Thursday was a day of speeches, many of which we
can scarcely notice ; but Lord R. Churchill made the most important one. He spoke at Sunderland, and declared that he was in favour of the total abolition of settlements upon unborn lives,. without which English land could never be enfranchised ; that Protection would greatly raise wages, but would make politics in a democratic country very unstable ; that the new local government must include large powers of taxation, and even of legislation ; and that the control of the liquor trade should be handed over to the local authorities, subject to this check only on total prohibition,—that the licence.. duties should be handed over to them, so that they could not go too far without fining themselves. He further stated that he should oppose Disestablishment in Scotland and Wales, as well as England ; that, in his opinion, free schools would be beneficial ; and that Parliament should endeavour to pass beneficial legis- lation without waiting for a solution of the Irish Question. He believed the Unionist majority of a hundred was able to do that, and that it would do it. They could not wait for ever. If the electors returned Mr. Gladstone, the Lords would throw out his Home-rule Bill, and yet another Election would be needed.
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