The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-03-31 00:00:00

Rad Conntq Exp.

TUESDAY, MARCH 31. 186 g,

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

Politically we are just now in that delightful state,
in which we are often meteorologiarlly in three
lolanda, viz., utterly unable even to guess what sort
of weather we may have SO-6101TOW. The most
acute politicans do not pretend to prognosticate
with any certainty what will be the upshot
of Mr. Gladstone's resolutions on the Irish Courch
Establishment ; but it sewn certain that many
of those who may feel themselves oom-
palled to vote for these resolutions would be
relieved if their vote did not portend a
QiasOLutlon and a destruction of the nearly half-
shed week of the session. So strong is this feel-
ing that it Lord Stanley's moderate and conciliatory
amendment does net win sufficient Liberal vets.
constitute a majority in favour of p.ssyooing MN
question for the conadeeaties of the new miasmal,
either Mr. WWI in's=es or Mr. Lanag's
addendum to Mr. 0 'it motion (supposing
this to be aserisd) will prob.,* b.
Komi by O. °Maks • atevasiss

kidp to carry them over the crisis. Both
Mr. LeWg and Mr. Watkin it will be perceived,
virtual ltrarry' poss • provisional vete of meadows in
the deprecate the dissolving of
Parliament es socount of the affirmation
of the principle of disestablishing the Irish
uaarch, stating or implying that the Ministry
should proceed with the ordinary work of legisla-
tion, and leave the appeal to the new ooestitnencies.
Mr. Gladstone's resolutions thus qualified would
become so exceedingly abstract, that tha only
Practical Part left in them, and the only thing
tn wbieh they would eesentially differ from
the Government amendment, would be in the
expression of opinion that public patronage in the
Irish establishment should be suspended pending
the decision of Parliament, and ae the decision of
the new Legislature might be in favour of continuing
the establishment, this seems hardly a suitable point
to have • party struggle about. All now depends
on what the Liberal party really wish. If they
desire to turn out Mr. Disraeli in favour of his
rival, there will be • crucial division, If not,
terms of oom
during will doubtless be arranged
the

Meanwhile, preparations ere not wanting on the
Conservative gide to mem, if neonnary, some more
decided advantage than the hollow truce offered to
than in the event of defeat In every town in the
country petitions are being signed against the pro
posed digestablishment Considering the short time
that has elapsed since Mr. Gladstone's nonce, the
orkmization displayed in preparing them Petitions,
and malting engagements for obtaining signatures,
is admirable. On the other ride we do not hew that
the expedient of petitions has been resorted to. But
then it may he considered • moot question whether
the mind of Parliament is now-ii-dave ever seriously
affected by petitions, except on indifferett and non.
political matters. The manner in which the piles of
petitions sometimes carried Into the Hones of Com•
mons are known to be manufactured, robs even
at alulineents,U•lonsl the can mcanuchbeddtonblrbiluiPanrt'lna°epPealßutt
the Protestant 'spirit" of the people of England is
being don.; and if there is any virtue left in the
old "No Popery" cry, the Government are likely to
see • feeling evoked in their favour at present which
would not help them in the event of the proposig
hereafter to do anything like "paying the priests.'
Lord Derby's letter to the Earl of Dartmouth will
be read with considerable Interest Everybody
will sympathise with his lordship's statement that
"It was net without a pang, and only under • con.
victim of the titanium, nsesmity of the step," that
he resigned the Premiership ; but the moat interest-
ing part of the letter is the noble earl's expression of
complete confidence in Mr. Disraeli, and his promise
to give his goootemor "earnest though unofficial
support." This disposes of the notion that Lord
Derby took the opportunity of retiring, in a great
measure, to avoid committing himself to the policy
urged by his former lieutenant
After repeated struggles, Mr. Otway bag had the
sellisfaction of obtaining • victory over the advocates
of flogging in the army. A majority of 25 in a
House of 279 ha. decided that corporal punishment
shall no longer be inflicted in times of piece. This
vote can hardly be met by any compromise on the
part of Government, with regard to olainifkation
of soldiers, sea similar vote was formerly met; but
the victory is really over the Horse Guards and
not over the Ministry, being hailed with satisfaction
by many Conservatives, as it is deprecated by not •
few Liberals; for Liberal Governments, be it
remembered, have hitherto been as anxious to
support the Horse Guards in this matter as have
Conservative Administrations. But the Loh as gone
at last, together with the gag in the navy, which
has recently been officially prohibited. Perhaps
now that only garotters and pupils at our great
public schools are liable to degrading corporal
punishment, we may have an agitation to relieve
the latter class from an infliction which they sneer
in common with the scum of mankind.