The record-union., 1891-12-12
Rural Conference Display Hostility
Toward Landowners.
THE BETROTHAL OF THE DUKE OF
CLARENCE.
Question of Dowery Discussed by the
Cabinet-Lord Salisbury Reopens
Negotiations With France for the
Settlement of the Newfoundland
Fisheries Question.


LONDON. Dec. 11.-If the rural confer
ence which opened yesterday in London
represented with absolute fidelity the
spirit Of the agricultural element of
Great Britain, the country would be on
the eve of social and political revolu-
ton. No assemblage OF supposed repre-
sentative men ever held in England dis
played such hostility to parsons and
landowners. Delegates boasting them
selves rs persistent parson fighters and
denouncing squire tyranny, We're cheered
to the echo, and their scornful illusions
to the patronizing airs Of the clergy
toward the rural inhabitants was keenly
rehshed. The entire sympathy of the
conference was reserved for the motto,
down with the church and landlord" >"
but it would be misleading to infer from
the character of the conference that the
rural poor have deserted the church en-
nasse, or have become infused with politi-
cal designs against The squirearchy. The
conference, while indicating clearly and
actively an existent force to be accounted
with III the coming elections, owes its
importance TO its toreshadowing of the
agricultural policy. When the spirit of
the delegates permeates the electorate,
hereditary privileges of landlordism and
churchism will vanish.
Gladstone's speech to-day was dis
tinctly disappointment, many delegates
expecting a definite assurance in regard
TO the Liberal programme would be de-
clared and would include some of their
aspirations. Some men who urged i'm
mediate application to England of the
principles of fair play for rent, fixity of
tenure and free sales, and others who
wanted the abolition of prilnogeniture
and limitation of the size Of estates, got
enlarged illusions to the Newcastle pro-
gramme. Gladstone spoke throughout
as a leader who was sympathetic, but
doomed to lead i'll struggle in which his
hearers were most concerned. The Chair
mans incidental reference to Gladstone's
projected trip to BiarritZ, "a Journey to
that beautiful land" was misinterpreted
by the audience and brought tears to
many eyes. Gladstone's own allusion to
the limitation of his physical powers and
his sensibility of the disadvantage in
which his party was placed, owing to his
advanced years, caused renewed emotion.
Among his hearers there were many
cries of mo, no; you will have a long
life yetn etc.
Gladstone and his wife will start on
their trip on Tuesday morning, and will
reach Paris on Tuesday evening.
Arrangements for the marriage of the
Duke of Clarence and AvondaIe were, it
is understood, discussed by the Cabinet
to-day. Although the Act of 1889 bears
special grant to the Duke, the Ministers
hold that a dowry can be voted the
Princess.
Gladstone and wife called at the Marl-
borough House to-day to offer congratu-
lations on the betrothal. The Queen gave
dinner at Windsor tonight to the Duke
of Clarence, Princess Victoria Mary and
the whole Teck family.
The current stories that the betrothal is
due to the Duke of Clarence's persistent
love under great opposition do not agree
with the court reports. On the contrary,
to know that the Duke of Clarence has
long been enamored of the Princess Hell
enc of Orleans, and that two years ago he
personally declared his passion to the
Comte de Paris, and received assurance
that Princess Helene reciprocated his
love, and both her father and mother
approved the match. Princess Helene
then went to Rome to put the question of
change Of religion as an absolute Heces-
sity before the Pope, who told her it
would be impossible that such a change
should obtain his remotest sympathy.
The position remained unsettled until the
Prince and Princess of Wales became
alarmed over the chance of the Duke of
Fife nearing the the throne. Pressure
was then put on the Duke of Clarence on
every side, family and Cabinet reasons
being adduced against an alliance with
the house of France. This pressure led
to his acceptance of the Princess Victoria
Mary, for whom he has shown cousinly
liking.
Lord Salisbury has reopened negotia-
tions with the French Foreign Minister
for the settlement of the newfoundland
fisheries dispute. 1t is reported that Lord
Salisbury, in return for the surrender of
all French rights in Newfoundland,
wishes to cede to France the Hervor
Islands and the colony of Lagos.
Gladstone's criticism of Goshen's one
pound note scheme has killed the chances
of the bill in Parliament