The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-03-27 00:00:00

DIPERIAL PARLIAKENT,

In the House of Lords, March 15, the Royal assent was
elveu by commissibu to the Consolidated Fund t£8,406,272
13, 4.1 ), and Bruce's Restitution Bills.
On the Deka of Argyll's tuotion for the second reading of
the Parochial Schools
,acittlanup Bill,
hold Arbinger, though ma dewing to oppose the second
reading, criticised the provisions t r rale no the school
charges by rates, and for the ..uveraion of old netional
school. into ttew• He ale' objected to the representation on
the Schools' Board of the Schoolmaster's Abe cietion, which
he declared resembled very closely a Trades' Colon in Its
pneciples and ends. He suggested other improvements in
pie constitution of the Board as proposed by the bill.
Lord Mans approved the provisions for inepecting schools
anildismiesieg masters, though he should have preferred to
have the power of dismissal vested in the school managers.
The defect of the bill was, he thought, in the machinery pro-
posed. Gut of the nine members of the Board which was to
a intro' the expenditure of money voted by Parliament, only
two were to be appointed by the Crown. Ile objected to
the Universities' equality of representation on the Board
with tee counties and the borough., and to the repre-
sentation on it at all of such a body as the Educational
'patinae.
Lont Denbigh complained that sufficient care had not been
taken by the Mil of the interests of the Roman Catholics,
sist,oooii, Dumber. in Scotland, who were left by the bill in
educational matters at the mercy of a despotic Board,
which might tie exclusively Protestant.
The Duke of Marlborough remarked that the bit, though
really the bill of the Royal Ct.missioners, ignored sonte of
the most important of their reeommettdations. The report
declared that the denominational system was not adverse to
the intetests of education, at any rate in Scotland. But the
miner of the bill had laid it down that its M/1111 object wee
to uproot that system. Another departure Dote the Re-
p ,rt w. in the smaller weight given by the blll to the Mnd-
owners in the school nmeagenient than the Report content-
wed. But the great defect of the bill was, in his opinion,
its failure to provide at all for religious instruction.
The Duke of Argyll having Mecums.' as riatem the criticisms
in the bill, replying to the liifferent objections,
Lord Cain,' recommended changes in the constitution of
the Board, and expressed various objections to the manner
in which the bill dealt with denominational and parochial
nOtools, to which objecion Lord De Grey replied.
The hill was then read a second time, mid their Lordships
adjourned.
In the House of Commons, the motions on Supply were by
general assent withdrawn, and the second night's debate on
the Irish Church Bill was commenced by
Or MI bate Atteirtieyoramend for Ireland, who treated
the bill as a general schenlF for revising the witole religious
sirangements Is Ireland, not merely of the Protestant Epis-
„pauses, tat of Roman Catholic. and Presbyterians. lie
te ced the history of the Region. Donlon, the May nooth
Grant, and the Church Endowment, maintaini,g that the
mat two were not Intended as a buttress to the Establish
ment, but for the religious teaching and the iniprovrlllent of
the social 81111 moral coniiitiou of tile people. The principle
of this bill was the destruction of these endowments and the
iatroductiou of the voluetary principle, which had been
adopted by DO country in Europe, 81111 was utterly
unsuited to Ireland. The volantary system, he con
trotted, failml in all religious essentials ; it aggra-
vated the evils of alisenteehm, and would not secure
tel fleas teaching awl worship for all classes of the people.
Incur colonies pure voluntary ism had never been tried. In
the United States the religious Meting it had produced was
not altogether satisfactory ; and as to the Ronian Catholic
Church Im, Ireland, there were many things in it arising out
of the voluntary system which needed alteration t such as
the selection of its mieisters from a low class of society, and
the same would befall the Episcopal Protestants as seon as
its Ministers were placed in the position of • mendicant
elegy. Cut th ill contained a' thing to soften the applica.
tine of thus principle to Ireland What did it do for the
Church? Like sir. Dierseli, Dr. Ball declined to be grateful
for the recognition of vested interests. Aster reviewing the
prominent features of the bill, Dr. Ball summed up by re•
eta king that it benefited nohody ; and that its whole Lupe-
woe was degraliog and destructive.
The Attorneydaneral for Ireland, who raised a responsive
cheer iron the alinisterialists by his opening remarks on the
thicrepamy between the arguments of Me Disraeli and Dr.
BAIL the first treating Church property as corporate pro-
perty, the other ea private fends given for religious per-
pies. Dr. Ball's condemeation of voluntaryism came to
this—that the Church property must be te•neferred to the
lionise Catholics, for the Betablishment had entirely failed.
To Dr I3alrs hint of the disparagitig effect, of sedentary ism
on the character of the Irish priesthood, he replied by an
eloquent defence of tneir mini.try, and of their sn.•-
c sun maintaining the religion of the country against all the
oppression of the penal lees. Into the ungenerous treat-
no et of the Church complained of, he replied that this was
not a bill to re-establish the Church, but to deprive it of
property whinh it had misapplied—a ri_ht which he main-
tati ed was within the competence of the State. He considered
the hill wsa an act of justive, which the verdict of the
toeutry, invited by Mr. Disraeli, had declared should no
longer he delayed.
The discuasete was continued ie a very thin House by Sir '
F. Ileygate, eho argued that the Church had not failed, in
Ulster at least, and gave an uneonipromiang oppositi in to
the bill, which could result in nothing hut disappointment
and disconte.it in Ireland ; and by Sir J. Gray, who, im-
proving Mr. Disraeli's statement that the Church funds
would disappear into the pockets of the landlords, read a
list of noblemen ant gentlemen, tenants of church lands at
ridiculously law rents. These, he asserted, were the real
spoliators of the Church. and not the Liberal party. Lord
Chrtchton argued against the tall that it sa mild restore
Catielte ascendancy and would put Ireland under Papal
domination.
Mr. Mmil commented on the unreal character of the debate,
and suggeeted that a reward should I e offered for a neve
argument. On behalf of the Nonconformsts, lie Omitted
Mr. Giadstone for the courage and skill with which he had
redeemed his pledges, and eulogised the bill as a great act of
justice to Ireland.
Sir Stafford Northcote analysed the speeches of the Irish
Churchmen who had supported the bill, Orswitig the infer
euce that they were disc, iidentell at heart with this policy of
eeneml destruction. The suppression of the Maynooth
Grant and the lityium Donut. he characterised as a pander-
Ina to the pre Wheels of the English ...Metal,. and a sub.
servnig of the interests of the British Treasury. It was for
the benefit of Ireland that there 'mould be a coneiderable
En.dish populatii a there, and that a lively synipathy should
be oust dined between the two countries. The Establohntent
be rettardeii as a valuable means to that end, mei it, far from
blaming her for rot having made more proselytes, he held
that hot to Inc her duty, hut to soften the asperities between
the two firma religious bodies.
Mr. Isright comneenceil by declaring the question at issue
to be not sa heth. r Establi-huients are good, but whether ati
Establishment is good for Ireland. The question Lail Mee
brought to this point hy the existence of a great Ir sin
tor•ettou and a great ecclesheetinal gritY/111011 An proof it
which he cited Lord Stanley Aliti Lent slay en which—the late
Giverement pniving linable to grapple with it—Mr. Gladstone
had been called in to settle. The settlement now before the
Bowe Mr. Bright asserted—provoking loud cries of
denial and counter cheers—had met with the sym-
pathy and support of the great bulk of the British people.
To the gees ion asked from the other side—what is Prides.
tent ascendancy t— Sir Bright replied by describing the Irish
Church as a Church of conquest—the most flagrant violation
of the Protestant Reformation in Europe—o hinh had only
beea maintained by British power, and against which the I
lush peoile had never ceased to pelt i St. Limkeil at
every light, the Establishmen, bad failed completely.
It had made Ireland not only the most Catholic but
the most Roman of countries, and it had made
Catholicism not only a echelon, bet a patriotism, for
which meltitudes of Irishmen were reedy to die; 81111 88 to
binding Ent:laud and Ireland together, it hail done that an
soldiers and police had, and no more. The hill was put for.
ward by the Government as the nie ins of el ealillg a real and
11111J11, and of removing 'rah dastontent. not only in
helmet but across the Atlantic. Already the Irish in Aus-
tralia mid osierica were watching the proceedings of Par-
liament with intense ieterest, and though emigration would
continue the Dish would leave us no lotiger as enemies.
Mr, bright excused himself om going at length
bit° the details of the bia, though he remarked that the
Roman Catholics had the most reason to complain of the
treatmetit nutted out to them, and defended tce annlication
I e set plies as being of the essence of Christianity . Tho
powerful pm oratien of the speech, in which Mr. Bright
claimed for the bill the suppint of the Supreme, as being
founded on his glorious attributes of truth and justice, drew
down repeated bunts of ent timaastic cheering.
lAn the motion of Sir It Palmer the debate was adjourned.
The S *Mein Fisheries ,Ireland, and the Brazilian Slave
Trade Bills were read a second iime, and the House ad-
journed.

In the HOWIE of Common!, March 22, Mr. Muds asked the
Postmaster• General what were the reasons why the advan-
tage of being conveyed by the bock poet was limited to
10iute,1 and such like matte;; of what bature were
the obstacles that staid in the way of a properly
guarded removal of the present limitation ; whether the
evening mails for Eligoind were despatched from the me-
trepoes at about the same hour as hi the era of stage
coadies; whether there would riot arise much public benefit
Inns despatching these mails at a later hour; what were the
reasons why th it benefit had net yet been conferred ; aid
whether lie hail any hope if being able te fervour the nation
with the concessions that form the subject of the foregoing
mmatiobs?
The Marquis of Hartington said the book post rates had
not been suflic ently reneiner alive, and that was why it had
not been extended to par eels, Ac. The evening mails were
deepathed at about the Dime time as in the old days. The
Post Office had taken the opportunity of despatching bags
where Gore was a late train. Medi. not think the despatch
Of special trains would be remunerative.
Mr. Kirk .ked the First Lord of the Treasury if it
was true that a sum of £1,139,198, according to a Parlia-
mentary return doted the 20th of February last, had been
maid by England to Greece since the year 1843 to the pre-
sent time : mid, whether those sums had been paid in ac-
cordance with any treaty, convention, or contract between
hieriand and Greece if so, what were the political objects
sought for by the British Government at the period when such
treaty, convention, or contract was core:Wiled between this
country and Greece, and have these objects been attained;
If not, were her Majesty's Government prepared to recom-
mend to Parliament the further papered of such moneys
for an indefinite period, or were they prepared to signity to
the Hellenic Government that alter a certain period no fur-
ther SOMA Of money would be paid by England to Greece.
Mr. Gladstone said it was true that the sum mentioned had
been paid M order to prevent a defalcation on the dividend
of a contracted by Greece, which was raised on England's
guarantee. The sums had been paid in accordance with
treaties, conventions, and contracts with the consent of •
Geveniment. The political subject sought for was the
It ierTy of the people of Greece. It was the duty of the ,
Liglh.b Government to continue that payment until the
loan had been repaid, or until the Greek Government could I
pay the amount.
Mr. H. B. Sheridan asked the President of the Board of
Trade whether any uniform system hail been agreed upo a
between the railways and the Board of Trade for giving effect
ti the Act of last session requiring that a meant; of com-
munication should be provided between he passeeger and
peril of railway trains?
Mr. Bright said acme weeks ago a deputation called on him ,
and recommended a system of communication, and they
sanctioned the adoption of the system, which was a rope
aDtem, and he believed very effectual. The South-Eastern
hallway had an electric system, and that also had been
adopted. If inch systems were not effective, the Board of
Trade would be open again to consider the question.
Ciloriel Annesley asked the Chief Secretory for Ire-
lard,whether it was true that on the 22nd of February last
a man, named Smith, was arrested in the county of Cavan,
for having in his possession Fenian documents and resolu-
tions, regularly printed on green paper, and centablieg plans
and /wherries of the Fenian corspiracy, dated 184,9? And
whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government
to recommend the liberation of any more Fenian convicts?
Mr. Chienester Forteseue said his answer to the first ques-
tion was Diet it was true. The man had been committed lor
Intl. In answer to question two, he replied that it was
not the intention of the Government to release any more
Fenian convicts.
The debate on the Irish Church Bill was resumed by
sir bounden Palmer who was received with cheers from
lv th aides of the House, liesaid there was no one he wished
rie.re to see at the head of the Government than the right bon.
gent lemon who now occupied that prei ion. During the 9 years
he hail woi ked with him he had ever experienced the greatest
kindness. If he could not go with the Government in this
measure it was on account of imperious and overwhelm-
ieg opinions of hie own. lie could not shut his eyes to
the fact that there was • great crisis in Ireland, and
he could not but feel that they were called upon to as-
certain the cause and to attempt to discover remedies
fur such a state of affairs. Ile could not disguise from
!firma that the principle of this bill was not disestablish-
ment simply as he reeler/don d it, but it was (Direst aliliehmen t
accompanied by universal disendowment. It had beee said
lb it this bill would perform an act of justice; he, however,
believed It to be an act of injustice. Nation .1 religion, as he
understood the term, was the religion of the peo, le who con-
etitated the nation. There was no idea which had no changed
In deforms ais establishment, as applied to the Church in this
country and to political institutions. The right hon. gentleman
spoke of the different changes that had taken place by the
relaxatmn of the penal laws and the extension of political ,
cover to Rennin Catle.lics. They ninth consider whether a
quemion was for the public good; if it were, be
believed it would be good for the state of religion.
arel what was good for religion, he believed would be
Ipiod for the State. They had to consider the gum-
tree whether those political Institut one In Ireland were
or were not reasonably believed to be some causes of the
roots of diacontent, and whether they couldbe justified and
maintained upon reasonehigher or more important than those
which would toad totheir removal. The right hon. gentleman