The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-24 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 1868.

Mr. DISRAELI has acted with his usual discretion
in giving Mr. GLADSTONE next Monday for the
purpose of bringing forward his motion on the
Irish Church, and doubtless the House fully appre-
ciated the wisdom of his resolve. The right hon.
gentleman declared that when motions of such a
character were brought forward, " one's natural
feeling was to meet them as soon as may be per-
mitted by the state of public business and the con-
venience of the House." It was the more difficult
on the present occasion for Mr. GLADSTONE to be
satisfied, because the state of public business is just
now not very satisfactory, owing to peculiar
circumstances beyond the control of any one.
The Premier has, however, contrived to get out of
the awkward state of things very adroitly, and to
meet the exigencies of the public service, while he
accedes to the wishes of the right hon. gentleman
the leader of the Opposition. Cheers from both sides
of the House followed the announcement he made,
to the effect that that day week would be the time
he should give Mr. GLADSTONE. The Irish Reform
Bill stands for that night, and the Government are
very anxious that no time should be lost in pro-
ceeding with that measure, with a view to a " part
of the arrangement necessary towards the ensuing dis-
solution of Parliament at the beginning of next year."
It is true that the subject which Mr. GLADSTONE
seeks to discuss is one of such paramount impor-
tance that the House has every reason to desire a
long notice before entering into it, but under the
circumstance% of the case this objection may be
waived, and the House appropriately take the
matter up at the time appointed. Should the
debate conclude on the Friday following. the House
could then adjourn for the Easter holidays, because
it would not be a very convenient arrangement for
other business to be taken up after so exciting a
discussion, and with so short a time to at-
tend to it. Mr. GLADSTONE, as might have
been expected expressed his perfect satisfaction
with the plan proposed by Mr. DISRAELI, and so
it is arranged. Mr. GLADSTONE has put his mo-
tion in the form of three resolutions, to be moved
in Committee, on acts relating to the Established
Church in Ireland.
The chief thing to notice in all this is the extreme
want of tact that has been displayed in bringing
forward this motion just now. Quite apart from
the merits of the case, it is inopportune ; and so
we believe the House feels and expects that it will
show by its decision of next week. Mr. DISRAELI
met the attack on the proposition about
it with proper dignity ; that it was not
the time to quibble about the propriety
of hearing the discussion at all when it was
the question of bringing it before the House ; but
those who look on may, with perfect appropriate-
ness, consider the persistency which the right hon.
gentleman has displayed in forcing the matter on the
House. The game be is playing is not a fair one,
although very likely he has so confused himself with
his reasons and his crotchets that he himself cannot
readily perceive it. He is seeking to commit the
House to a hasty decision upon a point of great
importance, while the result of such an attempt, if
successful, must compromise the Ministry, and upset
the public business of the House, and all for what? It
seems hard to say that the meaning is to exchange
the cold shade of Opposition for the sunny regions
of Downing-street, but neverthe.kess the act may
bear that interpretation. Why not, in the name of
common sense and consistency, resolve to wait until
a New Parliament shall have the opportunity of
dealing with the momentous question of the Irish
Church. We think that the worst part of Mr.
GLADSTONE'S case is that he puts his opponent in a
false position before the House and the country, by
seeking to throw upon them the odium of an unpopu-
lar cause. The Irish Church has its champions, but
those who would follow or direct the spirit of the age
and put themselves at the head of a new Parlia-
ment, will not willingly appear as its advocates and
upholders, at any rate, at any cost, and at any
hazard. To discriminate then between the states-
men who seek for further information before they
commit themselves to a final resolution, and declare
that a moribund Parliament is not the fitting sphere
for the decision whidi shall make the resolutions
that have been held good for centuries, and those
who, under the shadow of Liberalism and progress, are
rampant to come to a conclusion at once is no doubt
difficult, but the task is not beyond the powers of the
House of Commons:; and we hope and expect that
that assembly will be equal to the emergency, and
rise to the occasion before it with commensurate
dignity and spirit. It is well known that there has
been a flaw somewhere in the affair of these resolu-
tions, and that Mr. GLADSTONE did not come, see,
and conquer with all the celerity that he expected
and desired. ,We call upon the independent