The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-20 00:00:00

roLnic tr. POSITION.

The London correspondent of the Atanches'er
Guardian says that " the Tories are so thoroughly
disheartened by the increasing majorities in favour
of Mr. Gladstone's bill that many of them are dis-
posed to forego the discussion of all except one or
two money questions in committee. They cling to
the hope that Lord Derby may so alter the bill in the
Upper House as to prevent its passing this year. Lord
Stanley's reappearance in his place on Friday evening
was regarded as no more than a concession by that
chief of temporisers to the urgent cry of distress
raised by his party. He sat out the greater part of
the debate with exemplary patience, there being little
of novelty in it with which he could sympathise. He
is expected to In a speech on the third reading,
in vindication of the course which he has pursued.
Ic had much better let it alone."
We are inclined to think that there is one Con-
servative who views " the increasing majorities in
favour of Mr. GlaC!sone," with great satisfaction,
and lie is no other than Mr. bisneli himself. All
the world knows that he cares nothing for the Irish
Church; that he (leems it ";:lien" Church,
that he would gladly let it g), and that he defends
it solely because the exigencies of party compel
him to (lo s:). At the s line time he knows
Ferfeetly well that so long as this question
remains undecided there is no chance of his Fay
returning to power. lie. knows that for the Lords
to throw out the bill would be the best thing that
could happen to Mr. Gladstone. Therefore it is that
he exposes his party to defeat night after night in
order that the Peers, convinced of the hope-
lessness of resistance, may pass the bill, and leave
the field clear for other contests. The land question,
for instance, is far more hopeful for the Conserva-
tives than the Church is. The old Whigs have
never cared much for the Church, but they have
always cared a good deal about the land ; and while
they would view the " spoliation " of the first with
perfect equanimity, the same operation applied to
the landlords would seriously alarm them, and pre-
pare the way for " caves" and " 4.m-rooms," and
"middle-parties."
The London correspondent of the Dublin i';vening
naturallyattaches another meaning to thepresent
course of events. Referring to the noisyscene on Thurs-
day night, he says : " The oldest frequenters of the
House of Commons do not recollect a more scan-
dalous display of brutal violence, coupled with sub-
mission to the whip, than was exhibited last night."
He acids that Lord Stanley "remained perdu in the
library during the debate, and at the critical moment
stole away from the House," and then goes on to
give his interpretation of the " perfect discipline of
the anti-Protestant majority." " Mr. Gladstone's
great anxiety to push on his scheme by brute
force arises from his fear that some of his
friends in the Upper House may reduce their idea
(that of concurrent endowment of the Roman Catho-
lics and the Presbyterians) to practice, which they
would attempt if a complete discussion of the Minis-
terial scheme in the House of Commons could be
obtained, and the time and knowledge for its full
consideration were thereby afforded to the country.
Mr. Gladstone would not dare to flout an Opposition
in which the Marquis of Clanricarde, Earls Russell,
Grey, and Harrowby might take a part. Nor would
the press in that case talk any more of an over-
whelming creation of pocket peers."