The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-12
LIBERALSINC CONFERENCE
GLADSTONE THE PRINCIPAL GUEST
AT A BREAKFAsT

vors OF the Labor Vote - Parrish
Courcils Declared a Necessity.
LONDON. Dec. 1l.-Four hundred OF the
rural delegates to the national liberal feder
alton conference, which opened Yesterday
in Memorial hall, Pennington street. par
took of breakfast this morning, at which
the principal guest was Mr.. Gladstone.
The great liberal leader was accom-
panied by his wife. whose devotion
to her hus sband, both in his domestic and
political life. has become proverbial When
Mr.. and Mrs. Gladstone entered the great
room In which the breakfast was given
there was a scene Of great enthusiasm. The
delegates rose to their feet and with one
voice cheered their leader again and again.
ADDRESSED BY GLADSTONE.
After the breakfast Mr.. Gladstone ad-
dressed the gathering. He said no was re-,
Joiced TO see that the deliberations of the con-
ference were attended with union, modera-
tion and decision, which, he declared, we're
sure precursors of victory. He thought the
time had come for the commencement of
continuous efferts to bring about rural
reforms, and he added, these efforts
ought not to be terminated until their just
ends bad been attained. Speaking on tho
subject of workIngmen, Mr.. Gladstone said
the labor question had wide range. Home
rule was part of the labor controversy, as
the bulk of those in whose behalf they were
struggling were laborers or small farmers
The condition of the rural laborers was
most urgent question. Proof of this
statement lay In the constant migration of
these laborers. Every endeavor ought to
be made to keep laborers at home. He
hoped u see labor candidates for seats In
in parliament increase in number. They
ought not to be saddled with frightful cleo
ton expenses.
NECESSITY FOR PARISH COUNCILS.
Mr.. Gladstone enforced upon his hearers
the necessity for parish councils, which, he
maintained, were necessary complement
to local government. He held that the
laborer should have free access TO land, and
that the local authorities ought to be given
powers to purchase or lease land sor this
purpose.
Mr.. Gladstone urged the abolition
Of the common law against CON
spiracy. This law, he said, had
given rise to proceedings that were adverse
to the liberties of the people, Speaking
with particular reference to this law, Mr..
Gladstone said: "We must provide for the
rural population Of Great Britain as we'll as
for the same class in Ireland. Nothing
must be orime which relates to the prose-
cution of labor interests, or because
ton Of men unless it is
an offense against the letter and spirit Of
the law" MIR. Gladstone strongly advocated
that the parish councils should DO charged
with control of the parish charities, care of
the roads and commons and of rights Of
way. They should also see that schools
and dwellings were in proper sanitary
10 Nt,aNs
to be devised to offer the laborer, after a
long aud blameless life something better
than the work house. Until that was done
society would not have discharged its duty,
and the aims OF the present conference
would not have been fully attained.
BODY OF Ex TREMIsTs.
Copyright, 1891. bH the N. Y. associated Press)
LONDON. Dec. 1l.-If the rural coufer-
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 a social
aud political revolution. No as
semblage Of supposed representa-
tive men ever held in England has
displayed such epvenomed hostility TO the
parsons and land owners. Delegates boast-
ing themselves as persistent parson fighters
and denouncing squire tyranny were
cheered to the echo, and their scornful
illusions TO the patronzing airs of the
clergy toward the rural inhabitants were
keenly relished.
MOTTO OF THE CONFERENCE.
An occasional delegate feebly admitted
that he had met liberal landlord or an
open minded cleric, but the entire sympa-
tiny Of the conference was reserved for the
motto, Down with the church and the
landlord" The speakers and the bulk of
dale o..
speech, obviously not Hodge in the
rough, but rather Hodge trained
to spout in dissenting conventicles.
Mr.. Schnadehorst has done nothing
more clever during his career as a wire
puller than his cleaning from the mass Of
inchoate intelligence of rural England these
men so strongly radical and setting them up
as representative voices. But 10 would be
misleading to infer from the character of
the conference that the rural poor had
deserted the church en- nasse or had become
infused with political designs against the
squireArch.
ITS CHIEF IMPORTANCE.
The conference, while indicating clearly
and actively an existent force to be ac-
counted within the coming elections, owes
its greatest Importance TO its foreshadowinR
future agricultural policy. When the
spirit Of the delegates psrmeates the elect-
VI dbo tuo "a lduulOEQ~
ism and churchism will vanish.
Mr. Gladstone's speech to-day was a dis
tiuct disappointment, many delegates ex-
pecting that definite assurance In regard to
the liberal programme would be declared
and would include some of their aspirations
Some men who urged immediate application
to England of the principles of fair play for
rent, fixity Of tenure and free sale, and
others who wanted abolition of primogenf-
ture and limitation Of the sizs of estates,
got only enlarged illusions TO the Newcastle
programme.
GLADsToNE's DECLINING YEARS.
Mr.. Gladstone spoke throughout as a
leader who was sympathetic, but doomed
not TO lead in the struggle in which his
hearers were most concerned. The chair
mans incidental reference to Mr.. Glad
stones projected trip to Biarritz as
tourney TO that beautiful
land" was misinterpreted by the
audience and brought tears to
many eyes. Mr.. Gladstone's own allusion
to the Limitation of his physical powers.
and his sensibillty of the disadvantage In
which his party was placed owing to his
advanced years, caused a renewed emotion
among his hearers. There were many cries
of "No, no. You will have long life yet"
etc.
Mr.. Gladstone and his wife will start on
their trip Tuesday morning aud will reach
Paris Tuesday evening. Several free trade
leaders who hsve been beseechiug for oon.
ference with Mr.. Gladstone on the subject
of international tariffs will have
an opportunity TO see him, although he gives
no promise Of a speech. His medical ad-
wiser, Sir Andrew Clarke, insists upon per-
feet rest. Mr.. and Mrs. Gladstone will
aa1F De- -. WTr