign fleets, he had thought it right to proceed
gradually in the work of reconstruction. avoiding
" sreumodic " efforts. The increased votes he had to ask
this year were in pursuance of • scheme of gradual
resuscitation which he had conceived. One of his most
important statements was that the Government have
decided to abolish training ships in favour of • college,
with a certain service at ~ea. and that Agit. for the college
Is about to be purchased at Dartmouth.
Mr. flosaresi was able to take • very favourable view of
the proposals of the First Lord of the Admiralty, seeing
that they were, in the main, a repetition of those which
the late Government had been accustomed to make for
several years preceding ligt.
The discussion was continued in a listless Committee.
The vote for men and the first vote for money were
agreed to after seven hours and a half debate.
. PRIDeT.

Mr. Thomas IfIL&SSET bad on the paper • motion for a
Royal Commiasion to inquire into the state of the law
relating to marine insurancF• and urged the establiah-
ment of the principle of indemnity for losses actual)
pustalned. He drew from the President of the Board of
Trade the statement that the Governuient had decided to
legislate upon the question.