The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-03 00:00:00

Mr. Horsman, M.P., on Public Affairs.

The annual dinner of the Stroud Rifle Corps toak
place on Monday evening at the subseription rooms.
Captain Dickinson presided, and was supported by
the Right Hon. E. Horsman, MP., and several
leading gentlemen.
Mr. HORSJIAN responded to the toast of " The Do-
nors of Prizes." The hon. member, who was enthusi-
astically received, reviewed the political situation
in a speech of considerable length. More important
changes had been crowded into the past 12 months
than had taken place since the First Napoleon

closed his campaign. No one could have foreseen

at that time that old empires would have crumbled
and young nations have started into fresh life ; that
Prussia, hitherto ranked as a second-rate Power,
_ _

would in a fortnight have shattered the most exten-

sive empire of the Continent, and placed itself at the
head of Europe as a military Power, and as a coun-
terpoise to the military power of France. There

was a feeling among the Governments of Europe

that a state of peace was not altogether solidly es-

tablished, and every Continental State was arming
for its protection. These circumstances compelled

us to look at home, and make whatever force we
possess as efficient as possible. The Volunteer
movement commenced at a period which had been
termed one of national panic ; but it said a good
deal for the patriotism and sincerity of those by
whom it was organised that it had not become a
mere matter of pastime, but that the reality of its
character had been confirmed. With regard, how-

_ .
ever, to the regular army, there was a different
story to be told. He referred to the recent report
_ _

of the commission on recruiting, and referred to the
difficultyexperienced at the present time in recruit-

ing the army. One difficulty in the way of Volun

teer enlistment was the fact that our army is not
raised for home service alone, but is liable to all the
hardships of foreign service. Two new difficulties
had been raised in the way of recruiting. One was
that Ireland, which was formerly our great recruit-
ing ground by the redundancy and starvation of its
population, was no longer so by reason of the famine
and emigration ; another was the great increase of

wages, which by contrast made the soldier's pay
wholly inadequate. He recommended the increase
of pay, the division of the service into home and
foreign, shorter service, and the abolition of
_ _

the lash. This question of the army would have
to come before Parliament, and he hoped it
would be dealt with in a generous spirit. Re-
ferring next to the state of Ireland, the right
hon. gentleman said there had been many causes
of misery and discontent. The legislation applied
to Ireland for some centuries was an unjust and
cruel legislation ; but it was a great mistake to sup-
pose those difficulties had mainly a political c,use.
The causes of disaffection were attributed to the
Irish Church and to the land laws. He should not
discuss those matters here; but his opinion was that
the real difficulty of Ireland was that a large popu-
lation was dependent for their subsistence entirely
upon agriculture, and that there was an absence o
manufacture to find permanent employment. If
coal fields could be discovered and manufactures
started up, 99 hundredths of the existing discontent
would instantly disappear. So long as Ireland had
to subsist upon agriculture alone she would continue
to be a difficulty. Emigration he regarded as an
unmixed blessing, as it had benefited those who
went to a land of plenty in America, and diminished
the labour market at home. Although the Ameri-
can Government had acted loyally in respect of
Canada, yet there was no doubt they had virtually
encouraged Fenisnism, in consequence of a feeling
of soreness arising out of the Alabama claims. He
approved the appointment of a commission to deal
with those claims,lwhich could be considered calmly
now that excitement had passed away. In domes-
tic affairs we had had the Habeas Corpus Act sus-
pended in Ireland, the cattle plague at home, and
the greatest financial panic within their memory.
By the blessing of God these had all been success-
fully encountered, and there was nothing but what
vas-hopeful and promising in the year just com-
mencing. Although there always would and must
be political differences among us, yet, in compari-
son with every other country, there must be a Lel-
ing of satisfaction and congratulations at the free-
dom we enjoy under British institutions. (Cheers.)
Ile contrasted our right of meeting, our persona;
freedom, and the liberty of the press, with the state
of things in France, and glanced at the late reform
meetings as evidences of our unfettered liberty.
Even in America newspapers had been sup-
pressed when they contained anytiring unfavour-
able to the Government. The fact was, that
in England the long enjoyment of liberty had
made us safe. 'We knew that our people under-
stood the principles of liberty too well to deprive
our population of real advantages for fear of imagi-
nary dangers that may result from them. We saw
on the Continent that in all the States rising into
new national life they were adopting our principles
—liberalising their institutions, and enlarging their
freedom. Such being the position of affairs at home
and abroad, he thought there was reason on the
whole for congratulation ; and for the year that was
approaching he had great pleasure iu wishing them
the compliments of the season. (\lr. Horsman sat
down amidst loud cheers.)