The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-18 00:00:00

THE SECOND BEADING OF THE LAND BILL.

Without a division, says the Telegraph, the Irish Land
Bill last night—or rather early this morning—passed the
second reading in the House of Lords. The debate,
which has lasted three nights, has not been concluded
without convincing evidences of the Peers' power as an
assembly for discussing and checking measures which
originate with the more popular body of the State.
Lord Cairn's elaborate assault on the Bill, however,
and Lord Hatherley's vigorous and conclusive
reply, are, after all, matters of less public
interest than the speeches of one or two other noblemen
who have taken part in the debate. Last night's accept-
ance of the bill by the House of Lords emphatically
proves how accurate is the estimate which both Lord
Derby and Lord Cairns have made as to the feeling of
the country ; and the measure goes into committee with
the highest certificates from the Conservative chiefs that,
with greater or minor carpings at detail, the substantial
and fundamental principles of the bill must be frankly
accepted and honourably carried into effect.
The Daily News says it must not be assumed that in
all respects the bill is entirely safe. Many of the speakers
who have accepted the second reading as a necessity of the
situation have suggested amendments which would hardly
be consistent with the efficient working of the measure. Per-
haps the prolonged debate, in which so many hereditary
legislators who are unknown to fame have delivered their
souls on the measure, will be favourable to a speedy
passage through committee. It must, however, be dis-
tinctly understood that any amendment hostile to the
unity of the bill will be fatal to it. Amend-
ments which make a bill more a perfect machine
for its work, or a completer exponent of its
principle, are the best contributions a non-representative
House can make to legislation. We are by no means sure
that a practised ingenuity of amendment may not find
plenty of work even on a bill which has occupied the
House of Commons for half a session. Should it be so,
we hope the House of Lords will occupy itself in making
the Irish Lind Bill as perfect as possible. The good
sense, we will add, the intelligent patriotism, which ac-
cepts the bill in principle may surely be relied on for ac-
tcoepmtiaknge iat
oi no
udoeetsasi li
0.
ahne
dLtohredys
mh auvset mmaadkee ut
hp
e their
concessionminds
in the most generous spirit. What they grant they must
grant fully and completely. Noblesse oblige.
THE ASCOT MEETING.
Perhaps the most noticeable feature of the Ascot meet-
ing, declares the Post, was the favour—amounting almost
to enthusiasm—with which the great successes of Lord
Falmouth and Lord Zetland were received by the public.
In the case of these owners there is no necessity for
asking such questions as—ls this or that horse meant
to win, or is the money on? The most perfect straight.
forwardness ever marks their racing transactions.
In this respect they are conspicuous. And their silent
example is calculated to greatly assist the efforts of those
striving to eliminate from the Turf the objectionable
elements that have debased and corrupted it. A few
other owners of horses there are who also r ace as English
gentlemen should race. But it is humiliatirg and some-
what dispiriting to reflect that they bear so small a pro-
portion to those of the opposite category. It is to be
hoped that the sentiment unmistakeably prevalent at
the late Ascot meeting on this subject may exert a bene-
ficial influence. It could not be difficult, and it would
seem to be a laudable object of ambition, to attain the
reputation of running horses to win stakes, cups, and
plates instead of bets—to race for sport and excitement,
and not for mere gain. Those who cannot afford to do
this should simply not race.
THE LORDS AND THE IRISH LAND BILL.
The Dublin Freeman of to-day (Saturday), referring to
the progress of the Irish Land Bill debate in the Lords
last night says :—" The debate shows that our pro-
phecy was right, that the Lords are not yet mad enough
to reject the bill, hardly mad enough to touch it in
a hostile spirit, for it would operate as a consolidation bill,
seal the fate of independent small but respectable farmers
class in Ireland, and not check landlord power over the
tenantry. The Lords accept the Bill, and in a few weeks it
will be the law of this kingdom and the greatest social stride
ever made within so short a space in any nation in Europe.
It will be a law from which there can be no recoiling, and
the standpoint from which future advances can be made
with ease and certainty.

H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, Commanding-
in-Chief, will preside this morning at the half-yearly
examination and distribution of prizes to the gentlemen
cadets at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.
BOILER EXPLOSION.—Between the hours of six and
seven o'clock yesterday morning an explosion occurred
through the bursting of a pipe within the boiler of an
engine on the premises of Messrs. Cotten and Slater's,
Blackburn. The wall in front of the boiler-house was
blown away, and parts of several tenaments adjaceDt to
the mill were destroyed. The engine tenter was killed,
and another man severely scalded. A young woman in
one of the neighbouring houses was also killed.