Year: 1868

GREAT BRITAIN.


Mr.. Bright at Birmingham.


On the 24th of July Mr.. Bright was entertained
at dinner by the Mayor OF Birmingham and
politics being precluded, he spoke as follows in
reply to the toast of his health:-Alluding to
the Irish question: he observed that within the
last fortnight he had been IN Ireland, and
having seen great many people, at Limerick,
on the banks OF the Shannon, and in Dublin, he
was there to state his belief that there was a
sensiby improved feeling among t I the Catholic
Parliament were honestly turning their minds
to investigate the questions which had hitherto
made the great difficulty which ireland had been
was that the Established Church in Ireland was
as good as gone, but at the same time they
Looked to that party IN GSnr %hcn f proposed
dealing, sympathy, and fairness in the great
transaction which they believed now to be in
eyitable. There were, however other other questions
ment, the chief of which was the land question.
There was universal complaint that the great
bulk of the propretors OF the soil did not reside
in the country, and performed none of the
duties of proprietors, but took their incomes
and expended them in Dublin or in foreign
capitals.


At this moment we had free press, free
platform, and free Parliament Some people
looked with alarm upon Democratic institutions.
He should himself be very sorry in some things
to Americ anize our institutions. In the course
Of a few months the countries would be engaged
in great political struggle. We should be en-
gagged in returning a Lew parliament and the
United States would be employed in the election
of a new Chief Magistrate. who would have to
direct the affairs of that nation for the next four
years. We might have change of adminstra-
tion following our election, and in America. in
all probability, the same result would fol-
low; but there was one thing they had
in the United States which he would
be grievously sorry to see imported into
this country. They had in the change of four
years. dynasty change in almost all their Off
GERS throughout what might be called their
iptar astohiiS ShmantG SUrh a chance wOuld
be most Instantaneous in this country. At
the same time, America was setting us an eX-
ample in the reduction OF her public nexpendi,
nothing, he thought, which could justify our
enormous military and naval armament; and he
asked why it was, although the United States
and other nations had very large trade and
commerce with China and the East, all the
police of those seas was paid tor out OF English
taxation? He contended that to the enormous
burden of the taxation we bore was to be
attributed the source OF the vast amount of
pa riotism that was found 10 exist in the lowest
stratum Of society.


In addressing the electors of Westminster on
the 23d of July, Mr.. Mil said:-Great changes
have been made in our representative lnstitu-
tions. The constituencies had been greatly en-
larged, and they were now gong to De asked
what they meant TO do with their new po Wer.
Did they intend to have a stricter government,
with an improvement IN its administration
TIE mass of the community had obtained inhu'
ence and a voice in the conduct OF the Leglsla-
ture. Was their purpose that the Imperial IN;
terest should be more attended to than 1t had
hitherto been?


If they meant that the Government under
which we were now living should be good one
for the whole people, government willing and
able 10 deal with the great social difficulties
now pressing upon us, then it was time to bestir
themselves. (Hear, hear.) 1t was time for them
to think how to make their political suhrages
instrumental in bringing about this purpose.
The people had only to make up their mind that
. Ia. oh nNVlh ha 1TN nd Uun 10
Where there was will the way would present
no difficulties When they made up their
minds that the Corn Laws should cease, any
body could have carried the measure, and so
when they decided thing should be
done it could be done; Now, there was
the Irish Church. When the nation had
thing could be done almost as easily as said.
But the nation had great many more things to
do than that. 1t had got to make good laws toI
the safety of society. We had got great dea
richer, more struggling, mere overcrowded II
society, than our ancestors could ever have
formed any idea Of A. vast mercantile and com
mercial industry had thrown itself up, aud ther
was number of things to be done now that re
quired long and patient thought much NOR
thought and patience han the body polite coul'
possibly bestoW upon Their consideration. VIVA
the public had to do, then, was TO lind the mel
who could do the thing. For instance let hin
first speak of the great question upon every
pody's mind - the proportions and relation
between capital and labor. How far did tn
public mind 60 upon that? Why 1t !
said, let the relation between workman
and employer, as far as it can be, b
assisted by the law; but this was not
case in which the nation could instruct Parlia
ment, and the proper mode of dealing with tn
question had yet to be found out. (Hear, hear
Another matter was the power to deal witt
paupeTism, as contained in poor-aW relief. w
knew the vices of the system, we knew that vas
sums OF money were levied, and yet those wh
most needed public charity were imperfect
relieved. We knew that provision was made 70
i nursing the SICK caring for the aged and help
Y less, aud education for the young; and yet thes
things were often cruel mockery. How wa
this? Why, ii was because these matters ha
not been thoroughly organized. What Ws
wanted was an organizing mind, who should b
able to know how to make people DO ther dut.
how to give relief without encouraging thos
who were not entitled to it. If the people the
wanted all these things done they must be col
tent to send 10 Parliament not men who Woal
merely support Mr.. Gladstone, but men WI
could help him also.


General News.


blue book, containing the annual report
the Committee OF Coancil on Education for tn
year ending lS67-68, has just been published fC
the information Of Parliament. From tn
% document 1t appears that during the year
which the report refers there had been q
increase on the return OF the year previously
the number Of schools or departments Of schoo