The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-14 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PRESS—Tnis MORNING.

THE LORDS AND THE LAND BILL.

There is much, says the Times, that the Lords may do
to improve the Land Bill, or, rather, to remove the diffi-
culties in the way of its execution ; but not if they seem
to start with a foregone conclusion against its first prin-
ciple, which is a final settlement of the land question, and
peace, not at any price, but at a price not beyond its
value. Will the Lords bethink themselves how many
questions there have been which did not admit of a
peaceable, even though costly, solution, but which
were allowed to run to the arbitrament of the sword,
or even to some worse solution ? In times past the
Sovereignty of these realms allowed Irish discontent to
proceed to rebellion, and more recently it allowed Irish
misrule to culminate in a dreadful and irremidable famine.
Of rebellion, famine, and surviving hatred, it is hard to
say which is worst. But every nation has been warned,
even within a year or two, to set its house in order, to
remove all causes of discontent, and to present a united
front to the world without. We have heard the call, and
we have listened to it. We have given up some posi-
tions and supremacies which divided our strength
while they only flattered our pride. Year by year we
have recognised the necessity of resting the bond of impe-
rial union on community of interest and unanimity of
sentiment. That work is complete,• except at home.
Within these isles the work remains to be done. When
the whole race of Ireland feel that through their repre-
sentatives in the British Parliament they are as
thoroughly considered and as well governed as they would
be by a Parliament of their own, then we shall feel as easy
in that quarter as we are about the loyalty of our Cana-
dian or Australian fellow-subjects.

The Standard says that Lord Derby should decline to
explain in the Merchant Taylors' Hall the line which the
House of Lords—or the leaders of the majority in that
House—intend to take upon the Irish Land Bill was a
matter of course. Such an anticipation of parliamentary
discussion would have been altogether discourteous and
irregular ; and though eminent Liberal examples might
be cited in excuse of such irregularity, they are hardly
suitable for Conservative imitation. In affirming it to be
their duty to propound nothing they cannot hope to carry,
and to stand by whatever they may finally deter-
mine, Lord Derby has traced the course to be
taken with regard to this particular measure. What
the Lords can reasonably hope to carry into effect
is on each particular issue matter of opinion and
of detail. That they could not wisely attempt to defeat
the bill, that they may and will endeavour to amend it,
is evident. And in Lord Derby's words we may see the
character of the amendments to which he looks. As Mr.
Gladstone refuses to listen to opponents in the House of
Commons, and as the majority there follows his lead with
abject docility, the influence of that which is for the time
being a minority can only be exerted through the House
of Lords ; and in proportion as the views of that assembly
are allowed to modify a scheme at present conceived too
exclusively from one standpoint, and adapted to one inte-
rest, will be its chance of smooth working, of peaceful
efficacy, and of permanent success.