Sir Michael Hicks-Beach made a good speech at Bristol on
Tuesday, in opening a club at Clifton which is called the Salisbury Club. His Eton education had taught him, he said, one good lesson, to avoid holiday tasks, and hence he had determined not to make any careful defence and exposition of the Conservative policy, but only to touch on the immediate position and prospects of the Conservative Party. His first statement on that subject was that, comparing the elections of 1885 with those of 1886 and the subsequent elections, the numbers of the Unionists have increased 1 per cent. more than the numbers of the Gladstonians. And while the Gladstonians had carried only one uncontested seat since, the Ministerialists, without counting Ministerial re-elections, have carried no less than nine uncontested seats. Again, the House of Commons in 1888 is, in Sir Michael Beach's opinion, more like the House of Commons of twenty years ago than it has been during the whole of that time. The debates have become real, speeches have been abbreviated, manners have improved, the hours are better, and consequently the tempers of men are better. A great policy like Mr. Goschen's Conversion scheme has been carried with ease through the Legislature. The Colonial ports and coaling-stations are to be fortified without extra burden on the taxpayer, simply by using the fruits of Lord Beaconsfield's far-sighted investment in Suez Canal shares. A great Local Government Bill, constructed on really broad lines, has been introduced ; and Sir Michael believes that, instead of dis- establishing the squirearchy, that Bill will only increase the influence and trust placed in the squires of England. Sir Michael Beach concluded by a tribute to Lord Salisbury for devoting to politics the time and pains which might have made him happier if they had been given to tasks of a less harassing and more congenial nature.
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