The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-06-19 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Sir Charles Dilke, in his address to the electors of
Chelsea, said, with regard to Ireland, that the choice
now lies between a policy of coercion and a large
measure of autonomous government, and that.he is for
the latter.
The National Liberal Federation of Scotland issued
a manifesto to the members of the Liberal Associa-
tions in that country, in support of Mr. Gladstone's
Irish policy.
Mr. R. Chamberlain addressed the Council of the
West Islington Liberal Association, and defended the
course he had taken in opposing the Government of
Ireland Bill. Surosequently a resolution declaring
that the Council could no longer support him was
carried by 170 votes to 55.
Lord Iddesleigh, writing to some Conservatives at
Barnstaple, pointed out that the party would have to
gain nearly ninety seats at the impending election
before they could command an absolute majority in
the House of Commons. Fearing that so many would
not be won, he felt that the patty should in certain
oases support moderate Liberal Unionists in order to
prevent a Radical triumph.
Addressing members of the Primrose League ulio
had paid a visit to Hatfield, Lord Cranborne snid
that Conservatives had to subordinate in every way
they could all old recollect:ens of party bitterness
against the Loyalist Liberals and welcome them as
brethren in the great cause that united them at this
moment.

Mr. H. Fowler, Financial Secretary to the Treasury,
defended Mr. Gladstone's Irish policy at a meeting
at Wolverhampton on Saturday. He, however, ad-
mitted that he was in favour of Irish representation
at Westminster; that the fiscal arrangements of the
Home Rule Bill were capable of very great improve-
ment; and that a better protection for the minority
would have to be secured.

Lord Brabourne has written a letter to the Birming-
ham Conservative Association advising them not to
oppose Mr. Chamberlain's return. Whatever may be
Mr. Chamberlain's faults against Conservatism, his
lordship observes, he has at the present crisis pre-
ferred patriotism to party, at no small sacrifice to
himself.

Mr. Akers-Douglas, M.P., speaking at Deal on
Saturday, said Lord Salisbury desired that no„Liberal
should suffer in his electoral prospects for having
voted against the Home Rule Bill. He added that
he did not intend, in any single case, to lend his aid
in promoting a contest in any constituency where
the seat of a Unionist Liberal member would be
endangered.
Lord Wolverton presided at a Liberal meeting at
Swanage on Saturday, and expressed a belief Oa'.
there were not ten members in the House of Lords,
excepting her Majesty's Ministers, who would vete
for the Home Rule Bill; but when that measure
came to them, as he predicted it would, backed by
the strong voice of the people, they would know how
to deal with it.

Mr. Trevelyan has issued his address to the elec-
tors of the Border Burghs. After explaining the
ground on which he opposed the Government of Ire-
land Bill, and defending his action, Mr. Trevelyan
says: Universal experience shows that if we gave
Ireland a separate Parliament and an independent
Executive, while at the same time she is bound to pay
several millions a year to the British Treasury, the
certain consequence will be a movement in favour of
total separation which it will be impossible to resist.
All these dangers might have been avoided by a
scheme which extended to Ireland local government
in accordance with the well-known principles of the
Liberal party, and which at the same time main-
tained unimpaired the authority and power of the
central government. If such a scheme had been pro-
posed it would have commanded the support of a
great majority in Parliament, and I trust that the
result of the 'general election will be that such a
scheme will be proposed and carried into law.
An address has been issued to "The Sons of Toil
and Artisans of England," signed by Mr. Joseph
Arch, M.P., and Mr. Joseph Leicester, M.P., and ap-
proved by other labour representatives in Parliament.
"It is high time," it says, "that decentralisation
should take place, and that the people of England
should, without let or hindrance, attend to the ever
increasing arrears of English legislation. Those who
are not with Mr. Gladstone and his comrades are
playing into the hands of the Tories. Under whose
banner, then, will you rally The banner of Glad-
stone, the hero of a hundred fights, the champion of
liberty of the people's cause and the public peace, or
the banner of Lord Salisbury, the upholder of class
privileges as opposed to popular rights, am ememy to
your recent franchise, the coercionest and the would-
be exterminator of millions of the horny-handed sons
of toil from their motherland, to make way for flocks
and herds? These are the two banners under which
you are called to do battle. Do not falter in follow-
ing our great and hitherto suc‘,^estful leader, Mr.
Gladstone, in the coming contest. Through your
support at the polling booths victory will sit on his
helm; the Irish difficulty will be solved; a true and
lasting union established, with mutual benefit, between
Great Britain and Ireland; and increaoi vitalily
added to our Empire."