MR BRIGHT ON THE PRINCESS BEATRICE'S DOWRY.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 5251, 24 July 1885, Page 4

MR BRIGHT ON THE PRINCESS BEATRICE'S DOWRY.

Recently a resolution was passed by the All Saints' Ward (Birmingham) Liberal Association thanking Mr Labouchere for his opposition to the annuity to Princess Beatrice, and a copy of it was sent to each of the three members for Birmingham, asking them to vote against any sum of money being granted for such purpose. In the course of a reply, dated Llandudne, May 16th, Mr Bright, after remarking that during the reisn of the Queen more than L 300,000,000 had been wasted In excessive military and naval expenditure, and in unnecessary and unjust wars; against which but a faint protest had been made, even by Liberals and Liberal Associations, says :— " If I had been in the House of

Commons last week when the vote was discussed, I" should have voted" for the grant. I would not have asked the House t6 ca|t 'a i shadow over the.;.mind of the Queen, aiid tell, her -that, in the later yearslof r ier reign Parliament was less generous to her family than in her earlier years. In years past I have spoken in Parliamentjagainst the magnitude of some of the grants to the Royal Family, but I could not condemn this present grant :,on any grounds. I feel that in the course I am now taking, and which I now explain to you, I" am acting in accordance with the general character of,my countrymen, with whom whatever has a taint of unkindness and meannesses condemned. I feel confident that you will not blame me if I differ from you in this matter, but that you will rather approve of the course I have taken. Let the people look at the millions which are wasted, at the wars which are waged, and at the blood which is shed. This were a wiser policy than to excite themselves over a grant to the youngest daughter of the Queen, whose reign historians will deem illustrious, notwithstanding the blunders and crimes of successive Administrations."