The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-05-22 00:00:00

ART GIFTS TO THE NATION.

Lord Wemyss, after expressing his admiration of the
works of Mr. Watts, R.A., asked the Lord President
whether any arrangements had been made, or would
bf: made, for the satisfactory exhibition and safe
custody of the valuable works given by Mr. Watts to the
nation.—Lord Spencer stated that, with characteristic
modesty, Mr. Watts had expressed a wish that the
public should have an opportunity of expressing their
opinion whether the pictures he had offered to the
nation were worthy of being accepted by it, so
that as yet the gift had not been actually made.
There was no space in the National Gallery for these
very valuable pictures, but as he was very anxious that
they should be seen to advantage, and that Mr. Watts's
object should be carried out, room would be found for
them at South Kensington, where they could be hun.
in a manner which he hoped would be satisfactory
Mr. Watts, whose offer was one which entitled him to
the gratitude of the country.
On the motion of the Archbishop of Canterbury,
the Select Committee on the Church Patronage Bill
was nominated.

The National Debt Bill went through Committee.
Their lordships rose at 25 minutes past 5 o'clock.
THE HOME RULE BILL DEBATE.

In the HOCSE Or COMMONS, the adjourned do.
bate on the Government of Ireland Bill was resumed by
Sir R. A. Cross who, agreeing with Mr. Campbell-
Bannerman that the production of the measure w s
one of the most startling political events of our times,
denied that it would lead to good government in Ire-
land, and argued that the Government, by their own
procedure, showed that they were afraid to trust thu
body which they wished to set up. Canvassing the
principal details, he maintained that it would fail
altogether to carry out its professed objects of protect-
ing property, securing the administration of justice, and
preserving individual liberty. He objected also to the
bill because it would not furnish a final settlement of
the question.
Mr. Stansfeld agreed that if the settlement were not
to be a final one it was no use passing it; but he
pointed out that the Irish members promised to accept
it as such; and he held that separation was a fantastic
dream which this bill would make impossible. He re-
plied next in an animated tone to Lord SalisburN
speech of Saturday, which he anticipated would confer
an immense benefit on the Liberal party by reuniting
it, and by proving that the Tory party had nothing to
recommend but 20 years of coercion. Replying to Sir
H. James, he denied that the bill would destroy the
supremacy of the Imperial Parliament. On the con-
trary, it merely delegated a portion of its power to the
Irish Parliament, and, if, necessary, it could resume
those powers next year if it pleased in the manner pro-
vided for in this bill and consider the matter "de
novo " As te Mr Chamberlain's objections, he main-
tained that the bill actually barred the way to
colonial independence and prepared the way to Federa-
tion. All former policies, he contended, had failed,
and, amid loud cheers from the Nationalist members,
he dilated on the menace of the American-Irish and
Mr. Gladstone's service to the State.

Mr. King contended that the bill worild weaken the
supremacy of Parliament and diminish the authority
of the Crown; and Mr. Rogers, who dilated at coo-
siderable length and with many quotations on the evils
which he maintained had resulted from the Act of
Union, was sat'sfied as to the neces-ity of ranting
Home Rule to Ireland, but, while supporting the bili,
did not view with satisfaction the exclusion of the
Irish members from the English Parliament.
Sir J Corry attributed the present commercial
depression in Ireland to the political agitations of
the last few years, and was convinced that the
bill, if passed, would prove disastrous to Irish in-
dustries.

Mr. Hobhouse, although in favour ef a system of
local self-government which would not disturb the
unity of the Empire, offered a determined opposition
to the bill; and Mr. Yeo, speaking as a Welsh merntwr,
argued that there was a growing feeling of sympathy
with the measure in Wales, with which he heartily
coincided.

Mr. Hughes denied that the bill would finally Eettle
the question, which he hoped would be bubmitted to
the constituencies.

Mr. Bryce said there would be no indisposition to
test the opinion of the constituencies, and after re-
peating that the only question to be settled now wai
the establishment of a separate Legislature for Ireland
the rest being mere details and machinery, he pro-
ceeded to reply to Sir H. James's constitutional obp-c-
-tions to the bill. The unity of the Empire, he con-
tended, did not depend on the unity of the Legislature;
and as to the sovereignty of Parliament, he asserled
that the Imperial Parliament would still be able to
legislate for Ireland. In fact, Parliament could not
divest itself of this ultimate right, although it
had agreed to give to the Irish Parliament the ex-
clusive right to deal with certain 'natters. This,
he pointed out, was what we bad done with the
Colonies. He examined at length the foreign prece-
dents and the example of the United States, which be
contended had been mistaken; and, remonstrating with
the Radical opponents of the bill, he said the Govern-
ment would consider the retention of the Irish mem-
bers for Imperial purposes as an open question, and
warned them that by rejecting the second reading they
would be playing the game of their enemies.
Mr. A. W. Hall warmly opposed the bill, and exhorted
the rank and file of both parties to deal with the Irish
question in a non-party spirit if their leaders could
nst see their way. He vindicated the right of the
United Kingdom to compel Ireland to remain in the
Union for her good.
Mr. Abraham (Limerick), speaking as a Protestant
Nationalist, bore testimony to the absence of Catholic'
persecution in Ireland; and Lord Wolmer, replying to
Mr. Bryce, insisted that the bill was objectionable in
principle, and not merely a question of detail. They
could not believe it would be a final settlement cf the
question.
The debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr. Sha-
w