The Freeman’s Journal - Monday, April 8, 1895

LONDON CORRESPONDENCE.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
(BY SPECIAL WIRE.)

London, Monday Morning.

The principal business of to-day’s sitting of the House of Commons—after the Speaker has announced his resignation—will be the introduction of the Local Veto Bill. This measure is certain to produce the liveliest discussion in the country, and the Unionists count quite confidently on making considerable capital out of it at the next general election. It has been rumoured that Sir Wm Harcourt has modified the Bill in more than one respect, but it is quite certain that so long as it leaves out of view the question of compensation from some source or another the hostility of the licensed trade will be absolutely uncompromising. One point on which information is awaited with particular curiosity is whether the new Bill, in addition to providing for total prohibition, like the old, also gives power to the local authorities to reduce the number of licences. The Unionists have definitely decided now for some days not to attempt a division on the introductory stage.

An example of the baneful influence that this local option question is likely to exercise on the Liberal chances at the next election is shown by what is now happening in Kennington, Mr. Beaufoy won the seat for Home Rule in 1886 and kept it in 1892 by good majorities. He is unquestionably the strongest local candidate that the Liberals could possibly secure. He is a large employer of labour, has introduced the eight hours day in his works, and is greatly esteemed and liked throughout the division. When he was originally chosen it was known that his views on temperance questions were not on all-fours with those of the temperance party. Now, however, after he has won and held the seat in the most triumphant manner, the advanced temperance electors want to set him aside for someone else. They say they will vote against him if he stands, and perhaps they may. That is the way Radical temperance advocates always give themselves into the hands of the Tories. The Unionist temperance advocate is a Unionist first and everything else afterwards, and the most rabid of them never think of voting against a Unionist because he is not at one with them on temperance questions. There is every prospect, however, that Mr. Beaufoy will carry the Kennington seat again, no matter what the temperance party in the division may do.

The first business this evening will be the Speaker’s announcement of his intention to retire from the chair at the close of to-morrow’s sitting. It is expected that this evening he will confine himself to a more or less formal statement, reserving his valedictory remarks for the Tuesday, when the thanks of the House are voted to him. At the close of to-morrow night’s sitting the members will take their personal adieux of Mr. Peel.

There is every prospect now that Mr. Gully will be elected by a substantial majority, considering the normal majority of the Government. The very strongest pressure is being brought to bear on the four of five Tory lawyers who make no secret of their objection to voting against Mr. Gully. He is immensely respected by his brethren of the Bar, and the gentleman referred to, though they may perhaps be persuaded to abstain, will certainly not vote for his opponent. The Redmondites are endeavouring to get up a fictitious interest in themselves by pretending to be undecided as to which candidate they will vote for. The question, however, is not one of confidence as far as the Government is concerned, so that the Redmondite vote is more than ever a matter of indifference. It is expected that only three or four of them will be here anyway, and they may show their usual statesmanship by a masterly abstention.

The report was very prevalent and widely circulated on Saturday night that Oscar Wilde had committed suicide. It seems, however, that the basis of the rumour lay in the fact that when the time came for his removal from Bow Street police-station to Holloway Jail, the prisoner was in an extremely hysterical condition, and declared that he would commit suicide if he had the chance. This put his jailers on their guard, and he was again carefully searched to discover whether he had anything on him with which he could take his life. He was accordingly deprived of his breastpin and his handkerchief, lest he might try to strangle himself with the one or stab himself with the other. It is said that Wilde is completely dazed by the blow which has fallen upon him, and contrasts markedly in that respect with the man Taylor, who entirely fails to realise the gravity of his position. Considerable sensation was created on Sunday by the report that a warrant has been issued for "an important personage" in connection with this shocking case. However, when the warrant is served the arrest will not create such surprise.

Both candidates for the City of Oxford are Irishmen; Lord Valentia is to represent the Conservatives, and has undoubtedly the strongest possible local claims. He is Chairman of the County Council, has two residences in the county, and has taken an active interest in its affairs. Dr Fletcher Little, who is to stand in the Home Rule interest, is a native, I believe, of Dublin, and is a physician in large practice in Harley street. His brother is the Home Rule member for Whitehaven. He is physician to the North London Hospital for Consumption, and to the London Temperance Hospital, and is medical officer for Harrow. Dr Little has been before the constituency for some weeks, and has addressed several meetings when the vacancy took place. The contest will be one of considerable importance, and the Irish Unionist Alliance has already landed a batch of its workers in the university city.

I need not say that the case of the Londonderry Gold Mine is causing strong feeling in the city. Colonel North has forestalled the outbreak of the storm by proposing to vest in the trustees, for the benefit of the shareholders, his profit as the vendor of half the concession, but the other directors have not yet been heard from. The discovery of the "Tom Tiddler’s Ground" was made by the Earl of Fingal, and the way it was interviewed and championed into notice has not been forgotten. The expert opinions which whetted the appetite of the investor read remarkably in view of the sudden petering out of the claim. The Earl of Fingal is in Western Australia, and his co-directors included Mr. Horace Plunkett, M P; Colonel Gerald R Dease, and Earl De Grey. One of the worst features of the transaction—and one which has excited profound indignation—in that there was extensive "inside" selling of shares in the interval between the receipt of Lord Fingal’s damning telegram and that of its publication. A large amount of the stock happens to be held in Paris, which will give more point than usual to the favourite Parisian taunt of "perfide Albion."

Writing in the Weekly Sun Mr. T P O’Connor says—"I cannot express adequately my gratitude to the many generous men and women who have nobly responded to my appeal on behalf of the daughters of William Carleton. Communications and subscriptions reach me by every post, and I have good reason for hoping now that I may be able to realise such a sum as may buy a small annuity, and protect the closing years of these poor gentlewomen from hunger. A representative of the Weekly Sun called again at their lodgings this week. They had paid away £6 for arrears of rent, and the remaining 10s they had spent in getting coal. Their little place already shows signs of the happiness and comfort which the timely subscriptions of my readers have brought them. There is no longer that dreadful chill in the room which had come from their inability for weeks to have a fire. Their gratitude is expressed in touching fervour. I join in the blessings they wish for those who have come to their rescue."

Mr. J F Hogan, M P, addressed a numerously attended meeting at Fulham last evening, under the auspices of the Father M Faden Branch of the I N L of Great Britain.