Millom Meeting Print E-mail
Whitehaven Gazette - Thursday, April 22, 1897

THE MILLOM MEETING.
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One of the most interesting and instructive political addresses ever given
in Millom was that of the HON. H. V. DUNCOMBE, the popular Parliamentary
representative of this division, on Tuesday evening, at the Co-operative
Hall.  Notwithstanding the holiday attractions and the general
disinclination to attend public meetings at this time of year, there was a
really good audience, consisting of Conservatives, Unionists, and Radicals,
and judging from the countenances of all present, the impression was given
that it was a gathering of the intelligent men of the locality and district.

MR. DUNCOMBE, though bearing traces of recent illness, lost no time in
getting to work to bring his hearers in touch with the leading topics of the
day.  The first treated was the sad state of affairs in the East.

He had no sympathy with the Turk, but in this case Greece was the aggressor,
and the direful war now raging was to a great extent the outcome of the
foolish act of the hundred odd Radical M.P.s, who gave that bankrupt country
to understand that England viewed the action taken as heroic philanthropy
instead of in its true light as clutching at the last straw in the shape of
territory to save the nation from drowning.

The South African question was a more serious one to this country.  The
Boers were evidently preparing for a course of action which, with the
expected support and sympathy of Germany, they hoped would result in
wresting South Africa from English supremacy.

In alluding to the Truck Act, MR. DUNCOMBE exposed the double dealing of MR.
BROADHURST, who openly approved of the measures taken, but when the facts
were misunderstood, he pandered to the popular cry in order to make
political capital.

With regard to the proposed Employers' Liability Bill, he showed that the
present advantages would be maintained and improvements made that would be
most satisfactory to the working classes.

On the whole, MR. DUNCOMBE's speech was masterly and comprehensive, his
language was good, simple, and impressive, and so plain, honest, and
truthful were his conclusions that every man present admitted that the
present Government was doing its duty and that MR. DUNCOMBE was the right
man in the right place as their Parliamentary representatiove.

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