The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-07-17 00:00:00

THE STOUR.BRIDGE OBS-FRYER.

CONIMP,NT,-," ON CURRENT TOPICS.

ALL the interest has evaporated from the
electoral struggle, all but local excitement
gone from the pollings, for some days past
now. The Ministerial policy was condemned
by the boroughs and it was quickly seen
that the county constituencies were follow-
snit. Now expectancy is aroused as to
tilw ultimate issue. The Cabinet Council
saturnoned for Saturday, will, it is suppose 1,
settle all.

ME Constitutional course, following the
result of the General 1-;:lection, will be resig-
nation on the Premier's part. His Govern-
meut were beaten in the Commons by a d,-
eisive majority. Not satisfied with the
defeat in Parliament, Mr. Gladstone, as he
was entitled to do, appealed to the people.
Bat the country has unmistakeably affirmed
the hostile voice of the House, so that the
Government lrish Policy stands rejected.

THERE are those who still hold to the
principle of Irish autonomy—who would
give Ireland some sort of self-government,
what sort they are not agreed—who think
Mr. Gladstone should retain office, dropping
his unacceptable scheme, and forming an-
other more in accordance with the will of
the country. By such means, they argue,
the old party balance might be regained.
A fabric, on the framework of which Mr.
Chamberlain and Lord Hirtington, Mr.
Bright, Mr. Goschen, Sir Henry Henry
James, Sir Geo. Trevelyan and other emi-
nent dissentients could agree with the
Premier, might, they urge, yet be built up.
This is matter for much doubt, for the split
in the camp is wide. But if a re-fusion of
divergent forces could be effected, doubtless
a moderate measure, a sort of 'half-way
house Home Rule, might be carried through
Parliament without trouble.

A. COALITION Cabinet, with—in recognition
of the numerical strength of the now rent
Liberal party—Lord Hartington at its head,
and the leading Union Liberals and Conserva-
tives at the Ministerial posts, might devise
an Irish Government scheme which would
serve for the need of the hoer, and be placed
on the Statute Book in despite of Parnellites
and Gladstonians, who may elect to hold to
the larger and bolder plan, which the coun-
try has just pronounced against. But Eng-
does not love coalitions, and such an
inc;:ngruous combination as a Hartington-
Sa! isbury or Salisbury- Hartington Ministry,
nith the Chamberlain support, -would only
with difficulty hold together until Ireland's
e{lso had been dealt with.

AN out-and-out Conservative Government,
pledged to deal with the Irish trouble in an
earnest manner, and after a method which
would not meet with the opposition of the
Liberal Unionist, is the alternative, consider-
the many Conservative gains during tl7e
go.no:al election, which is commending itself
to. many people. A few days more wiil
show the outcomo. We trust whoever next
ai t:-Tapts to remove the Irish stumbling-
blork will do so in a thorough, statesmanly
way, with efficient support and with fair
Fifty for every party. It is high time that
this ugly impediment to legislative progress
should be cleared off the floor of Puha.
ment.

THE two representatives of th 3 people
who sat in the last Parliament and signed
th manifesto to " th 9 sons of toil" —Messrs.
Arch and Leicester—have both met with
tWeat at the poll, in common with many
more new members, whose feet had sear:2ely

got accustomed to St- Stephen's ere unkind
Fate lopped off the M.P. which for a litHe
. _ _

- -
while has followed their names. Mr. Arch's

defeat will be regretted by many, for lie is a
man of ability, and knows "Hodge" wilt
the inner knowledge of kinship. He is a
man who was mach more generally regarded
as a speaking voice of the English agricul-

rural labourer than as membe-r for an-East-
Anglian county constituency. Most public
nen, whether of his way of thinking or not,
you'd be glad to see Mr. Joseph Arch back-
.l•4-a'n in Parliament.

_I N the hour of Unionist triumph, two

. -
mighty captains fell. Mr. Goseheu was
overthrown by the ex-alitorof the Scotgrro,ii,
and Sir George Trevelyan by a worthy cloth
manufacturer of Border fame. The latt, r
was the more remarkable fall of the tV.e.
S.otlandis essentially Radical, as its pollings
al ways prove, and excessively- Gladstonian
also. M. Goschen, a comparative strange-,
had to fight in Edinburgh under the. ring ( f
the Premier's eloquence, and personality had
no little to do with his defeat. But Sir
George Trevelyan fought his battle on
ground from which he had driven—ere his
disagreement with his chief—all opposition.
The clan feeling was with him, and who
more than Sir George Trevelyan has in th€:
past fought what is called the people's battle?
The author of the "Competition "
and the irrepresaible stickler for extension
of the suffrage, the ex-Secretary for Scot-
land, land the man who, privately, has no
unfriendly whisperer, was driven oat of his
long-held seat by one who had no political
achievements to show, and nothing but the
magic Gladstoniaa name to utter!

A WET Wimbledon would be misery to
many of the marksmen congregated on the
Surrey cornmi which every year sees such
evidence of the Englishman's —and by
Englishman we mean an inhabitant of the
, hrger England which extends wherever the
Queen rules—skill with the rifle. Monday
was a flood-time in the cluips ; Tuesday was
windy, atmost a gale; and in the early hours
of Wednesday an uncomfortable quantity of
rain fell. But the shooting went meirily on
for all that, and the cracks had a taste of
what the soldier on active service experi
ences in:the way of outdoor lodgment. Some
excellent scores have been registered, and
the interest in the meeting is this year
greater than ever, because of the large num-
ber of Colonial visitors and of accessions to
the prize-list. It is to be hoped that the
remaining days in camp may be passed
pleasantly under bright sunshine, and not a
few "highest possibles" scored iii—Oo4e-
quence. 'g

EMIGRATION TO MEENSLANii.

FEItALE DOME-TIC SERVANTS are in great
demand, and receive wages varying from £2O to £5O
p.3r annum with board and lodging Applicants must
be between 17 and 35 years of age, and of good
character - - -

Frei passages are granted by steamers flora Black-
wall, London, every fortnight on payment of £1 for ship
kit

For foims of application apply to
121-Ls: A.GENT-GENERXL FOR QUEgNSLA.N D.
1, Westminster Chambers,
Victoria Street, London, B.W.

GE N XINTED to puah first-class Machinery
1-11. 0.1 Liberal Commission. Box 22, Post Office.
Liverro 1.

A N ESTABLISHED LONDON INSURANCE
CO;IPANY require a Manager for the District
of t wbritlge. Salary £l5O per annum, with Traval-
li,g ki!ovrlnce aad Comouis‘sion. Aldres3 in fir,t in
, alisbary Court. Fleet Street
," 2

WAN GIRL about 15. Apply. 68. Bk.
wiagthaa Att, Stousbrido.