The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-07-13
COLUMBIA.
Saturday Morning, July Is. 1867
Progress OF REFORM.

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some share of attention, even from
the House of Lords. One of the
abuses in legislation for Ireland, and
zone we know to be among the chief
sources of what is called s'disafec-
'tion, % "disloyalty," &C., is the exces-
sive wealth of the established church
in that unfortunate country. There
now seems to be hope that this
abuse will soon be remedied. The
attacks against it. we perceive, are
not merely by Roman Catholics, but
by the Liberal party in Parliament,
which is nearly perfectly unanimous
in demanding thorough inyestiga-
ton of the grievance, with view to
reform.
On the Oath nlt., the House of
Lords agreed to motion made by
Earl Russell, that an address be pre-
,sented to the Queen, praying for the
appointment Of a Royal Commission,
which is to procure full and accurate
information of the property and 1e-
venue of the Established Church in
Ireland. It is remarkable, too, that
one OF the most interesting speeches
made on the occasion was that by the
Irish Bishop of Down, who proposed
considerable reduction in the num-
ber OF arch-bishops, bishops and
clergy of the Established Church of
Ireland, and the consolidation of all
the revenue of the Church into one
common fund. This is an important
indication of the necessity which is
felt to make so-called concessions"
to public opinion.
The support of the English Church
in Ireland, imposed upon the poor
people of all denominations in that
country, was one of the most unjust
measures ever imposed on any peo-
pie. The religion of that church is
not the religion of the native Irish,
and to be compelled to support it by
the poor as we'll as the rich of other
denominations, was at least one of the
crying evils which engendered hatred
against the English Government.
Consideration of the reform land
bill was postponed because the pre-
sent state of affairs in Ireland was
regarded as unpropitious for the ex-
tension of the franchise. AS has been
said, if the Tories wait until Ireland
is "loyal' before they attempt to le-
gislate for the removal of the griev-
ances and disabilities under which
the people labor, they may wait for
ever. And here we may add for the
benefit of our legislators in Washing
ton, that loyalty can only be superin-
duced by liberal and benefcent
legislation.
We are gratified to see that the
monstrous grievance of the Irish
Church is now being denounced by
the liberals all over England, and
that, in the House, Gladstone, the
great leader Of that party, has de-
nounced it as a monstrous injustice,
disgraceful to England and to the
advanced civilization of the nine
teenth century. AS a New York
journal says, with Bright and Glad
stone in the van, and the masses in
England encouraging them onward,
the triumph of reform, both in Eng
land and Ireland, cannot long be de-
layed.
We say God-speed to the liberal
party. for we believe that, besides
wringing from the selfish policy that
has SO long ruled Ireland measure
OF justice, it will benefit the English
people themselves. Should they be
successful in obtaining even portion
OF the equal rights and equal Justice
10 which the Irish people are enti-
tied, it would do more FOR the sup
preston OF disaffection and disloyalty
than the whole standing army of
England could effect in Ireland in a
century FenionicD1 o,.l :11.