The record-union., 1891-10-02
GREAT BRITAIN.
Formal Opening of the National Lib.
erai Federation Congress.

Formal Opening of the National Lib
erai Federation Congress.
copyrighted, 1891, by n. y. Associated Press. I
NEWCASTLE, Oct. 1.-The formal OPEN
ing of the great National Liberal Fedora
ton Congress occurred here to-day. An
enormous crowd was present when the
congress was called to order at 3 O'Clock
this afternoon. DR.. Watson, who pre-
sided, was reelected President.
Some idea of the size of the congress
can be gathered from the fact that no less
than lis delegates, to say nothing of dis
tingulshed parliamentary leaders, have
made arrangements to address the con-
gresS before it closes it's labors. Nearly
eighty members of Parliament will be
present. AS each of the three thousand
delegates represents thousand voters.
the congress represents about three mill
ION electors from England and Wales
alone.
Morley, in the opening speech, referred
to the spirit OF liberalism as inspired bv
the highest motive and the noblest inn
pulses, Ireland, he said, had indicated
The confidence the Liberals had placed i'm
her by refusing to follow leader the
Liberals could not conscientiously work
with. In regard to temperance reform,
he said 1t was not the Liberals fault that
1t had not legislatively advanced, for as
usual the Conservatives blocked the way.
There was prospect that, even if vic
torious, the members of the House of
Commons would find to all such mea-
sures unyielding obstacles to progress in
the House of Lords.
Morley said he was ready to renew the
agitation against hereditary Peers when
ever their Lordships pleased Abiding
TO obstacles existing in the exercise of the
franchise, Morley said he did not know
how the voice Of the workmen could be
heard with full effect in Parliament until
England followed the example of other
countries In having aConstitution and by
placing some moderate subsistence within
the reach OF those aspiring to serve the
people IN Parliament. Loud cheering.
The country could not hear too constantly
the voice OF the working population. The
workmen ought, therefore, to be encour-
aged to obtain representation in all local
authoritative bodies, councils and school
boards, up to the great Senate of the ma
ton.
A resolution of trust in Gladstone. and
a belief that no wise or durable settle
ment of the Irish question can be effected
except by the establishment of an Irish
Legislative body for the management ex-
cluslVely of Irish affairs, was carried
with cheers.
DIR. Watson. President of the Irish Ma
uonal Liberal Federation, referring to
the elght-hour question, said it still re-
mained in state of argument. The 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 Ma
tional Liberal Federation, he added, did
not like to stifie discussion on the eight
hour question. On the contrary, it de-
sired that the question should be searched
out, and members of the council were
prepared to give the question chance to
come up in general discussion.
a resolution in favor of disestablishinp
the Welsh Church, and to amend free
education by increasing popular control
of schools, was passed.