The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-02-27 00:00:00

THE CONDITION OF IRELAND.

Viscount Cranbrook, in asking whether the Govern-
ment would lay on the table such information as could
be given without injury to the public service on the
present condition of Ireland in respect to boycotting
and outrages, warmly commended the courage and
vigorous action of Lord Spencer when Viceroy, and
urged him to take the steps which he had himself re-
commended to the late Government with the view of
maintaining law and order.—Earl Spencer objected that
the speech of the noble lord opened up the whole
question of the Irish policy of the Govern-
ment, but promised to furnish returns with
regard to intimidation and boycotting. The
Marquis of Salisbury observed that while
they cautiously held back any announcement of policy
which would carry some comfort to the loyal in-
habitants of Ireland, that which was necessary for the
encouragement of the National League had been plainly
avowed by Ministers in the other House. He insisted
that the Government ought to repudiate in clear terms
the doctrine laid down by the Chief Secretary for
Ireland on Friday last, that Irish tenants might break
their contracts and refuse payment of their debts with
impunity.—The subject then dripped, and their lord.
ships rose at 10 minutes past seven o'clock.
In the Hozsm OF COMMONS, Captain O'Shea took the
oath and his seat for Galway.

QUESTIONS.

Mr. J. Morley informed Mr. Lewis, who asked
whether the Government intended to introduce at an
early date a bill to renew or extend the provisions of
the Irish Arms Act, which expires on the Ist of June
next, that it would be quite premature for him to make
any announcement of the intentions of the Govern-
ment. Replying to an inquiry by Baron H. de Worms,
whether the right hon. gentleman still adhered to the
policy of removing the Irish members from the British
House of Commons, advocated in his speech at
Chelmsford on the 7th ult., Mr. Morley admitted that
the report of the speech was in substance correct,
but he added, amid cheers from the Irish members,
that he thought it would be more conyenient that
the policy to which he adhered should be stated
in all its fullness on the proper occasion.—
In answer to Mr. Radcliffe Cooke, Mr. Gladstone
said her Majesty's Government were very desirous to
see the authority of the Crown in Ireland restored to
that full state of efficiency which it enjoyed in England
and Scotland, in a great degree from the sympathy of
the people. He had already stated that the Govern-
ment did not conceive that it would be a wise or justi-
fiable policy on their part to proceed to the restoration
of that authority to full efficiency through the medium
of an immediate application to Parliament for special
criminal legislation. That answer involved a negative
to the question whether it was the intention of the
Government to suppress the so-called National League.
—Mr. Chamberlain intimated, in reply to Viscount
Curzon and Mr. Saunders, that it was the intention of
the Government to introduce a bill dealing with the
question of county government at the earliest possible
moment. The measure would contain the proposals of
the Government with regard to the question of local
taxation.