The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-06-06 00:00:00

THE EAST WORCESTERSHIRE

ELECTION.

DECLARATION Gb"THE POLL.

The declaration of the Poll was made at Droitivich,
on Monday last, by the High Sheriff, Mr. Lyttelton tens
present, with a number of friends; and also Mr. Laslett.
The result of the poll haying been ascertained,
The High Sheriff (Mr. C. M. Berington) then said:
Electors of East Worcestershire. it is ruy duty to declare
to you the state of the poll, which at its close amounted
to--

For Mr. tyttelton (Loud cheers).
For Mr. Laslett 2 :129
Giving • majority to Mr. Lyttelton of 259 —(" Hear,
hear," cheers, awl groan.). It appeareth to me that the
Honourable Charles George Lytteltoa is duly elected to
serve in Perlimermt fir the Eastern Division of this
comity, and I du declare him duly elected accordingly—
(great cheering, mingled with slight hooting).
Tha Hon. C. G. Lyttelton. M.P., who was listened to,
with the exception of a few iuturruptions, then spoke as
follows :—I believe it is in,iumbent on me to say a few
words on this occasion. To my supporters I will say.in
the first place, that I give them my most hearty throiks
for the way in which they have supported me on this oc-
casion, and for their laborious and unceasing exertions
on my behalf --(cheers). They have laboured under very
considerable disndvautages, and they have brought the
issue of this election to • glorious victory on behalf of
Liberalism and independence—(loud cheers). I only
hope that I may wit abuse the coufidence that they have
reposed in me, arid that I may serve their interests by
accosting arid industrious attention to my Parliamentory
daties--(cheers). To my opponents I have to say this:
They have fought the battle—l will readily admit it—in
the most courageous and determined manner, and I hope
that they will egivilly give us credit for having fought
them in a fair and straightforward menner, and on our
merits—(cries of "No, no," from the Tory Ride of the
platform, " Hear, hear." loud cheers, and groans). I
know well enough filet we have used no illegal means
whatever to win this victory—(cheers and hooting). And
I am confident that this victory has been one grime 1 en
our merits—)' No, no,"" Yes, yes," cheers and groans).
Well, now. gentlemen, I have to remind you, opponents
ant friends alike, that whether for good or for evil, I am
your representative—(cheers). It is my earnest wish
and hope that I may represent your interests, whether
you be opponents orfrieuds, in Parliament—(cheers). I
will conclude by expressing my wish that I may become
the trusted representative, as I hereby declare my pro-
mise to be the faithful representative of all the best in-
terests of this important constituency—Road cheers).
Mr. I. islett then addressed the assemblage. He said:
I have to thank the '2,.129 electors who have recorded
their votes on behalf of the Queen, and the Church, and
the Grnstitution.'("Oh, oh," laughter, and some cheers).
I also, gentlemen, tender my thanks to the committee,
to the agents, and to the solicitors for the very great ex-
ertions they have made on my behalf. When you look
upon the individual who is now addressing you, you see
a gentleman of retired habits, who came forward fur the
express purpose of standing by his Queen and his coun-
try —fironiesl cheers). The Church of England, gentle.
men, stands on crock; and if oor opponents attempt to
attack it, they will find that it is atrouger than they, and
that truth will prevail—(eheers). I say, gentlemen, al.
though there has been a formal victory for nip opponent
that this contest is the greatest victory for our principles
that ever happened within the county—ay, I may say,
gentlemen, within the kingdom—(loud elreera). At this
critical time the electors have done their duty, but there
was one thing that we could not combat. and it was this,
that we were three weeks too late in the fleld—(load
sheers). Had I come forward at the same time as the
honoured gentleman who has addressed you, he would
not then have been in • majority—(hear, bear). Add to
that, gentlemen, the great power which that individual
ha, brought forward— (groans and iaterruption)—l, a
single individual, and he the son of • Lord—and not
only that, but he brings forward other interests in sup-
port of him. Why was Mr. Gladstone brought down ?
(uproar). Why did Mr. Gladstone write a letter ?—(in-
terruption, cheers, and groans). But, gentlemen, this
election will make them fear another—(hear, hear). It
has cost them so ranch that they will be afraid of a gen-
eral electiun—(cheers). Mr. Laslett charged the oppo-
site party with intimidating rotors who intended to vote
for him, and then went : I will tell them that lam
thorough to the backbone —(load cheers). I give them
notice that I will appear arid contest the next election,
and I will light it Pleb by inch, if it should take me two
or three weeks or two or three months: and then you
will find me on the hustings again—)loud cheers). tam
defeated. but not dismaved—c: Hear, hear," and cheers).
I have around me • body of gentlemen, high in repute,
who will stand by me till the last—)" Gust, Laslett,"
cheers and laughter). My friends will continue to exert
themselves for the short time which will intervene before
the general election, and I have no doubt that when that
time arrives I shall be triumphant then—(much cheer-
ing). lam delighted that the gentlemen of Droitwich
have stood by me—(hear, bear). I thank you most sin-
FEMALE SUFFRAGE. cerely, and I hope and trust that we shall live to see the
day when you will be gratified in my appearance b, fore
There has been much written and more said you again—:hear, hear). I have • great object instating
for and against women having votes in return- ! this, in order that the electors may be on the alert, and
lag members to Parliament. The question has be prepared. There are seven thousantediftievtiodruexi2::
latterly assumed more than ordinary importance
, Ytette cc:cur:lnt iihUrc%eion by only 269
beeattae such minds as th.t of Joh', stuart Min vote, I trust I mar see you all very well iu health very
have been brought to bear upon it, and a host soon—perhaps in a fortnight. I thank you once again—
of more or less original thinkers have argued (loud cheers). '
out the question, while the arguments in favour A vote of thanks to the High Sheriff was then pro.
of votes for women have been urged by petitions
posed by Mr. Laslett, seconded by dir.Lyttei tun, and
csrrried with
something more than" numerously and influent. Sb
lally signed," as the does phrase goes. But we dime The Hi.
gli itrigt applause.returned thanks, and the crowd soon

subjeet. -
After referring to these laws the commission-
ers recommend that to the Foreign Establish-
ment Act there should be added provisions to
the following effect:--- " That any person fitting
out, arming, or dispatching any ship for ent•
ployment by titty mover against any other power
with whom we may be at peace, shall ba deemed
glailty of a wiedesneatiour ; that the building or
equipping, or the commencing to do so, of any
vessel under the amine circumstances shall be
equally a misdemeanour ; that the Secretary of
State may issue a warrant fur the seiattre of any
such ship ; that the hiring, engaging, or pro.
sunup of ally person for hostile service against
any power with whom we are at peace shall
equally be a misdemeanour; that prizes cap-
tured by ships equipped in this country shall, if
brought within our maritime jurisdiction, be re•
otored to their owners ; and, that no vessel of
war ouilt here in violation of the Neutrality laws
thus amended shall be admitted into any of our
ports."
It is much to be lamented that our laws on
this subject have hitherto been so complicated
and so liahle to evasion—or et least so open to
argument as to their proper construction—that
the United States government and our own
cannot agree on their meaning. We believe
that the claims of the former government in re-
ference to the Alabama depredations are prepos-
terous, and that Lord Stanley throu,!hout the
laboured correspondence has taken a fair and
statestuanlike view of the whole affair; but it
must be admitted, new rtheless, that there are
many knotty points involved which ought never
to have arisen, and which never would have
arisen had our Neutrality laws been clear and
definite. The recommendations to which we
have referred, if embodied in these laws, would
prevent any such uncertainty for the future.
The report is signed by twelve of the most emi-
nent lawyers and statesmen of the day, and the
only weak point about it is that :Ur. Vernon
Harcourt (the " Historicus " of the Times, and
therefore one whose opinion has considerable
weight) dissents from that part or the resolu-
tions which makes the building of ships, under
the circumstances mentioned, a misdemeanour.
He considers that this would injuriously affect
the ship-bnilding trade. "If all building," he
says," with a certain intent is to be constituted
• crime which it is part of the duty of the Go-
vernment to repress, then there is not a keel
laid, a belt driven, or plank sawn in any yard in
the country which may not at any instant be ex-
posing the nation to a responsibility hitherto
unknown." We cannot understand why 60 keen
an intellect se that of Mr. Harcourt's can fail to
perceive that the intent is the essence of any
crime whatever. Undoubtedly if building a
" with intent or knowledge " that it is to be used
by one power against another, towards both of
whom we are neutral, is to be made punishable,
our ship building may to some small extent, and
at distant intervals, suffer. But better this than
that our Neutrality laws shall remain a farce,
and lead us not only into breaehee of national
honour, but into subsequent conflict with other-
wise friendly nations, as they have done in the
Alabama case. Our neutrality between con-
tending parties ought to be clear and unmistake-
able, and, therefore, the laws which regulate it
should be clear and unmistakeable too. This
wauld be effected by the recommendations of
the Commissioners.