The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-30
NEWYDDION BYW
0 WLAD Y GAN
Great Suffering At the RhOndda Valley
and Elsewhere.
POOR "MORlEN IS ALMOST BLIND

Maelgwyn, of the Cardiff Times,
ON the Adjudication Of the Choral
Competition at the Cardiff Exhibi.
tion Eisteddfod.. He Says We Live
in q Wonderful aud Changing Age.
Sad and evil days have evidently Iai,
len upon the miners of FerndaIe anu
Tylorstown and their families. For the
past three or four months the uepres-
sion in the coal trade, upon which the
district absolutely depends. has been q
an exceptionally severe character, aV
1t has brought in its train great dea
of want and suffering. The distress Is
widespread and acutely felt by scores
of families many of whom have, II Is
sad to relate, been without a morsei
Of bread on many occasions.
PUBLICANS AND THE CHURCH.
The Welsh Calvinistic Methodists of
South Wales and MonmOuthshire held
their quarterly meetings at Devynock.
q picturesque rural district. nesting
mid the heights of Breconshire, week
before last. A considerable discussion
arose with reference to proposal To
legislate on the question Of the rela-
tionship with the chuI ches and persons
connected with the liquor trade AT
the Pontardulais association series or
resolutions were formulated on the
question: and referred to the monthly
meetings for consideration according
to these recommendations: no one
trading in Intoxicating liquors would in
future be received into church MEM
bership; and although any person en-
gagged in the trade, who may now be
members of the churches, were not to
he expelled, they were strongly urged
ito get out OF the trade at ohce'
while II was proposed that under no
circumstances should such persons be
suffered to hold any office In the
churches. Quite lively discussion en-
sued, and eventually the following res
olution was adopted: while the asso-
citation keenly regrets that the month
ly meetings are not prepared for legis-
lation on the question, we urge the
churches to persevere in the good work
of spreading temperance principles and
educating public opinion on the ques-
tiOn, and to cooperate heartily In the
movement now initiated to establish a
temperance society in connection with
the association" Music and it's tempt
ations received the attention of the
association as a result of commune
cation from Mrs. Watts Hughes 1t
was resolved That an appeal be sent
from this association to the several
monthly meetings, and through them
to the churches in general asking that
the attention of the young people who
take a delight in music be called in the
most solemn manner to their impropri-
ETY. of taking part in concerts and en-
tertainments that are held in unwor-
thy places, such as music halls, and eS-
pecially of their singing low and vul-
gar songs, but rather that they should
devote their musical talents to higher
and purer objects"
THE CARDIFF EISTEDDFOD.
Maelgwyn, of the Cardiff Times. in
speaking OF the recent musical per-
furmances at the Cardiff exhibition
eisteddfod, says that the great choral
competitions was at no time the chiet
attraction of the eisteddfod. for, evil
IDENTIFY staggered by the award at
Llandudno, several of the leading
choirs had signified their intention of
holding aloof from the contest, and the
eisteddfod committee We're assailed in
a section of the press with persist
ency and a vehemence that were alike
unfair and undeserved. Everybody
expected Llanelly to win, although one
could not but admire the pluck OF
little Pontypool in entering the lists
against one of the acknowledged lead
ing choirs. The victory of the tinplate
town representatives was very popu-
lar, although the remarks of Mr. Cow
en- that the losing choir had done as
we'll or nearly so as the best choir that
competed at Llandudno, Is likely to
produce no end of controversy amongst
the friends and enemies of certain
choirs. In one breath the adjudicators
tell us that the LlandudnO contest was
l., oil 1,..
petition in London in the Jubilee year.
while i'm the next we are led to believe
that 1t was very small potatoes indeed.
Truly we live in a wonderful and
changing age"
WALES AND LIBERAL LEADER
SHIP.
1t may be q narrow way of looking
at things, but a Welsh nationalist cam
not help regarding the political sit
uation in it's relation to Wales. In
general way Welsh Radicals rejoice in
all that tends to unite and to strength
en- the Liberal party, but they do not
forget that in the Parliamentary bat
tie Wales has to fight for her own
hand. They naturally, therefore, take
q keen interest in the present situa
tion, and discuss with avidity the ru-
mors with regard to the vacant leader
ship. Lord Rosebory, during his COM
paratively brief career as Prime Min
lister, whilst in sense popular, was
far from filling the place In the Welsh
mind that was occupied by Mr. Glad
stone. He spoke well and did well
for Wales, but the Welsh Nonconofrm-
list conscience never took kindly to
him. The said conscience. however,
often strains at gnat and swallows
the bigger animal, and there are very
many Welshmen who would view with
sincere sorrow anything like the pro-
longed retirement of Lord ROsebery
from active political life. Sir VIM.
Harcourt's fighting qualities, If not his
ardent championship of temperance
legislation, has brought him, at least
Of recent years, the admiration and
perhaps the affection of Welsh Rida-
calls. They are democratic enough to
prefer finding the leader amongst the
Commons rather than in the Upper
House, when he happens also to be
one OF their own representatives the
attraction Is well nigh irresistible. Re-
ferring to more personal aspects of the
question, one does not forget that al
though Mr.. Thomas Ellis was credit
ed with being one of those who were
most influential in bringing about the
leadership Of Lord Rosebery, his work
as Liberal Whip during the time Lord
Rosebery was In power was by no one
more warmly praised than by Sir Will
liam Harcourt. Neither can one lose
sight of the generous tribute paid by
Sir William Harcourt to the efforts of
the Welsh members during the last ses-
sion. and the way (when he did not
follow their lead) he backed them up
In their various fights.
A WELSH CLERGYMAN ON WE'D
DINGS.
The Rev. E. Howells, vicar of Mil
ford Haven, makes the following re-
marks In the Parish Messenger" for
October anent the conduct of people
attending weddings: while on the
subject of marriage may we ask those
who generally attend these functions
1--WE are thinking now Of the mothers