Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

9 articles on this Page

THE WEEK'S NEWS.

WALES A a U WEL SH.-

---JSPIHlf OF THE WELSH PRESS.

News
Cite
Share

JSPIHlf OF THE WELSH PRESS. [BY «* RHYLYCHEINWR."] ROASTING HR. BRYN ROBEBT8. The occupation of the Welsh papers for the last week has been that of roasting Mr Bryn Rob- erts. In other words the member for the Eifion Division of Carnarvonshire is called to account, with no little severity for the sentiments express- ed in his letter explaining why he refused to sign the round-robin sent by the Welsh members to Mr Gladstone. None does this roasting process half so effectually as Dafydd Dafis," in his clever autobiographical sketch in the Genedl; it would hardly be an exaggeration to say perhaps that from their commencement the main ohject of these letters has been to keep an eye on Mr Bryn Rob- erts. The identity of Dafydd Dafis is becom- ing a matter of ever increasing interest. Some of the Welsh papers now give the opinions pro- mulgated by writers on the subject. Some attrib- ute their authority to Mr Lloyd-George and to Mr Thomas Ellis, while another theory which has been propounded is that three or four of the Welsh members collaborate the articles. These appear I to me to be emphatically off he scent, and I am I inclined to believe that they are the production, not of any member of Parliament, but of a London I gentleman prominently connected with all Welsh movements. In his last installment I describes how his wife Claudia 'roasted Mr Bryn Roberts over his manifesto, at a dinner given by Mrs Wynford Phillips, with whom Dafydd appears to be ultimately acquainted. One of his quaint parallels between himself and Mr Wynford Phil- ( lips is that each of them has a wife who, for her loquacity and enthusiam, is better qualified than her husband tor a seat in Parliament. The whole account is written in the raciett Welsh, and the sailent features of the situation are hit off in a manner not unworthy of The Biglow Papers." Mr Bryn Roberts' letter is also dissected by other parties. The Baner deals with it in an article of five columns in which it opines that "the reasons given by Mr Roberts for his conduct are not only utterly inadequate to justify it, but they are like- ly to shake the confidence of men in him. Hi", fault is, however, not so great as to justify the Liberal electors in his division in bringing out a candidate against him, as on every question that is before the country he is as good a Liberal as the constituency could have. He is a Liberal from conviction, a Nonconformist, and an advocate of Disestablishment. He differed from the others as to the best time of bringing that question forward, and as it was not a matter of principal, he ought to have subordinated his own view to that of the majority. His letter has done immense harm to the cause." The Goleuad believes that Mr Rob- erts s views is that of keen-sighted politican, but regrets the allusions to his fellow-members. We now believe more strongly than ever in hav- ing a Welsh party in Parliament." Tarian y Gweithiwr does not dispute Mr Roberts's hones- ty we know he is a good Nonconformist. Bnt he should have stronger reasons than he has for seceding from his fellow-members and causing the enemy to believe that there is a split in the camp." The same paper, in its Parliamentary Notes," remarks that the letter shows great ability, but thinks that if all were like Mr Bryn Roberts. the uisestablishment question would- not be in the state it now is. The Manchester correspondent of f i ^ymro considers Mr Roberts' explanation a luminous and precise one; the question is a difficult one—dilatoriness is dangerous, and revolt in unwise." Gwalia thinks that the letter con- tains very striking portraits of the Welsh mem- bers by one of themselves. They are rash and inexperienced youths, who have recently rushed into politics/' The Herald Cymraeg, while com- mending Mr Roberts "for defending his case with ability and good temper, regrets it cannot agree with him and thinks the publication of his letter has not promoted the cause." The Llan collects various opinions on the letter; the Celt dissapproves of it; but the Tyst "leans towards Mr Roberts' views and thinks every Liberal must respect his independence of spirit and his courage- ous spirit in standing by himself." HOMk SULK AND BIsESl1 AifLlSHMENT. It is difficult to select from the choice mass of contributions, good, bad, and indifferent, on these subjects in the Welsh Press. All the current issues were in the press before the important meeting of the W elh members on Friday week. The London correspondent of the Baner traces out the course of events with his usual foresight. We are now in sight of the end with Home Rule, he says. The Lords will, of course, throw it out, but the Government will not dissolve on that account, as the Bill will be sent up a second time next year. In the meantime the way is clear for other measures. "What measures?" he asks. "From the standpoint of Welsh Liberalism, no answer is possible but-Disestablishment of the Church in Wales. We stand by the programme of the Liberal party, and if our representatives are only firm and resolute, there is no doubt that the demands will be conceded. But the Welsh mem- bers must arrive at an understanding." Mr Lloyd George, in his Parliamentary Letter to the Genedl, pays a tribute to Mr Gladstone's astonish- vigour and viril ty. He is shrewder than ever. A deputation came to wait on him about Scotch Disestablishment. He smiled tenderly on them, he spoke mildly to them for half-an-hour, yet he promised nothing. They went home, however, gladly thinking that they had attained their object, and the likelihood that it is only when they have redched the Highlands that they will discover that they have returned empty-handed. Wales must see that she is not fooled in this fashion." The Brython Cymreig maintains that the Government has all along been fooling Wales on this question. THE WELSH STRIKES. The protracted strike of the North Wales quarrymen and the vast struggle of the miners and hauliers in South Wales seem alike to be now drawing to a close. Reports of meetings of the quarrymen at Festiniog, as given in Gwalia and Chwarelwr Cwmreig, show that disunion has set in among the strikers, who bitterly reproach each other with such terms as "Judas." The Werin believes that the 500 quarrymen cannot now return to work without sacrificing their honour. They are fighting their fellow-workmen's battles, and should be maintained by them. The moral to he drawn from the strike is, it says, the need of boards of arbitration. Four months ago the Llechwedd Quarry seemed the one where a dis- pute would be peaceably settled, and yet a cloud no bigger than a man's hand has grown and darkened the sky for four months. Tarian y Gweithiwr, referring to the South Wales strike, say "there are unmistak ble signs that the strike, the most foolish that has taken place within the memory of man, is drawing to its end. A strike like this could not succeed. It was commenced in a rash and heedless spirit; the I strikers had no leaders and no programme; they had no fund to fall back upon, nor monev laid bv. so that in the very first week famine stared them in the face. We do not deny that the workmen are being hard-pressed, or that strikes are desir- able in such cases. But the workmen promised to abide by the sliding-scale, and before they throw it away let them find a better arrangement. The Federation plan is now being tried in England, and when weighed in the balance it is found wanting. We protest, too, against the tyranny of the mob." The Cyrmo in a leader on the same subject, quotes an old Welsh proverb," A rash deed is not a wise deed," and "rashness, if not something worse, was the origin of this strike. Welshmen are being foolishly led away by inter- meddling Englishm- n, as they were before by Halliday andothets."

Advertising

SHOOTING A BURGLAB. -.

ITHE DEATH OF EMIN PASHA.

Advertising

Advertising

- ' A PQLI ICAL It 0 RLD.