The New York herald., 1868-04-03
ENGLAND.

The Debate on the Irish Church-Indictmcnt
and Defence Of the Establishment-TheL Lib
erals in Support Of GladstOnc-ssAudacity''
and ''IncOnsistency" of Premier DisraeIi.
LONDON, April Q, 1868.
In the House OF Commons this evening the ad
journed debate on the Irish Church was continued.
Mr.. Roebuck, member for Sheffield, said he had
ever been opposed to the Church Establishment in
Ireland, and he considered himself bound to
support the resolutions OF Mr. Gladstone, though
at the same time he did not think that that
Church was the worst i'll of Ireland nor did he con-
slider its existence badge OF serfdom for the Irish
people. The legal objections which had been made
to its abolition he said, absurd What Parlia-
ment had given 1t could resume. He hoped the Irish
clergy would be treated with consideration and that
If the tories were beaten on this question the liber
ais when in Office, would meet, not shrk the issue
Mr. Joseph W. Henley, member for OXfordshire
opposed the propositions of Mr.. Gladstone and ex-
pressed the fear that the introduction Of such rcso
uions would cause O revival of Fenanisni.
Mr. Robert Lowe, member for Calne, quoted sta
ti'tcs TO show that out of one hundred Of the popu
aton of Ireland seventy eight were Catholics, nine
were Presbyterans and twelve belonged to the Irish
Protestant Church Establishment. The latter
Church alone aided by the government,
though the congregations were made up of the
people would DC more than human if they could
tanely submit TO this. The tories claimed TO be
'truly liberal" Let them prove it or retire. The
liberal party In the House had leader whom they
could trust tncy sure he would fulfil all his
professions. Mr.. Lowe ridiculed what ne termed
the legal bubbles and Zigzag course OF the minis
ters. Such line Of action would destroy
all confidence between the executive and legisla-
tive departments of the government Each night the
Ministry presented to the House phase of self
contradiction until all honest men were disguised.
The Premier had carried inconsistency and audacity
to a height which she House. consulting its dignity,
could not tolerate on topic so solemn as that under
discussion.
Mr.. Horsfa member for Liverpool, and Mr.. Le-
troy, member for Dublin University, both spoke in
support Of the government, urging the adoption of
Lord Staney's resolution for apostponement to the
next Parliament.
Mr. George Give. member for Hereford opposed
the postponement of question OF such pressing i'm
pOrtance.
statistics OF the wealth. population and religious
sects OF Ireland ana pointed out the absurd and dis
proportioned attitude which the Irish Church Estab
shment assumed in the light Of these figures. He
urged the adoption Of Mr.. Gadstone's resolutions in
justice to Ireland.
Mr.. Osborne member for Nottingham, said he
should sustain the resolutions, but he feared the
reform proposed would take long time.
Sir stafford Northcote rose In defence Of the gov
ernment. lie said the resolutions before the House
were merely intended to furnish the liberal party
with raliyinQ cry. and he stgmatized them as
chosen for such purpose. He asserted that
the ministry had been consistent throughout this
discussion. They had always said that measures
such proposed in regard to the Irish Church
premature. Parliament should await the resu,
OF Investigations on the subject. The govern
ment did not question the competency Of
Parliament 10 leSisate in regard to the
status OF the IRISH Church. He concluded
by expressing the hope that the House would yet
pause the better consideration OF the problem be-
fore IL.
At eleven O'Clock tonight the debate was going on
with the prospect OF an unusually late adjournment
of the House.