The Warwickshire Herald. — 1885-08-01 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

BANQUET TO EARL SPENCER.  Earl Spencer has been entertained at a banquet fp the Westminster Palace Hotel, the Marquis of Her. tington presiding. About 200 peers and members of Parliament were present. The chairman, proposing the toast of the guest, said that in the opinion of the late Government Lord Spencer had dischargid his duties as Lord-Lieutenant at a time of crisis and great difficulty, with great justice and moderation, with firmness, and with courage ; and he had borne with calmness and with dignity an amount of obloquy and vituperation to which a statesman in his position had rarely been exposed.  Lord Spencer, in the course of his reply, expressed an opinion that the Crum s Act Intel been administered with moderation; and, considering the circumstances of the Vines, that the Governmeet were perfectly justified in nearly all they did. Having refez red to recent legislation for Ireland, he went on te say: "During the three years that we held office in Ireland we were subjected to in yny vindictive attacks by persons who spoke at different meetings in Ireland. We were accused of all kinds of crime an misdemeanours ; crimes so grave, especially those imputed to myself, personally, that nothing short of a public arraignment ought to have followed. I myself was accused of crimes which I hardly dare to speak of. These were ungenerous acts of opponents. But we cculd afford to treat these attacks with scorn. We weie not deterred from follown g the paths that we considered right ; and we felt that we could rely on our motives and our actions being interpreted with justice, not only by the people of England but by ajarge body of the jet ply of Ireland. I have received many communications from all paities in Ireland—Conservatives, Liberals, Nationalists, Rcman Catholics, Loth 'tilt and laymen - expressing approval Id the action of toe late Government during the last three years. It i 5 in this expression of opinion that we find t ncouragf ment for the future. In England lately we have bad declarations from persons in high political positions hostile to the Government which I represented ; but we base liadin a still high, r place s. me generous Ff ntintents expressed. I sincerely trust that these more generous sentinunts will prevail, and that these who may hereafter have to battle with et iice, and le limps ii hellion, in Ireland, will know thet if they do they will receive the support of any Government which is in office, whether it be COViit rvative in u 'tether it be Liberal. I cannot thank you to mu, h for the expression of confidence and support wit At this iitanificent assembly has offeied to me and the late Government of Ireland. It will encourage ine at all events if I am called upon again to take office, not probably in Ireland, but possibly in a Gevernment which will have to deal with the chtficulties of the Irish question, to take office again, anti to dc my best to serve my country."  Mr. John Bright, M.P , in proposing "The lit alth of the Chairman," spoke of the valuable se, vices Lord Hartington had rend, red to his party, and proceeded to pay high tribute to Lord Spencer. Referring to the violent attacks made upon the late administration of Ireland, the right hon. gentleman said the people who professed to represent Ireland, while indiscriminately attacking every judge and jury in Ireiiiiid iis well as Lord Spf ncer had, on the contrary, exhibited a binnwiless synipatily for criminals and fur rourdtrers. They had attacked the Viceroy in a manner that hitherto' he thought, had been utterly uriknown with regard to the great officers of the Crown. From their lips not one sentence of emphatic condemnation for criminals and murderers had passed. Theme had been no word of pity for their victims. Wl.en the history of these times came to be fairly written, the courage, the patience, and the success of Lord Speficer wi ted mm t be forgotten. He would stand to those who came after ai he stood to those present to-day, as one of the nob!est and most honoured statesmen of our time. Lord Hartington having replied, the proceedings shortly afterwards terminated.  MR.