The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser

The Messasre of Hope. B\ -elections are not seriously regarded by politi- cians as carrying any inherent importance or signifi- cance, unless they form one of a series bringing similar results, or are invested with significance or importance by people standing high in the counsels of the Government. The by-election at Ipswich fulfils both conditions, and is for that reason far more important and significant than even the long list of those which preceded it. It is the sixteenth occasion on which the Unionists have captured a seat from the Government, and although on each occasion the opposition provided by the Government supporters was of the most formidable character, never was it so frantic and extreme as on this la-st one. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, one would think, left nothing unsaid, and mortgaged every resource in his vast store of Limehouse imagery in order to cope with so desperate a situation. The consequence is that many reasons have been provided for marking this contest as the most convincing of the many proofs that the British nation is but waiting an opportunity to speak its mind upon the several great legislative changes which the Government have brought or are bringing to pas and that to persist in making them without first asking for the will of the people is nothing short of a crime. Mr. LLOYD GEORCE asked Ipswich to send a message of hope to Ireland, and to the whole democracy to strike a great blow for freedom." He asked them whether they had tho nerve and the courage to go on and insist on these Acts of Parliament (i.e., the Government's programme) being carried c)ut." He described the contest as a ■critical election in the history of the country," and asked Ipswich to "ddiyer a verdict which would rewound throughout the aj as a great blow for freedom." But John Run <! the nerve and the courage to fling back this n.,t: nse into the teeth of him « I10 offered it and to tell him the plain truth- that Home Rule and Disestablishment were being passed against their will and that he himself as a political force was of no further value. The "mes- sage of hope" is this: that what Ipswich said on Saturday the country will say at the first opportunity offered it. It is a message to Mr. ASQUITH that the Liberal party has so forfeited the respect and confi- dence of the people that there is hardly a consti- tuency in which a Liberal can be sure of finding a safe seat, not even though he be a member of the Cabinet and have already tried to get one. Mr. ASQTJITH once declared that if ever the House of Commons became a mere automatic machine for recording the fiat of the Government. not only would legislation go forth to the country without respect and authority, but it would destroy the best safeguard for the permanence of legislation." That is exactly what has happoned to tho House of Com- mons and that is exactly what the country thinks of it. He has also said that it is the essence of the Parliament Act that Bills passed under its opNution should enjoy for three consecutive sessions the sup- port of an unswerving public, opinion in the consti- tuencies. But although the voice of Ipswich pro- claims that for the sixteenth time a seat has been lost to the Unionists by the Government since the provisions of the Government Act became known, and although not a single seat has been captured by the Government for the Unionists, although Mr. ASQUITH knows that the exact eventuality which he described has come to pass in full measure, he goes ahead to tho mad business of driving armed Ulster to violence which at any moment may break out into the horrors of civil war. Why?

NOTES OF THE WEEK It is rather a strange coincidence that in connec- tion with the winning of the Derby by a French horse, a French hilly drew the winner in the "John Bldl" Derby sweep, thtfs augmenting her funds to the. tune of 225,000. Two prominent residents of Carmarthen are busy preparing ducks for a race. They are a new> breed of ducks—the Indian Runner—and are being trained in a secluded corner of the garden of each, and with the utmost secrecy, to use their logs instead of their wings. It is really surprising what ducks will do- and their owners. The Amending- Bill is the title of the principal oartoon in Punch for this week. It shows Asquith a.* the rider of the horse "Home Rule" which is being led to the paddock by Redmond after the race which it has won. Redmond shouts Well ridden but Asquith replies, Yes, I know; but as we came round the corner an objection occurred to me. and I feel bound to lodge it myself. I hope you won't rnÏnJ Quockerwodger is an obsolete name once applied to < form of mechanical doll whose gestures and move- ments were entirely at the mercy of anyone who pulled a string whicu dangled from it^ body. It is a to seldom seen now, though one time old folks in W ales were very clever at making them. The only existing one known to-day is Mr .Asquith, and Red- mond has the string. During an action at Shoreditch County-court the I other day, in which three Welshmen who wero rela- tives were concerned, Judge Cluer said of a witness: He must have been a fool to bo taken in by a Welshman's promise." Mr. Abinger, barrister, said the case pointed to three morals: Don't help your wife's poor relations; beware of the wily Welshman; and it is difficult for a judge to do justice between W elshmen. Mr. Abinger however omitted to add that tho Welshmen in question had lived in England. On Holy Thursday the children in a Church school during the Scripture lesson were catechised upon the event which was being commemorated that day, with satisfactory results. When asked what Holy Thursday" was in Welsh there was no correct answer, and the best idea it gave to a young lass of ten was Dydd Iau Duwiol," while a lad with a big trivee of the Cockney activity, smilingly stated that the name Whit..Sunday was so called because people used to whitewash their houses beforo that date. A sub-committee of the Carmarthen Town Council visited Pond-side on Wednesday afternoon, and appeared greatly surprised at its woeful state. Car- marthen residents and visitors highly value their favourite walk. but now its condition is rather dangerous owing to the landslips. The committee were not very much struck with the sanitary state- neither are we. They hoped they would be able to get the water through the channel again. This will no doubt prove beneficial, but it will take some time to wash away all its impurities. Fishing with rod and line in the Carmarthen fishery district with the fly is at a standstill, the cold nights, with frost, of late preventing any decent baskets being taken. The fishing in clear water is not so bad and a well-known fisherman took 81-bs. of trout in one day. Two very fine trout have also been taken in the Gwili during the past week-Mr. Wm. Davies. King-street, Carmarthen, landing one weigh- ing 1 lb. 6 oz.. with the worm, and Dr. Yorath, Conwil, the other with the By, weighing 1 lb- 8 ozs. The coracle net fishermen are doing fairly well with large sewin, but salmon are not plentiful just now. Rain is badly needed to freshen up the rivers, Mr. Masterman's defeat., although of course de- plored by Radicals Oil party grounds, is not, viewed from a personal standpoint, greatly mourned by many of the rank and file, with whom lie was never very popular, '.J.'hese members have never got quite used to what they regard as Mr. Mastorman's some- what condescending manner, and it is eaid that at times they have been treated with scant considera- tion by him. It is probable that Mr. Masterman will retire from the Cabinet, but at the moment nothing has been settled in this connection. There is, at any rate, no precedent within recent times for a twice-defeated Minister to retain office. The Rev. John WTilliams, Brynsiencyn. t-peaking at the General Assembly of the Calvinistic Metho- dists at Liverpool, appears in the role of a well- wisher of the Church of England. He says that Nonconformity were fighting "for justice for the Church herself as a part of the spiritual body of Christ." He bemoans the fact. that defenders of the Church attribute the zeal of Nonconformity for Dis- establishment either to some hostility towards the Church, or to ignorance of the true state of things. ^7e expect stuff and nonsense of this kind from ninisters at Carmarthen. and should feel a draught if we did not get it, but from a man hold- ing- such a position as his we at least look for the semblance of reason. There seems to be some misunderstanding as to the working of the way-ticket system in connection with tramps, and which has lately been adopted by the neighbouring Boards of Guardians. In Newcastle- Emlyn for instance there has been a big drop in the number of vagrants relieved, but they complain of the laxity with which the others carry out the arrangement. It is felt however that this new scheme has one drawback. It will result in less vagrants frequenting fee workhouses and more pestering the farmers. The only possible remedy for this as far as one can see will be for the police to co-operate, and that in a stringent manner. Have the police been asked to co-operate at all? It looks as if seme definite move would at last be made at Carmarthen to make use of the proceeds of the Victorian Fete held at Carmarthen about seven- teen years ago. Tho money amounts to over £ 300, is deposited in the Bank, and was intended to defray the cost of building a drill hall for the use of the Carmarthen public and the Volunteers. Mr. H. S. Holmes has summoned a meeting for to-morrow (Friday) evening at the Assembly Rooms at 3.0 p.m. to discuss the matter ,and it is to be hoped that all those who took part in the fete and who are in- terested in the disposal of the proceeds will attend. It is important that the money should not be diverted from the uses for whioh it was originally intended. An agricultural correspondent, referring to Olir not-o a wiyk or two ago respecting the possibility of the new ^flying trains'' for the farmers in the carrying of milk, brings us to practical earth by re- marking that in the meantime something should be done to prevent milk from being tampered with during transit, on the railway. He points out that at present most milk-cans are open for any scamp to dilute or befoul or pilfer as he pleases, and then- are scamps ocoa-sioually even in railway employ. Not very long ago a farmer who sells some of the finest mule in the county, and whose reputation is above suspicion, was botylly fined for selling diluted milk, and there, can be no question, that in that ease the milk was pilfered on the way and diluted with water. Would it not pay farmers to get a set of lever locks with the same key to fit them all, one to be kept by him and one by tho customer? The railway people could check the moasure of the milk by weighing it. This noto from a correspondent which appeared in this column last week respecting one of the sitters at tho Examination of the Carmarthen Branch of the Red Cross Society, is contradicted by another corres- pondent who states that the lady in question was not by any moans "llPa1 of the list," because, not having done any "first aid" bofore, she was in the 3rd or -beginners1 division, where she obtained the highest number of marks. and that. although en- titled to tho prize in this division it is considered not to .be etiquette for anyone in professional training to teke it in an examination of this kind. No names had been published, but her name would have appeared in due course with the otherS and is BO published this week. Therefore there is no injustice to anyone, or any unfairness on the part of anyone concerned in the examination. We would point out that wa ourselves merely repeated what our corres- pondent wished us to say, and did not impute blame to anyone. London celebrated Empire Day in a fitting manner during the week-end, thanks to the arrangements made by the various organisations which are interes- ted in the movement. The chief event occurred in Hydo Park, where over eight thousand young and old soldiers, comprising contingents from the National Reserve, the Cadets, Scouts, and Boys' Brigades, took part in- a parade. Large numbers of people were present, and the steady marching of the veterans and the boys past the saluting base, at which stood Lord Meath, excited general admiration. The most pieturcsquo feature of all the Empire Day celebra- tions was a church parade, on Sunday, of the League of Frontiersmen, who, several hundred strong, and headed by a band, marched from Victoria Embank- ment to Kensington. The fine appearance of the men, detachments of whom were drawn from the provinces, and their unfamiliar Colonial uniforms, attracted tho attention of vast numbers of people, and the legionaries were warmly cheered as they swung past. -On the same day a drumhead service on Wimbledon Common was attended by several Empire Day is always celebrated at Lampeter by the masters and scholars of. the college school, who provide a capital programme of sports, which are supported admirably by the public generally, but at Carmarthen little was done with the exception of the parade of the Carmarthen Boy Scouts, who marched tip to the Park under the command of Scout- Master F. G. Humphreys, where they hoisted and saluted the Red Dragon. The Ivomataga Mam and her cargo of 375 Hindu immigrants for Canada are likely to become notable figures in history, for the latter have raised the momentous question as to whether Canada has the right—and if so, whether she means to exercise it- to restrict Asiatic immigration, to exclude from one portion of the Empire emigrants from another part. The matter affects the whole Empire as a matter of policy and principle, and it affects many thousands of British subjects at home. and abroad in the closest and most intimate fashion. Canada, of course, will have to decide the matter herself. There can be no interference on the part of the Imperial Government. It is purely a domestic affair of hers, and there is no one of the Dominions that would not resent any in- fringement of its right to make and abide by its own immigration laws. The Empire stands on the prin- ciple of tne Dominions' self-government and on such a subject perhaps more than any other they must have the right to please themselves. It is of course natural enough to say that British subjects in India should have the same rights as British subjects in any other part of the Empire. That sentiment may be very right, but it cannot stand before the flat objection of Canada to allow the country to be over- run by cheap labour. There is not a doubt but that the admission of the 375 Hindus would be followed up by the influx of shipload after shipload of Asiatics. Canadians are not likely LO tolerate that, and the public feeling that has been expressed clearly shows that they will take no risk of lowering the standard of life and labour by the free admission of Asiatics. On the other hand. there are some of the leaders of' the Hindu educational and advance" movement who maintain that only by emigration can the econo- mic pressure in India be relieved, and that some out- let must be found for the surplusage of labour. They have fought the same battle in South Africa, but there the result was not of nearly the same impor- tance. seeing that country already has a coloured population and cheap labour of her own. Manual work is done by tho Kaffirs and the Hindus have to compete with them in the labour market. THE TALK IS: — THE TALK IS; Amongst bathers—Isn't the water oold. That there are no attractions at Carmarthen during Whu-weok; poor Carmarthen! 0 That the pathway along Pondsidp-that beautiful walk-has not yet been repaired. Why don't the Town Council buck up? That Mr. J. G. Lloyd has been appointed It lieutenant in the St. David's Co. (Carmarthen) Church Lads' Brigade. Congrats. That the saying, You are too slow for a funeral." was applicable to two prominent tradesmen one day last week. That the school children of Carmarthen were not given the opportunity of celebrating Empire Day this year, except over their books and slates. xhat Mr. J. Patagonia Levia, parcmain-siroct, was the local delegate at the half-yearly confcrenoe of the South Wales Oddfellows (Manchester Unity) held at Swansea last Saturday. That there is a great deal of cricket played in the streets of Carmarthen. The Park was acquired to prevent all this. Budding cricketers, look out for tho man in blue! That the Carmarthen anglers aro eagerly looking forward to the 1st July, when the closed waters of the river Towy will be opened. Will any salmon or sewin peel be caught? That on Thursday last (yesterday) Mr. F. G. Humphries, secretary to the Carmarthen Unionist Association, aceompani'xl by a small party, motored up to Mountain Ash to hear Sir Edward Carson speak.—Red for ever. 40.

I THE PARLIAMENTARY MACHINE MR. REDMOND'S IMPUDENT MANIFESTO: EVEN THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO POWER." (By Junius.") House of Commons, Westminster. The Home Rule Bill is again in the House of Lords and both Houses of Parliament have ad- journed for the Whitsuntide holiday. Meanwhile Mr. Redmond has published a manifesto which I, n Tre!LC ^Ujaled t0 niake thl11^ those in Ireland who are striving to preserve the peace momentH1flaZ Si'°Uld haVe chosen such » Lords V outburst- "The House of Lords, he says, "has yo power to stop the Bill and even the Government has no power to pre vent it going, m tho ordinary course for the Roval Assent to the Throne. The Parliame?it vides that the Bill shall be presented for the Royal Assent. At one time there wero people idiotic and irresponsible enough to suggest that the King- could or would withhold his Royal Assent, But erec- oup now admits that is an absolutely absurd and impossible suggestion. Therefore, to.nieh?s division (i.e.. the third reading) for all practical purpoj.pa.5ed the Home Rule Bill into faw and the LntoMi of Lt and Castloroagh is detid." MR. O'BRIEN S OPINION. <»SUh- °nly Sf U' -°UrS b-fore Mr" Redmond sent out manifesto Mr Wm. O'Brien told the 4rate"r°!!f °bjeCt of Asquith's strategy of secrecy as to the amending Bill was to enable the Nationalist Leader to go on bragging that somo great victory had been won by a division Bm°would farC0'" Th° PaS9inS of th« u h t U m,hlS opinlon a cri"'1 Practical joko; if the Bdl over became an Act it would be "bora with a. rope round its neck," for it was a Bill for the murder of Home Rule, and the Independent Nationalists would have no hand, lot or part in £ course, Mr. o Brien s wrath was kindled bv the proposal t° havo some sort of exclusion for Ulster but neither he or anybody else knows what kind of 2Tn Irth13 £ bC- Perha*9 there will be^ n» for a few monfcht ,tj°VernmeJnt can <™trol evente pointedly £ T B?\m^ Mr- Redmond said LZZ ra doeT;"„'t ot/lri'aUj qUOt°d' "» ». WHEN REDMOND LAUGHED. Was Mr. Redmond thinking of this when he laughed behind Mr. O'Brien's back? Was he not muttering, "silly fellow; you think there is to be a lopping off of Ulster. NVe know better, and .you should really hold in your indignation until vou have proof that Ulster has been lost." The real truth is that Mr. O'Brien believes an extensive j amending Bill will be carried and Mr. Redmond doe-s not; and because Mr. Redmond retains some power to achiove his purposes, and because pacihat Radicals and Labour men are readv to support him, Unionists are not encouraged bv the latest development to hope that the crisis will end in peace. MR. ASQUITH'S STATEMENT. Mr. Speaker took the novel step on Monday of inviting the Prime Mniister to explain the amend- ing Bill in some detail. The response was merely a rehash of statements which have been already made. "It is our intention that the amending Bill should give effect to the terms of agreement, if, as we still hope-and I have not abandoned the hope—such an agreement may be arrived at; and if. at the time of its introduction in another place, no agreement has been reached, it will—as wa:, stated more than once by the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer, with my complete a-sent, in the course of the debate on Tuesday, the 12th of this month- embody the substance of the proposals outlilll,d by me on behalf of the Government on the 8th of March, in the hope and with the object that, after discussion and consideration, an agreement may be attained." NO ADVANCE. This does not take tne matter forward in the smallest degree; indeed it sjoems that the Bill has not been put into shape. This is borne out by the language used by Lord Crewe in answer to a ques- tion put by Lord Salisbury. he noble Marquess asks when the amending Bill will be brought in in the House of Lordsi. I am not in a position to give a definite answer. My hope is that when that Bill is brought in it will be as the result of preliminary Conversations and agreements between the parties concerned, and that in the necessarily considerable interval which must elapse before it is introduced a further effort will bo made to arrive at such an agreement as can be translated into the terms of the Bill." How and when "conversations" are to be resumed is as uncertain as everything else in the business. THE SPEAKER'S EXPLANATION. It is rather late to dwell at length upon the scene which caused an abrupt termination of the Commons' sitting last Thursday, but it had its equal this week, when Mr. Speaker made a per- sonal explanation. The circumstances may be re- called in a few words. The. motion was madt fof the third reading of the Home Rule Bill. At once a Unionist proposed the adjournment of the de- bate as a protest against withholding all informa- tion about the amending Bill. It was submitted that it was absurd to pass a Bill which, as the House had been told, did not represent the final policy of Ministers without first ascertaining the nature of the final policy. Needless to aay the information was withheld, and upon a division the motion for adjournment was defeated. Then Mr. Campbell I essayed to resume the debate on the motion for the thind reading. The I nionista by a spontaneous outburst of interruptions' made speech impossible. There was no riotousness. merely a persistent mur- mur of Adjourn, adjourn. whereupon Mr. Speaker took the most unusual course of asking Mr. Bonar Law whether the demonstration had his approval. Instantly the whole House understood that the question was one which ought not to have been asked, and th" Opposition cheered and cheered again when Mr. Bonar Law, in a brief sentence, replied that he would not presume to say what was Mr. Speaker's duty but he knew his own and it did not include answering this inquiry. A'few minutes late the sitting ended. One cannot conceal tbO facts that the incident created an embarrassing situation and that the possibility of Mr. Speaker's resignation was freely discussed Happily difficulties were surmounted, misunderstandings were removed. and Mr. Speaker tcma.ns in his place with en- hanced dignity. "On reflection." Mr. Speaker said, "I think T ought to state frankly to the that I think I was betrayed into an expresaion which I ought not to have used on that occasion. The right hon. gentleman 'seemed to think that by the question I put to him I conveyed some imputation that he was responsible for the demonstration which had taken place. T. wish to say frankly that no such idea was' in my mind, and if I any such imputation by the question which I put