Evening Express

MR JOHN GUNN. The Unionist Candidate Explains His Views to Cardiff Working Men Conservatives. A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING. On Monday evening at the Park-hall the annual dinner of the Cardiff Conservative Working Men's Club was held with distinguished success, about 550 persons sitting down to an excellent spread, laid in Mr. Hunt's usual irreproachable style. The balcony, which was well filled with ladies, was the groundwork for some very tasteful decoratious. In the centre of the balcony curve, facing the choir, were a pair of clasped hands, surmounted by a riband bear- ing the names of Harting-too" and Salisbury, the device being typical of the Unionist alliance. On either side of this, in large, white letters on a blue ground, was Gunn for Cardiff." Again in prominent places were displayed the names of "Goschen," "Smith," "Chamberlain," "Balfour, "Halsbury," "Selborne," "Dunraven," "Derby," Tredegar," Windsor," Guest," and Llewelyn." During the repast an excellent programme of music was ably rendered by a band under the leadership ot Mr. Sullivan, the treasurer of the club. Sir J. T. v. Llewelyn (president of the club) occupied the chair, and Mr. R. Hughes (chairman of the club) was in the vice-chair. On the imme- diate right of the chairman was Mr. John Gunn, and on his left Lord Tredegar. Amongst those present were Sir M. Morgan, the Rev. J. Davies (Gabalva), Councillors Parker, Tucker, Hurley, and Trounce, Major Ingram, Dr. Treharne (chairman of the Conservative Association) Dr. Paine, Dr. Wallace, Professor Sorley Messrs. H. Cousins, G. C. Thompson, Marcus Gunn P. Dowson, Geo. David (hon. secretary Conserva- tive Association), H. Lushington Stephen, J Andrews, J. B. Ferrier, H. Woolcott Thompson, H. White, C. Moir, J. W. A. Stevens, H. Frazer, W. Bradley, R. Templeton, Horn Farn; R. W. Hedley, A. W. Hellier, F. Ward, F. B. Clode, T. Burrows, H. Jarman-Beames. J. Wil iams, P. M'Vane, A. M. Ingledew, J. C. Vye-Parminter, 1. Samuel (chair- man South WardTConaervftive Association), C. H. Cruse (chairman Canton Conservative Club), J. W. Talbot (secretary Canton Conservative Club), W. T. Symonds (vice-chairman South Ward Associa- tion), P. LI. Thomas (secretary Roath Public Library), W. T. Hicks, L. Hawcroft, P. G. Salter (chairman Roath Conservative Club), G Hawker, Wailes, Z. White, Captain Hall J. W. Johnson, F. Clode, SpiHer, Roberts, White, Bunfill, R. Wil- liams, F. Ward, F. Trutt, A. Wood- man, A. Rowles, W. Crowley, W. H. Tucker, W. Harper, — Winstone, Richards, W. F. Govier, R. J. Hoskings, Gibbs, W. James, W. Jones, P. H. Thomas, A. Leon, and D. Meredith. The principal toast was "The Unionist Candidate, Mr. John Gunn," proposed by Sir John Talbot Dillwyn Llewelyn It seemed to him to be an essential-one of the greatest essentials-in a candidate that he should be on the spot, knowing their individual, as well as their collective, wants. (Applause.) He (the speaker) had had the very great honour of the votes ot a very large number of those present that night, and he knew that the great Imperial question which surrounded them on the present day was exactly the same as it had been his duty to foreshadow to them in the address which it was the duty of every candidate tc issue. He then asked the question, "What is Home Rule?" and it was a question to be asked rqu'illy to-rlay. (Applause ) No one knew exactly what Home Rule was. He asked it in March of 1886, and followed up the question by s"y- ing that it was difficult, from the mysterious utterances of the then Cabinet Minis- ters, to know what was meant. Was it not so now? (SApplauae.) The "Old Parliamentary Hand" still kept the card up his sleeve- (laugli i er and Hear, hear ")-and would not let them know what he meunt by it. Some of Mr. Gladstone's own immediate supporters had recently been pitisiblv asking what was meant by him when he spoke of Home Rule, because they knew that if they went to the country with that cry and were returned upon it there would be a very grave day in store for them when they assembled together in Parliament. (Applause.) The Old Parlia- mentary Hand" would, however, not say what it meant, because he knew that if he did he would lose a great many more of his present supporters. (Hear, hear.) At that time he (the speaker) appealed to the Conservatives of CarJijf to endorse their prutost against the threatened disruption of the Empire; he appealed to the Lib-rals whether they were pr,p-ir,-d to follow where Lord Hartington feared to tread, and he found that no fewer than 4,800 electors of Cardiff were prepared to follow, even although the Irish electors had instructions from Mr. Parnell to vote against him. He thçn appealed to them to declare for one Queen, one Parliament, and one Empire, and the question and the appeal were the same to-day. (Applause.) It would, said Sir John, be the same question at the next election. And had not the Unionists been vindicated in the position they had taken up? Let. them look at the success which had attended Mr. Balfour's Government during the past four years, and compare that for a moment against what must have taken place had he not been in power. Pauperism had decreased 11 per cent.; emigration, which was a sign of poverty, had decreased 16 per cent.; indict- able offence? had decreased 28 per cent.; and agiarian outrages had decreased no less than 51 per cent. Boycotting had decreased from 4,900 cases to 152 cases. (Applause.) That showed greater happiness and greater freedom. (Renewed applause.) Let them compare that with the arguments of Mr. Parnell-lime and blackthorn -and what he (the speaker) thought was a very dangerous one indeed the illite- rate voter, a weapon which should be watched. There wa4 another point in respect to Home Rule which t hey, however, would not hear very much of in Cirdiff, though they heard a good deal of it in other parts of Wales. About. fourteen months ago Sir Edward Reed made a very sensible speech at the Colonial-hall, in which he said Home Rule would not do for Cardiff. "Home Rule for Wales" was a very taking cry in the agricultural districts, but Sir Edward said it would not do for go ahead Cardiff. He (Sir John Llewelyn) had quoted that speech in Carmarthenshire, and there had been a heading in a certain paper, "Sir John Llewelyn Caught Trioping." He (Sir John) had not been tripping, but had quoted verbatim from Sir E. J. Reed, who had within the last few months re- peated his statements in some very sensible letters which had appeared in the papers. Therefore, be did not think Mr. Gunn would be troubled very much with the question of Home Rule for Wales. But Mr. Gunn and every other candidate would be handicapped by not being informed what Home Rule was. (Hear, hear.) Not even Mr. Gladstone seemed to know. (Hear, hear.) In conclusion. Sir John dealt with the good legislation of the present Government, which, he said, constituted more in the life of a Government than they would find in the life of any one Government in the past. (Applause.) He then appea!ed to Liberal Unionists and Conservatives to work shoulder to shoulder to return a Unionist candidate, as in other con- stituencieg Conservative candidates had been returned by Unionist votes. (Loud applause.) Mr. JOHN GUNN had a splendid reception on rising to respond. He said I thank very sincerely for the very hearty and cordial reception which you have been good enough to give me at this grand meeting. I can not in 4uy measurable sense accept the compliments which your excellent president has been good enough to convey to me. I think it is due to Sir John Llewelyn, to the meeting, and to youself that I should begin by telling you what is an open secret known to many gentlemen at this table, namely, that it would have given me infinitely more pleasure to be here as a supporter of Sir John Llewelyn than to be here as your candidate. At an early stage of the proceedings of the committee which was entrusted with the cire of making inquiries as to the possibility of securing a candidate for Cardiff Sir John was approached with the assurance that he would receive the support, not merely of the Conservative Unionists, but the loyal support of every Unionist Liberal in the constituency. (Hear, hear.) We regretted to find that Sir John was pledged to another constituency, and we know that, with that soul of honour which has been characteristic of his life,it would have been useless for us to press even the claims of such an important constituency as this great con- stituency of Cardiff. (Hear. hear.) Subsequently a deputation, introduced by Lord Windsor, whose absence we all regrett, waited upon the represen- tatives of the Government and sought their assist- ance in securing a candidate who would be accep- table to all sections of the electors of Cardiff. I ventured, as one of that deputation, to impress upon Mr. Akers-Douglas and other representatives of the Government the great importance to them, as well as to ue, that in this great commercial centre of South Wales they ought to secure for us a candidate chosen from the Conservative section of the Unionist party, but one whose views would commend themselves to all Liberals, and be accept- able as a representative man to every section of the voters desiring to maintain Unionist prin- ciples in this town and borough. I need not tell you, gentlemen, that our efforts in that direction were not successful. We regretted to find that there were difficulties presenting them- selves, and the committee specially charged with the selection of a candidate persisted in their efforts in all directions, but failed to find a candi- date whom they could nominate and suggest for your consideration as a suitable man from the Conservative section of the Unionist party. I think it is due to you, as well as to mvsplf, that this matter should be ma,je perfectly clear—(applause)—that there has been no defire—as the Vicar of Maindy has told you, that there has been no il must" in this matter; it has been brought about by circumstances appa- rently over which your committee had no control. (Applause.) And when, some five weeks ago, five gentlemen waited upon me and informed me very late one night that at a central meeting of the Conservative Association they felt that mine was the only name their com- mittee could submit to that, organisation- (apphuse)-and that that meeting was represen- tative of all sections of the Conservatives and Unionists of Cardiff, I felt if I had then to reply to their request, and although I appreciate, as any man would, the goodwill and esteem of my fellow countrymen — I felt that if the reply had to be given then I should be bound to have told them that my own convictions, frequently expressed during the past five years, had been that they ought to have found a Conservative whose views were pro- gressive enough to enable those of them who were Liberals to support him. (Applause.) But they asked me to receive a deputation which should be representative and official of every shade of Unionists in Cardiff, and I felt it was due to personal friends and neighbours that I should listen to this appeal. I was bound to do so. On the morrow and day by day I got copies of resolutions passed by your varied associations— (applause)—by your clubs and societies; letters from individual representatives, rejoicing that the party was united upon my selection. (Applause.) Personal friends assured me on every hand of their goodwill if I aaw my way to accept the position. Having regard to these facts, whatever my personal inclinations might have been, I felt it WHS due to them and to myself to consider what was my duty in this trying position—(" Bravo!" and applause)— and I thought it was exceedingly desirable, as this was an important matter, not for this con- stituency only, but for the Unionist party as a whole, that I should interview the leading repre- sentative officials of the Unionist Government. (Hear, hear.) I took the opportunity of goine to London and having an interview with the representatives of the Government — with Captain Middleton, with Mr. Akers Douglas, and with other leading r prrsentative Conserva- tives-and told them what had been submitted and pressed upon me, and they said, "We will h artly en- dorse the action of the local association. (Applause.) We sincerely trust you will accept the position, and anything we can do to support you and help you is at your service." (Renewed applause.) I saw, further, the representatives of the Liberiil Unionists. (Hear, hear.) I saw Sir Henry James, who told me, Mr. Gunn, I shall be delighted if you accept this position anything in my power that I can do I will do, and I shall come personally to Cardiff, if you ask me, to support you." (Applause.) And, by a strange coincidence, I had the privilege of meeting with the great leader of the Liberal Unionist party, Lord Hartington—(applause)— and he assured me—to use his own words, he said, You will do an immense service to the Unionist cause, not in Cardiff merely, but throughout the whole country, if you accept the nomination, which has reached you first from the Conservative Associa- tion, and, as is now indicated, will be supported by the whole of the Unionists of.the boruugh. You will do an immense amount of good to the cause we all have at heart, and throughout (She whole country it will testify that we are as closely allied and working together to-day as we were at the commencement." Gentle- men, on frequent occasions during the past five years it has been frequently said to me by individual members of the Conservative party and of the Liberal Unionist party, "Why do not you, as a local man who worked so hard at the last election, allow vourself to be nominated ?" I have told you frankly my reasons. I thought it was due to the Conservative section to nominate a candidate, and that position I never left until they drove me from it. (Applause.) I was subsequently waited upon, as you know, by over 50 gentlemen, representing every shade of the Unionist organisation—clubs, societies, and asso- ciations of all kindj, both Liberal and Conserva- tive-and I was assured that at all their meetings, which had been specially called for the purpose, the action of the central association had been unanimously confirmed and my choice in every sense of the word heartily and unanimously accepted. (Applause.) Gentlemen, I felt that, whatever the responsibility might be—and I assure you I looked upon it as no light matter, not for myself individually, because to me it is a small matter, but to this important constituency I felt it was of the utmost impor- tance- and when this responsibility was removed from my shoulders, and placed upon the shoulders of the Unionist electorate of Cardiff, I felt. what- ever the issue might be, the responsibility was yours and not mine. But at your will I accept it. (Loud applause.) I need not trouble you with anything affecting myself; you all know me. (Applause.) I have worked with you and I have worked for you, and should you honour me with a higher calling in the way of work I am at your service. (Applaus\) I appreciat at once this compliment which has been paid me by the Conservative section of the Unionist party in Cardiff as a tribute to the merits of those Liberal Unionists-that noble band—who in 1886 refused to barter their convictions for the sake of party or of power-who stood firm in defence of the unity of the Empire. (Hear, hear.) I am conscious that the prophets of the Opposition, from the great arch-prophet who leads the central wing of the Opposition along the whole line of so-called prophets, patriots, and poet s-(Iaughter)-one and all declared that, although the Unionist party were united in their opposition to Home Rule and to the Irish measures, yet at the first breath of a public question outside those measures the Unionist Government would collapse. These men prophesied on the lines of the historic past, and urged that the present Government was composed, as fotmer coalition Governments had been, of malcontents-men of disappointed ambi- tion, men who were merely office-hangers. They forgot that the great foundation upon which the present Government is built is that grand compromise of the integrity of the British Empire. (Applause.) The present Government is supported by politicians who stand in the first rank of statesmen — men like Lord Hartington, Sir Henry James, Mr. Chamberlain, and that great tribune of the people, the late John Bright-men who have spent their lives in endeavouring to ameliorate the position of the people, and who are deter- mined that the government stíall be continued so as to advance the true intereqts and welfare of the nation at large. (Applause.) You will remember that Mr. Uladstone in 1886 prophesied over and over again that no great measure could be passed until a measure of Home Rule, as it has been termed, had been granted to Ireland. You can appreciate that prophecy at its true value when I tell you that that statement was true only in so far as an Opposition not too scrupulous in its methods of warfare can impede and obstruct the passing of useful measures which demand the attention of the Legislature in the interests of the nation gene- rally. "I ask you for a moment, even at this late hour, to turn your minds with me to the possible condition of things had such a calamity overtaken this country as the passing of the Home Rule Bill. I ask you to turn your mind's eye to the great facts with the experience ot the past five year4 and the recent revelations, as wejl as the marvellous transmissions which you have seen and read and heard of. I ask fOll to consider what would have been the position of that unfortunate country had its destiny been placed in the hands of that statesman who has been designated by his fellows as the Uncrowned King of Ireland." I regret to say that the admiration for the genius of that man is not limited to his own followers, but that it extends to Wales, to England, and, I am sorty to say, in a large measure to Scotland, because in their enthusiasm in the ancient capital of that country—the city of Edinburgh—they insisted upon his being made a freeman. I say it as a Scotchman that there is no act in the history of my country which I look upon with greater shame than that act. (Hear, hear.) But I will ask you to bear with me while I read to you a few lines of the eloquent address which was spoken, as reported in the Scotsman next morning, by the bailie who presented the freedom. These are his words: —" In a time of national dissatisfaction he who sees with great concern the strong tendency of certain persons to aggregate in secret societies that they may redress supposed wrongs by violence and bloodshed, and who, seeing this dangerous energy, exerts a quiet and effectual force to raise and transfer it into constitutional lines of action, is not only the benefactor of the lawless, but of the whole Empire." Can you imagine for one moment, with the history of the recent past, that any man can have been so misled and so mis- guided as to the character of that man ? The Unionist party in 1886 saw and ventured then to express their convictions as to the real charac- ter and aims and objects and ambitions of this man. I will atik you to follow this history down, and in imagination to go with me into Committee-room 15. (Laughter) Declara- tions have emanated from that room which, to my mind, speak volumes, as showing the true character of the men who claim to be patriots and trade on the name of Ireland. I ask you to refer t > one particular sentence which was uttered and expressed by Mr. Parnell, with the consent of the wh"le undivided Irish party. At that time he stated that when the Bills of 1886-the Home Rule Bill and the Irish Land Bill—were presented, he called together his colleagues- Elealy, Sexton, O'Brien, and the rest-and said to them, Are you prepared to tak< this Bill, with all its defects and limitations and shortcomings, or to reject it?" and they all agreed that they would accept it, pro tanto. Now. gen- tlemen, that makes for so much. We were assured upon ail the platforms of British Home Rule that this was a measure of finality, when at that very moment those men were conscious that they were only taking it for what it was worth, and as a step towards separating, as they desired, the last link of that connection which they ultimately desired to cut adrift. (Applause.) It seems to me, as far as Unionists are concerned, if we were asked to give a definition of Home Rule, we would give it in the words of a rather clever definition given by one of our peers, and which I read some time ago— that Home Rule required darkness to make it alarming; like the ghost, when daylight came it disappeared. (Applause.) The phases in which it is represented are more numerous than you and I can conjecture. It has been suggested by your learned president that its definition is kept in reserve somewhere, but what- ever the variation, whatever the phase may be, I hope you are determined to-night, as you were in 1886, upon this great question. Be it what it may, the question before us is unitedly to oppose any measure which shall have for its effect what is called a distinct and national separation from that country, and the cutting adrift, for all practical purposes, of Ireland from the British Empire. But before leaving this question let me say one thing more. We are met with this objection, that the character of this man has got nothing to do with this great question of Home Rule. Gentlemen, that i3 perfectly true. We look upon this man and his satel- lites, who were his immediate nominees, quite in the same light. (Applause.) I think the best illustration I can remember defining the position is on one of the great occasions in the history of the Empire-I mean the trial of Queen Caroline, in the reign of George IV. A reticent peer, w ho was con- sidered one of the ablest in the land, was asked what was his opinion about the Queen. After some hesitancy he said, "Well. I think she is a fitting wife for his Majesty the King." (Laughter.) Now, gentlemen, we think—and it has now been demonstrated beyond a doubt—that the dethroned leader was a fitting leader for his satellites. (Applause.) But, gentlemen, you may ask, and reasonably ask, What are we to do with this great Irish question? Are we to go on year by year with this problem unsolved and with the majority of the Irish people admittedly against us ? Is this to be a constant standing bug- bear to the interests of the Empire ? I say, No. (Applause.) And if you mean that that shall be so, it»s for you, for me, and for everyone of 14s to do tin share in continuing in office.the man, above all others—I mean Mr. Balfour- (applause) -who by his courage and without fear or favour has seen that the law was administered alike to each offender, whether he was a Moonlighter or a member of Parliament. (Applause.) He has always served them equitably, honestly, and justly alike. (Applause.) But I venture to express this hope, that year by year the real grievances of Ireland are receding into the past. (Applause.) There has been a Land Act ( MR. JOHN GUNN (From a photograph by Mr. Dighton, Queen-street, Oardiff). passed in 1891. (Applause.) There have been Educational Acts. (Applause.) As you are aware, there have been Land Acts for the tenants, enabling them to purchase their holdings. The Ashbourne Act, as it was termed, and one of the first Act s the present Government passed, attempted to put the leasehclding tenants practically into the posi- tion of being able to buy their own holdings and become the proprietors of their own farms. (Ap- plause.) Those are measures which, it may be silently, but, in my humble judgment, are surely, securing the ground for peace, prosperity, and p'enty for that unfortu- nate country. (Applause.) There have been other measures passed, and, amongst others, one for light railways, which has not merely thrown money away, but served a. useful purpose by giving employment to a large number of men and giving tacilities for conveying the produce of the country to the ports for shipment to England and to the world. (Applause.) There has been recently, as you are aware, passed a measure which was to enable one-half of all the tenants of Ireland to be their own proprietors. (Applause.) These measures speak volumes, and I beg of you to look at these measures in their various lights. (Applause.) I beg of you to look at them, not merely in a party sense, but in a broader, a better, and a truer, manlier spirit, and that spirit is that justice should be done to Ire- jand equally with Wales, England, and Scotland. (Applause.) There -tie several points on which T should have been very pleased indeed to have spoken, to have shown you the reason why, in my humble judgment, you should return a supporter of the present Government. (Applause.) There is one other measure, which is one for the future-I trust the near future -and that is, call it what you may. an enlarged local government for Ireland. (Applause.) I sincerely trust that the present Government may, even before it leaves office, but if it does not, then when, in the constitutional way, it returns to power, as I believe it will, the present Government will give to the Irish nation the same opportunities as we have had of local county government, so that it may be able to id minister its local affairs, possibly with some adaptation of district councils. (Applause.) These are important points — that these men should be taught that we shall do unto them AS we would be done by. (Applause.) I know no other law, as I have said before, human or Divine, that requires me to do unto another more than I seek to be done to myself in return. (Hear, hear.) There are several other reasons why I should ask you to support and to work for the supporter of the present Government. If we refer to the foreign policy of the present Government what do we find? When our Foreign Minister, the Prime Minister,came into office we had difficulties all round, and we have had the trouble- some wars which have been referred to. And I would infinitely prefer that we should spend ten millions, or thirty millions, or, reasonably, any number of mitUonS—though it may be absurd to some political economists-for the benefit ot that unfortunate and downtrodden country than that it should be frittered aWitY in the loss and destruction of human life. (Applause.) I ask you to think of the various things which have been brought forward and settled by our Foreign Minister. Think of the Afghan boundary, of the Samoan question, of the Ne w Hebrides, the Chinese and the Portuguese difficulties in a long list that he has settled, and the Newfoundland difficultv with the French people, which I hope will soon be settled. (Hear, hear.) Lord Salisbury has introduced a new regime. (Applause.) With a con- sciousness of that strength which the British nation possesses, he has commanded the respect of foreign Powers. They have yielded to him and conceded his demands, made in righteousness and justice, that they should accept, not the arbitrament of the sword, but the arbitrament of reason and truth. (Applause.) These things to which I have referred have been settled honourably, and if you ask for a motto which might designate our Prime Minister and excellent Foreign Minister, it is that he has achieved in one person, above all others, Peace with honour abroad, and plenty and prosperity at home." (Loud applause.) Had time permitted, I would have ventured to have gone into the general administrative policy of the present Government. I might have called your attention to the financial position of the present Government-(hear, henr)-and the mar- vellous transformation that has been effected. You have had some indication of it already, but I must say that I am proud that the Liberal Unionist party has contributed an able Chancellor of the Exchequer. (Applause.) I believe there are great things in store for us in the future. I know that many think these are abstract questions which do not affect us here. That is not so. (Hear, hear.) Every one of these questions are of vital importance. Although not seen for the moment, they have an important bearing upon the welfare and the progress and the com- mercial interests of the whole com- munity down to the humblest labourer. (Hear, hear.) In a few words I will give you what has been done. Something like 271 millions has been paid off the National Debt straight away from revenue. (Applause.) There have been no manipulation of figures and dealing with side issues. (Hear, hear.) You have heard something to-night of the conversion of the National Debt from the comfortable Three per Cents Knowing something of financial matters, it always seemed to me monstrous-I say the word advisedly — that the British nation should be paying 3 per cent. when there were hundreds of millions deposited with private bankers at 2 and 21 per cent. This always seemed to me incomprehen- sible. But by one stroke your present Chancellor of the Exchequer saved jei.500,000 direct in re- ducing the price to 21 per cent., and when this is further reduced you will see at least another million and a half saved upon this one transaction. (Applause.) Had the time permitted I could have followed the lines of administration—the admi- rable measures that have been passed. Reference has been made to the Local Government Act, which gives direct charge to the ratepayers of the county districts. And very proper, too. (Applause.) No one can lay that the business of the county was not well and ably administered. We in Glamorganshire can speak of that with particular pride, for our respected chairman was chairman of quarter sessions. (Applause.) But not only has this great change taken place, but something like two million sterling was'contributed directly from the central fund for the relief of local rates and taxes. (Applause.) Now, with regard to the other measures that have been passed, I will not attempt to scan over them at this hour. 1 had carefully prepared them, because it was due to you and to myselt that I should first of all clear the ground and ascertain what had beewdone by those we are asked to support, to re-elect, and to restore, as I believe they will be, to the proud position they now occupy. (Applause.) There is, however, one large measure I must men- tion that has been foreshadowed, and which I sincerely trust the present Government will live to carry into effect. I mean free education. (Loud applause.) I know there have been doubts ex- pressed — and very properly so — in many quarters as to the effest of this far-reach- ing measure, but I look upon it with the greatest possible satisfaction. I recognise at once this is a very large question, and some im- portant speeches have been made upon it. I will not attempt to enter upon prophetic lines until we know exactly what this measure means, but I have read with peculiar pleasure the speech made by that great statesman, Mr. Chamberlain. (Applause.) I have read with peculiar pleasure the pledge made by Mr. Chamberlain and appreciate his sentiments. You must recognise this fact ,that two-thirds of the education of the country is being done, and has been done, by what are called voluntary schools. They must be recog- nised they must be dealt with in a fair and generous spirit. (Applause.) There must be no closing their doors. No statesman of the present day would attempt it. Whatever our theoretical convictions may be, if we attempt legislation we must, as sen- sible and practical men, deal with facts as we found them, and I venture to say that no statesman worthy of the name would attempt to cripple, impede, or destroy these schools which have done such admirable service when there were no other schools in existence. Don't mistake my position. If we were creating an ideal and a new system having regard to the position of the country at the present moment, I might say, once and for all, Let us have a comprehensive system, which would include everybody, to be elected on a proper basis." But we must deal with facts as we find them, and must recognise the true position. No Sane statesman will dure to say that schools towards the support of which three-quarters of a million per annum have been contributed by their own people, who also contribute their own share towards the rates levied by the school hoard-no sane man will say that all these buildings are to be closed. I thank you for your very kind indulgence in receiving me to-night, and I shall simply say that I hope I shall have many opportunities of coming amongst you and conferring together. Now that we have entered int,) this compact, if there be any difficulties let them be adjusted, if there be any matters upon which you have special things to put before me I hope I am not blind to the reasoning of my .fellow men. (Hear, hear.) I have my views and you have your views. but we can mutually respect and appreciate each other's views and act cordially together. I sincerely trust tint for the great cause we have taken up, and in whose name I appear before you to-night, the Unionist electors of Cardiff will work happily, cheerfully, and loyally together. I appeal to all Unionists and all fair-minded men to see that this effort shall be crowned with success. (Applause.) Mr. HARRY COUSINS proposed "The Cardiff Conservative Working Men's Club." Mr. R HUGHES, in response, assured Mr. Gunn that he should have the support of every member of the club. and no effort should be spared in returning him triumphantly as the member for Cardiff. (Applause.) Every man should consider himself engaged to Mr. Gunn until that end was secured.

WHICH IS THE MOST RELIABLE COUGH MIXTURE Cross Vegetable Balsam. It acknowledges no equa in Curing Coughs, Colds, Bronchitis, &c. The effect is wonderful. In bottles la. and 2s. 3d., by post la. 3d. and 2s. 6d. Sold only by J. Muuday Chemist, Cardiff. -IN Business Addresses. SYMINGTON'S COFFEES Have maintained their reputation for more tbaD Fifty Years. SOLD BY ALL GROCERS. MANUFACTURERS 1BOWDEN STEAM MILLS, MANUFACTURERS J MARKET HAKB OROUGH E1166

THE FIRE AT RUMNEY. As reported in the Western Mail on Monday, the homestead of a market gardener named Francis Clarke, situate at Rumney, near Cardiff was entirely destroyed by fire. Clarke and his family were literally burned out of house and home, losing the fruits of many years' frugal toil. A subscription list was at once opened in the district to assist Clarke in making another start in life. Mr. Thomas Jenkins, jun., of the Carpenters' Arms, has been appointed treasurer, and among those who are interesting themselves in the way of obtaining subscriptions are Mr. Tbos. Jenkins, senior, Mr. Bulgin, and Mr. Benjamin Giles. Any money sent to these gentlemen or to the Western Mail Office will be thankfully received and acknowledged. The list so far includes the fol- lowing donations:- Mr. Lascelles Carr 95 0 0 i Mr. J. Heald. 3 0 0 Mr. J. Hacquoil 3 0 0 Mr. Prosser 10 0 Mrs. Wass 10 0 0 Mr. G. C. Williams ] 10 ° O i

PRESS BENEFIT ESOOIETY'S BANQUET, I HANDSOME DONATION FROM THE MARQUESS OF BUTE. On Monday evening Mr. Geo. H. Brierley, the hon. secretary of Saturday's most successful banquet of the Press Benefit and Superannuation Society for South Wales and Monmouthshire, received the following letter from the Marquess of Bute, K.T., who presided Sir,—I beg to send you the enclosed cheque as a donation to the funds of the Press BenefiC Society.—Your obedient servant, BuTB, Mayor." The cheque reads as follows:- "Pay to George H. Brierley, or order, one hundred and five pounds st.—BUTE AND DUM- FRIES." The following gentlemen have also intimated their intention of becoming honorary subscribers to the funds of the society:-Mr. D. A. Thomas M.P., Councillor Tucker, Mr. Henry Radcliffe (Evan Thomas, Radcliffe, and Co.), Mr. T. Stevens, Queen-street (£2 2s.), and Dr. Naunton Davies Bridgend.

SHIPPING FOREIGN ABBIVALB AND MOVEMHNTB OF LOQUi TESSELS. Forest arrived Galatz llth. La Barrouere left Bilbao for Cardiff llth. Blaenavon left Antwerp for Cardiff 9th. Gwentiand left Cardiff for Philippeville 9th. G-ardepee at Brailla ,10th. Aberdare left Cagliari for the Danube 9th. Castanos left Hamburg for Penarth 9th. Jersey left Las Palmas for Constantinople 9th. Treherbert passed Dungeness for London 10th. Pontypridd at Antwerp 9th. Goldcliffe left Dartmouth 10th. Brittany arrived Porthcawl from Bilbao 9th. Carina left Hull, for Constantinople 9th. Countess Evelyne left St. Nazaire for Bilbao 10th. Cairo, of Cardiff, arrived 8uez 9th. Carlo left Las Palmas for Marseilles 10th. Sapphire arrived Marseilles llth. Scots Greys arrived Genoa 10th. Hoyal Welsh arrived Nicolaief 9th. Turquoise left Gibraltar for Malta 9tb. Chatsworth arrived Swansea 8th. benefactor left Memel for Cardiff 9th. Ptreonshalh arrived Sulina from Savona 7tb. Caedmon arrived Blyth from Middleaboroujjh 8th. Invermay arrived Cronstadt from the Tyne 8th. Cairo left Port Said for the Azof 8th, Mandalay left Port Said for the Azof 8th. Golden Grove left Alexandria for Sharpness 9th. Flowerzate arrived Liverpool from New Orleans 9th. Cosmopolitan left Fleetwood for Cardiff 9th. Llanthonv Abbey arrived the Tyne 10th. Talley Abbey arrived Barghead 9th. Melrose Abbevarrived Barcelona 9th. Lady Havelock arrived Brest from Cardiff 9th. Activity arrived Bilbao 10th. Hampstead left New York for Shanghai 10th. Peter Graham left Bordeaux for Swansea 9th. G. N. Wilkinson arrived Plymouth from West Hartte- pootllth. Qui. kstep arrived Plymouth from Cardiff llth. W. I. Radcliffe passed Gibraltar for Liverpool 10th. Llanberis passed Constantinople 10th. Renfrew left Ma, seilles 9th. Earl of Chester left Huelva for Garston llth.

Truth says:—"A speech delivered by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford at a temperance meeting at Ashton-under-Lyne was so sensible and moderate that it deserves notice. The Bishop suggested that, whilst strong beers should be taxed, tha sale of light neers not above a certain minimum strength should be encouraged by being freed from duty. This is a doctrine that I have always preached. It is, indeed, a pity that more temperance reformers are not as reasonable and as practical as the Bishop of Salford." A large measure of the success of the Golden Sunlight Ale may be attributed to the fact that it is brewed on these lines, and will compare favourably with the ordinary high- coloured, strong, heady ales. It is brewed from malt prepared from the finest Herefordshire bar- lev, and most delicately flavoured with hope, called Wor'sters," but really grown in the rich, fertile valleys of Herefordshire. Messrs. Watkins and Son, of the Hereford Brewery, are the onlv brewers of this famous Ale, and it is sold by over 200 Agents in the North, South, East, and West of the British Isles. South Wales Omce 94, St. Mary-street, Stores: Wpstgate-street, Cardiff. 79795 KERNICK'S VEGETABLE PILLS Cleanse the Blood and Strengthen the System.—7jd., 13Jd, and 2s. 9d. Boxes. E1786 "ADVICE TO MOTHERS."—Are you broken in your rest by a sick child suffering with the pain of cutting teeth ? Go at once to a chemist, and get a bottle of MRS. WINSLOW'S SOOTHING SYRUP. It will relieve the poor sufferer immediately. It is per- fectly harmless; it produces natural, quiet sleep, by relieving the child from pain, and the little i>iv!rnh awakes "as bright as a button." Of all chemists. Printed and Published for the Proprietors by WALTER ALFRED PEARCE, at the Offices at the Western Mail," St. Mary-street, Cardiff. in the Countv of ftlamorgan. TUESDAY. MAY 12, 1891.

The Mysterious Hand. < ♦ In a lonely manor house on the Lincoln- shire Wolds my guardian, Gustave Barraud, lay dying. The circumstance concerned me in no ordinary degree, although I confess it did not awaken my sympathy or regret. It concerned me chiefly because I had all along been given to understand that, on his decease, I should succeed to the property and estates of the Barraud family at Halby-on-the- Wolds. so far as I could see, there was no reason on earth why such a thing should happen, excepting that Gustave had taken a singular fancy for me when I was a very small boy at school in Brussels, and with the permission of my nurse-my only friend at the time-had adopted me. to much, and no more, I knew of my origin all through the years in which I looked up to Gustave as my counsellor and guardian. Whatever rough affection he may have bestowed upon me in the period of my ohild- hood-I was barely five years of age when my nurse died and left me to his care—there was no love lost between us as I grew up to manhood. That he v as surly-tempered and cold-hearted I soon learnt, and this fact, coupled with his strange natural reserve, taught me as a youth to fear him far more than I then cared to acknowledge; so it can- not be wondered that I embraced every avail- able opportunity which his bounty afforded of spending my leisure time with my tutor in Paris or London. It was in this way I gathered from my instructor something of the history of the Barraud family, of which I, a stranger, had been deemed worthy to be made a member by adoption. The Barrauds originally came from France, and having in Yorkshire acquired a fortune by silk manu- facture, allied themselves by marriage with an old and almost extinct family in the adjoining county. Of the descendants from that union, Gustave Barraud was now the sole representative, and he—so it was said—pos- sessed such an unconquerable aversion to matrimony that he preferred to will the Mtate to a protege rather than hand it down to his own posterity. This, however, was merely the idle talk of outsiders, and I had then no proof that I should be favoured with any thing more than his life patronage and chari- table interest. Beyond what I gleaned from my companions I knew nothing of Alr Bar- raud's career. He had been a soldier in his younger days, and had led a wild kind of life, I knew, and bad achieved the reputation in certain places abroad of a quick-tempered man, who would scorn to brook an insult, and would fight to the bitter end for his honour or his rights. One peculiarity about him was his left arm, from which, at some time or other, the hand had been detached, evidently by a sharp instrument. There was only a scarred stump remaining, and this he kept religiously guarded, as though sensitive of allusion being made to it. No one knew precisely in what way he had lost his hand; the general impression was that he had met with an accident in an encounter with Red Indiana He never spoke of the circumstance himself, and the stern rebuff which I received one day when I ven- tured to question him on the subject effec- tually debarred me from satisfying myself and others upon the point. I little thought in how terrible a manner the truth would be made known, and a shudder goes through me even now as I think of the years and years I spent under his guardianship without knowing to whom i was indebted for my training and bringing-up. In reality I knew nothing of Gustave Barraud beyond what rumour told nfe, and what I gathered from certain public documents, wherein I learned that my guardian had succeeded to the family estates on the death of his elder brother Raymond. It seemed that this event took place soon after the two brothers, who were enthusiastic tra- vellers, had returned together from an expe- dition to South America. Raymond was brought down with fever on the way back, and died, it was said, on reaching land; and Gustave, his left arm bearing the mark of of the injury referred to, took possession of the property, and went to live at the old Manor. That happened fully twenty years ago, a year or two before I was adopted, and I well remember how, as I grew older, people talked of another heir-the son, they said, of Raymond Barraud-who might some day turn up and despoil me of what it was rumoured would be my inheritance. Nevertheless the years passed, and if ever there had been a fear of the un- fortunate Roymond having married and left issue, it was by this time completely for- gotten, and my prospects, as Gustave's adopted son, were looked upon as secure. And now Gustave Barraud was dying. It was not from old age, for he could number many years yet to three score and ten, but it was from a virulent form of typhoid fever, greatly aggravated by an attack of congestion of the lungs, which a long course of intem- perance rendered it difficult to cope with. When the danger was at its height I was sent for. It was a dreary December night when 1 made my appearance in his bed- chamber. Outside the wind howled wildly, and the rain beat mercilessly upon the window panes. He is very delirious," said the physician on my arrival. His temperature is fear- fully high, and I am afraid we shall have some trouble with him. These women folk are of little use if he ventures to spring out of bed. We must have some one strong to sit with him for the next night or two. You will do, if you don't mind. The end must come soon." J did not particularly like the task, I confess, but it was not in me to refuse. I stayed alone by the sick man's bedside that night, while the woman-nurse slept in an adjoining room. During the earlier part of my watch he was very restless and frequently gesticulated with his mutilated arm, at the same time glaring furiously at me and muttering incoherent sentences, of which I could only catoh an occasional oath and the words, Just like him, just like him!" About one in the morning he sank into a heavy slumber, while I, overcome with the fatigue of my day's journey, gave way to a feeling of drowsiness, and dozed. I could not have been asleep more than a minute when I awoke with a start at the pres- sure of cold clammy fingers upon my right hand. I looked round uneasily, but my patient lay heavily breathing, and had not moved. Still I felt the grasp of death-like fingers over mine. I rose nervously and lifted my hand but there was nothing to be seen. Still the grasp of an invisible band tightened on my own. seeming to draw me onward. I followed where it led until I stood before a curiously carved oaken bureau in a corner of the room. All was quiet except for the breathing of the sleeper, and the howling of the storm outside. A faint flicker from the fire lit the chamber by fits and starts. The mysterious hand drew mine down till it touched the lid of the bureau. Just then the siok man sat up in bed with a sudden movement, and the death-like feeling on my hand was gone in an instant. I turned to Mr. Barraud, who now poured forth a string of incongruous talk about people and things of whose existence I had not the remotest knowledge. His brain seemed to be on fire he could not rest. I at once called in the nurse to attend to the wet bandage for his head and administer the medicine, but from that time till morning we had great difficulty in relieving the delirium. The next day, while my guardian slept, I examined the bureau, which opened after very little trouble with one of its owner's keys. It was full of papers of various kinds—bills, letters, and similar documents. I did not attempt to disturb them, but left the lock unfastened, and determined to watch another night. About midnight the experience of the pro- vious evening was repeated, and, this time, [ felt myself impelled by the ghostly conductor that gripped my waist to open the bereau lid and place my hand upon a certain packet of papers in the centre of a recess. Never shall I forget the weird sensation that thrilled me as I did so; the muscles of my arm grew per- fectly rigid, and my hand powerless in the clutch of those spectral fingers. Instinc- tively I turned the papers over, and almost the first thing that arrested my attention was a faded letter, to which was attached a miniature portrait set in a gold frame. As I was anxiously removing the letter the lid of the bureau shut down with a snap. I crashed my prize into my breast pocket. and again turned to the sick man who, aroused by the sound, *vas wildly calling out in oaths and curses to some one, I knew not whom, to release him. Again I summoned the nurse, and once more we endeavoured to appease him. In the secrecy of my room I read a piteous appeal in a woman's handwriting, dated I twenty years before, and signed Marian Barraud. It was addressed to her husband Raymond, imploring him to go to her at once, as she was very ill and not likely to recover, and adding in a postscript I have sent the boy with Nauette Roulet to Brussels." There was no indication of the town or place from which the letter had been sent. The minia- ture, no doubt, was Madame Barr&ud's like- ness, and the more I gazed at it the more I was struck with a wonderful thought that had flashed across my mind when I read the words Nannette Roulet. Nanette Roulet was the name of my nurse. 1 was, then, the nephew of Gustave; Ray- mond was my father Eagerly, and scarcely knowing what I did, I scanned the remaining letters in the packet. To my mind their contents were heartrend- ing. As I read them the conviction forced itself upon me that there had been some quarrel between my uncle and my father in relation to my mother, but whether through jealousy or wounded pride I could not determine. Agitated though I was at this sudden and surprising discovery, I held it wise to keep my secret, and watch yet another night. Had I not done so, my story might never have been told in its awful entirety. Unlike the two preceding nights Mr. Bar- raud slept soundly until midnight, and my watch was undisturbed. But just after twelve o'clock, as I began to dose, I became conscious that my patient was moving, and, looking up, saw to my astonishment that he had quietly slipped out of bed by the side of me, and was staring strangely into space. I immediatly sprang up tjr touch the nurse's bell and coax him into bed, but before I could stretch out my arm he seized it tightly, even as the mysterious hand had done the previous night —though this time it was my left hand-and pulled me hurriedly towards the door. I hesitated and tried to about for help, but the words would not come; my tongue clove to the roof of my mouth, and all the while some subtle voice within me or about me was whispering in a hissing tone Go with him, go with him." Then I attempted resistance, for I had my right hand free but it was of no avail. The I sick man drew me closer to him and gripped me round the shoulders with his strong arm I was overpowered by his mad strength. We were now on the landing. Noiselessly he glided down the stairs, as though he were in no sense weakened by long illness and fever harshly he dragged me behind him. And all the while I longed to cry out, but could not; some irresistible influence com- pelled me to yield. As we passed a table in the hall he paused quite naturally before a candlestick which stood there. I took it up, and lighted the candle with one hand, and then submitted to be forced on by him along a corridor, and down some steps leading to the oellars. As we threaded the dimly lighted passage, I tried to free myself, but all in vain whatever my fate, I was helpless. The might of the fever was upon him, and he pressed me forward with the tenaoity of a madman-so hurriedly, too, that we seemed to have been less time in descending the stairs than it has taken me to write about it. At last he stopped in a low, disused vault, adjoining a wine cellar, and, pointing with his injured arm to the ground, he stamped im- patiently with his foot, and then, overcome with exhaustion, fell against me. The exer- tion had been too much for him. The fever had run its course, and he was as weak as a child. My arms free, I lifted him, and bore him back as quickly as I could, all the way we had oome. On the staircase I met the frightened nurse, to whom I hurriedly attempted to explain my difficulty. And when we laid Gustave Barraud in the room again he was dead. After the funeral I had the vault searched, and under a portion of the stone flooring found an iron trap-door leading to what looked like a disused well. At the bottom of the well was the skeleton of a full-grown man, andclingingto it were some half-rotted clothes, which the old housekeeper recognised as the dress worn by my father. Raymond Barraud, twenty years before. Close by lay a blood- stained sword, on which was engraved the name of Gustave Barraud. But the strangest thing of all was the frame- work- of a human hand broken off at the wrist, which one skeleton fist clutched tightly in its grasp, and on one bony finger of which was a ring known to have belonged to my uncle Gustave. As to how that hand became severed from its owner's arm—by what extraordinary combination of circum- stances it found its way into the iron olasp of a dying man's fingers who had used the sword which had struck the fatal blow-and by whose treachery a rightful heir had been thus imprisoned apparently in a living tomb --are problems the solution of which must ever be shrouded in mystery. At the same time—and it pains me to say it-I have my suspicions.—Spare Moments.

A Kentucky Breakfast. Never before had Chef Phillips, of the Auditorium Hotel, been nonplussed when asked to prepare a meal, says the Chicago Post, From a cold lunch to a Lucullian banquet he had been at home. And the details of every conceivable dish he had Imagined he possessed at his fingers' ends. But when on the morning following the arrival of Henry Watterson the bell-boy appeared before the chef and told him that Mr. Waterson wanted a Kentucky breakfast, the chef was confronted with his Waterloo. il W hat's that P" he exclaimed. A Kentucky breakfast," the bell-boy re- plied. Not wishing to confess his ignorance to the bell-boy the chef waved him aside and went himself to the great editor's room. Beg pardon. Mr. Watterson," he said, as in response to a "come in" he entered and found the journalist in bed, but I fear the bell-boy did not correctly understand your order. He said he wanted a Kentucky break- fast." Well, that is just what I want," said the journalist, adding a little impatiently, and I want it right away." What is a Kentucky breakfast," sir. Mr. Watterton gaz'id pittyingiv at the chef, then settling down in bed he pulled the clothes over his head and said "Two drinks of whisky and a chew of obacco,