The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-08 00:00:00

THE OPPOSITION.

The John Bull hears that the meeting of Con- ,
servatives at Lord Derby's on Thursday, which
resulted in the motion whereof Mr. Gathorne Hardy
gave notice as to the Irish Church Bill, was most hearty
and unanimous. With regard to this same measure, an
English Roman Catholic paper (the Weekly Register)
says that it is an honest measure, creditable to the
Government, worthy of the accomplished statesman
who has introduced it, and eminently calculated to
confer inestimable benefit upon the United Kingdom.
The popular notion of Mr. Disraeli is well illus-
trated by a leader in the Times. Its subject is the
motion made by
.Lord' Redesdale in the House of
Lords. The chairman of committees is described
as of the olden time. Hi e sof " the darkest days of
Tory narrowness." But Mr. Disraeli is more
enlightened. Indeed, in effect he is considered as a
Liberal ; if he acted conscientiously he would be
the last to propose that Mr. Gladstone's Bill be read
a second time that day six months. Lord Stanley
is another enlightened Conservative. llow can
these men work with Lord Redesdale and Mr.
Hardy ? 4, After struggling to be with his party,
and not of it--to be supported by their power, yet
to be separated in public opinion from their
prejudices—we see the leader of the Opposition tied,
as it were, to the post by Mr. Hardy." Lord Stanley,
if he votes at all, will, the Times predicts, vote
silently. And Mr. Disraeli, he has done what he has
done beiNiuse he could not help it. Either that or
he must submit to anarchy and disorder. Either
fight and be beaten, or sit still and become dis-
organised. The Times advises him to make a show
of resistance, and then effect a retreat'—to speak and
protest, not to divide.

InISU CHURCH.
According to one London correspondent, Mr.
Chichester 'ortescue is the author of the suggestion
for applying the surplus fund of the Irish Church
to the relief of " unavoidable calamity." Another
says : " The credit of devising the entire scheme is
believed to lie chiefly between Mr. Gladstone and
Mr. Bright. To the latter gentleman is attributed
the idea of applying the surplus in relief of the
County Cess, as well as that of giving tenants a
preemption to Church Lands. Mr. Lowe's portion
of the measure consists of the clauses providing for
the commutation of the life interests of the clergy.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is very anxious to
get rid of the Irish Church altogether, and wishes to
hold out every inducement to those connected with
it to relinquish even the slender connection with the
State which the bill will 44-- 97

FOREIGN NOTES.

PRESIDENT GRANT'S PROCLAMATION.

General Grant's political proclamation meets with a
universally good reception. The Spectator says it is short
and good. The new President speaks "as one having
authority, and not as Mr. Johnson, who vanishes now—
finally, we trust—from the political eminence which he
has disfigured and disgraced." The Times says the pro-
clamation reads like a familiar and homely royal speech.
" In the principles which it enunciates, briefly as they are
expressed, we see hopes of a beneficial and honourable
career." The Standard pronounces the document to be
"manly, straightforward, practical, and sensible." The
Daily Nei" gives a similar opinion. Most of the leading
journals think the financial policy of Congress and the
eclaration of the new President to be quite decisive. It
ends the question of repudiation.
The well-informed " Yankee " who officiates as special
correspondent of the Spectator considers it by no means
certain that the harmony between General Grant and the
Senate will extend to all questions. The bone of conten-
tion will be office. The conflict may not take place,
because it has been foreseen ; but it can hardly be avoided
unless one party or other give up pretensions which they
now regard as essential. The President looks to the
command of office appointments as a means of puri-
fying the corrupt Administration ; the Senate
considers its power of preventing the removal of any
official as of the utmost consequence in party manage-
ment. At present General Grant can appoint or remove
subordinates only with the consent of the Senate. This
power has, however, degenerated ; instead of being a just
means of supervision, it has become a powerful party
weapon ; even the pettiest places arc filled in the interest,
not of the Senate, but of individual senators. General
Grant will make war upon this abuse ; and "A Yankee"
believes that as the House of Representatives will support
him there can be little doubt of the rault.