Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-02
LIBERAL CONGRESS.
Gathering Of the Gladstonian
Hosts.
Englaud's Progressive Political
Party.
T.
Three Thousand Delegates Repre-
senting Three Million Voters.
John MOrley's Opening Speech-Home
Rule for Ireland-The House Of
Lords and Welsh Church
Must Co.
Associated Press Dispatches.

NEW OASTLE-ON lyme, OCOs l. lOOPw-
righted by the New York Associated
Press. 1.-The formal opening of the
great National Liberal Association con-
gress occurred here today. Most exten-
sive preparations for the reception and
entertainment of Gladstone, who will
arrive tonight, have been made.
Some idea OF the congress can be
gathered from the fact that no less than
lis delegates, to say nothing of distin-
guished parliamentary leaders, have
made arrangements to address the con-
gress before it closes its labors. Nearly
eighty members of parliament will be
present.
As each of the three thousand dele
gates represents 1000 voters, the con-
gress represents about 5000, 900 electors
from England and Wales alone.
An enormous crowd was present when
the congress was called to order at Q
O'Clock this afternoon. DR.. Watson,
who presided, was reelected president.
After the report of the federation's.
past years. WORK had been read and
adopted John Morley addressed the fed
GRAFTON.
MoRLEY's SPEECH.
Morley referred to the spirit of liber-
alism as inspired by the highest motives
and the noblest impulses. Ireland, he
said, had vindicated the confidence the
Liberals had placed in her. by refusing
to follow leader the Liberals could not
cOnscientiouslV work with
In regard to temperance reform, he
said it was not the Liberals fault that
it had not legislatively advanced, for, as
usual, the Conservatives blocked the
way. There was a prospect that, even
if victorious, the members of the house
of commons would find to all such
measures unyielding obstacles to pro-
gress in the house of lords.
II Therefore, it became a matter for seri-
GUS consideration as to how long that
privileged house, nonsrepreseiitative
and unreformed as it was, out of Gym
pathy and out of touch with the m .jor-
ity of the representative chamber, was
to endure. prolonged cheering.I
Continuing, after the applause sub
sided, Morley said he was ready to
renew the agitation against hereditary
peers whenever their lordships pleased.
Alluding to the obstacles existing in
the exercise of the franchise, Morley
said he did not know how the voice OF
the workiugmen could be heard with
full effect in parliament until England
followed the example of other countries
in having constitution, and by placing
some moderate subsistence within the
reach of those aspiring to serve the peo-
pie in parliament. [Loud cheering. J
The country could not hear too con-
stantly the voice Of the working popula-
ton. The workmen ought, therefore,
be encouraged to obtain representation
in all local authortive bodies. councils
and school boards up to the great senate
of the nation.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
A resolution of trust in Mr.. Gladstone
and belief that no wise or durable set
tlement of the Irish question can be
effected except by the establishment OF
an Irish legislative body, for the man
agement exclusively of Irish affairs,
was carried with cheers.
DIR. Watson, president of the National
Liberal federation, referring to the
! eight-hour question, said 1t still re-
nnained in the stage of argument. Few
resolutions received from different asso-
| Citations vary in their Interpretation OF
the matter, and in the form in which
they would like such law passed. The
National Liberal federation, he added,
did not wish to stife discussion on the
eight-hour question. On the contrary,
it desired that the question should be
searched out and the members of the
council were prepared to give the ques.
| o6o fN it,n lie,
cussion.
A resolution in favor of disestablish-
ing the Welsh church, and to amend
free education by increasing popular
control of the schools, was passed.
Tomorrow the Women's Federation
will hold meeting, at which Mrs
Gladstone is expected to preside. In
the evening there will be great meet
ing of Liberals, at which Gladstone il
expected to speak.
LIBERAL ORGANIZATION.
In an interview with an Associated
Press representative, today, Mr.. Schnad
horst, the great Liberal organizer, sale
the meeting was not for discussion sc
much as for declarations. The council
of the federation weeks before the
annual meeting, sends out circul
ars to every local association, asking
information as to their attitude on
questions interesting the party at large
When the council finds that the great
mass OF the party have agreed upon q
certain course Of action, then it is ready
to embody the party's wishes in reso-
luton and adding new plank to the
recognize platform. Thus they adopted
home rule, and the disestablishment OF
the Welsh and Scotch churches, but
have not adopted the eight-hour day
women suffrage and some other meas
ures which have ardent advocates in the
party. They concentrate the whole
strength of the party upon the forma
tion of such legislation as is by genera
consent deemed Of first Importance, ano
deal with no unsettled question.
THE YEARS PROGRAMME.
The programme to be approved thil
year, said Mr.. Schnadhorst, is much th'
same as last. 1t reaffirms as the frs
and foremost plank. home rule