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

PUBLIC AFFAIP S. Mr. W. E. Forster, addressing a crowded meeting of his constituents in St. George's Hall, Bradford, took leave of them consequent on the redistribution of seats, but anticipated being a member for one of the divisions of the district. Thanking the electors for the confidence they had reposed in him during the 25 years he had been their member' the right hon. gentleman refer' ed to the part he had taken during the American civil war and in the passing of the Education Act. With regard to the Reform agitation he might mention that shortly after Lord John Rue. cell's last Mm stry came to an end that veteran reformer wrote him a letter stating that he had ceme to the conclusion that there ought to be household suffrage, but he desired him not to publish that conclusion yet. Had it been published Mr. Disraeli would have been anticipated, and Lord John would have become the author of household suffrage. The last reform struggle had been a triumphant one—triumphant not merely as regarded enfranchisement, but also as regarded the redistribu, ion of seats. They had now, with the aid of the Conservative leaders, obtained a good Redistiibution Bill. Pas-ing to the difficulties he experienced in Ireland, Mr. Forster said they were increased by the rejection of the Compensation or Disturbance Bill. He believed, if that bill had been passed, the fierceness of the agitation would have been removed, and the whole difficulty would have teen easier to deal with. He be ieved the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act prevented a civil war in Ireland. Teirible as were the Phain ix-park murders, they saved Ireland. But for those murders the Prevention of Crimes Act would not have been pressed forward and matters would have got from bad to worse, till they would have had to be put down, not with the Crimes Act, but by an armed force, and with cannon. The responsibility rested with the present Government of allowing the Crimes Act to expire. The right hon. gentleman went on to defend his speeches and votes against the late Government on their foreign policy, of which he disapproved, considering it weak • and vacillating. Becau-e of their vacillation and neglect of Load Woleeley's representations, the expedition to Khartoum was sent out only to arrive too late to rescue General Gordon, and hundreds of our own brave men and thousands of their opponents (some of the bravest men in the world) had fallen, without aay advantage to be obtained from it. He (Mr. Forster) had the greatest admiration for Mr. Gladsteno, but had no confidence in his foreign pelicy. Passing to home politics, the right hon. gentleman said that on the Land question he agreed with the recent letter of Mr. Bright. They wanted perfect fr,edom in the transfer of land, but he did not approve of the State taking the land for itself,or taking it from one man and giving it to another. As regarded disestabliehment, so long as he felt that the establishment did good he would not be the man to pull it down. He was in favour of is very wide measure of local government, and would include in it a very full dealing with the liquor question. He would give local government to Ireland, as he would to England or Sootland, with this exception—that at present he would not give to the localities the control of the police. He was not in favour of Mr. Chamberlain's proposal of elective councils, as he believed that would only be Home Rule in disguise.  • A petition has been sent by Sindgate fishermen to the 13oard of Trade and Admiralty, praying that steps may be taken to prevent the French trawltrs from fishing in those waters,thereby injuring English fishermen. A reply has been received from the Board of Trade which announces that Sandgate fishermen shall receive protection by one of her Majesty's gunboats. On the question of raising the age of protection for girls Mr. Gladstone, writing to Prawrior Stuart, M. P., says I cannot consrder that much weight is due to to judgment in this important matter as compared with that of others- But I have considered it as well as I could, and I personally should have been glad if the Government had found it consistent with their views to name 18 instead of 16 an the protected age.  A