New-York tribune., 1868-04-02
RRVENnE RETURNs.
THE NEW CRISIS IN ENGLISH POLITICS.


deficiency Of five millions sterling.
THE NEW CRISIS IN ENGLISH POLITICS.
LONDON. March Is. 1888
The whole aspect Of politics has changed within
week might say in a day, since 1t Is the Irish de-
bate on Monday night which wrought the transfer
nation. Last week every thing doubt and un-
certainty. The Liberals scarcely knew their OWN
minds on Ireland nor whether they had leader
The Tories had leader but no policy. In the armed
truce between the two parties, each hestated to be-
gin open hostlties The step has been taken, the
armed truce has broken into fragrant war; and
| a pitched battle is to be fought-probably fought
and decided before this reach you. Tho
Irish debate, which ended apparently in
| nothing by the withdrawal of the resOlu-
lion OF Mr.. Maguire. ont of which it
sprung has consolidated the Liberal party, and con-
firmed Mr. Gladstone's leadership. Not since Lord
Palmerstons death have the Liberals been so united.
80 clear of purpose and confident in their captain
as to-day. They propose TO move Immediately upon
the enemys works That has come 10 pass which at
the beginning OF the session ii was universally agreed
would not come to pass. Tie Liberals have found
themselves stronger and their patience weaker than
they supposed and the Government policy proves
incredibly timid. Disrseli il too much for Liberal
patience to bear and they viii turn him out if they
can and then deal with the Irish question without
waiting for the new Parliament
A resolution declaring the Irish policy OF the Gov
crnmont unsatisfactory, and announcing the Liberal
! programme. including the abolition Of the Irish
Church. will be moved within ten days. If this il
carried the Government must dissolve Parliament
or must resign-a any rate, anybody but Mr. Disraeh
would feel bound to. What course he will take is
beyond conjecture, though dissolution is still re-
garded on both sides most improbable and will be
resisted by Mr. Disraelis followers if he attempts ii.
Yet can II be supposed he viii renounce any means OF
maintaining his hold upon the Office which has been
the ambition of his lfe and to obtain which he has
sacrificed everything that to most men Is dearcr than
ofice'
IL is only fortnight since Mr.. BOnverie. In reply
ing 20 Che opening speech of the Premier described
the Liberal party as . rabbe without leader. When
the Irish debate opened they retained party organ
ization. but on the three leading Irish questions
there was no conference ia the Liberal policy. There
was in fact no one of those questions on which you
could be sure that the party would succeed IN closing
its ranks At the most they agreed in regarding tho
Ministerial policy as mserably insufficient for the
crisis. As the debate went On the atmosphere
cleared up. 1t was found that the proposition
for Roman Catholic University, pure
and simple, met with universal derislon
hotu SlutS OF lDo HOUSE. pA AHf l-dih hu'N
tion. while there was a wide variety in the
suggestions of different speakers, there Was general
unanimity IN condemnng the Government scheme az
ilusory and inadequate But on the Church all went
further. and both conservative Liberals and thd
Radicals who agreed in nothing else, agreedln this.
that the Church must be got rid OF. Mr.. Lowe w3s
"a emphatic as Mr. Mill and Mr. Fortescuo as ready
70 strike a blow as Mr. Bright. IL was this conyerg-
ence of ideas on this point which led 10 the project,
spoken of in my last letter as being contemplated.
though not resolved on OF forcing division on Mr.
Maguires original resolution. That resolution was
found to be so general in its terms ~ to be insult
able for uniting the Liberal vote and it was known
when the debate began on Monday night that 10
would be withdrawn. But it was not generally
known what line Mr.. Gladstone had resolved
to take. II is on Church questions especially
that the Liberal leader has advanced with The rea-
est circumspectlon. There was truth in Mr. Disraes
sarcasm that his efforts for Irish Reform bad coli
sisted largely in making speeches Tor the pcrpetua-
tion of the Irish Church
When therefore Mr. Gladstone rose at 10 O'Clock
ON Monday night, the cheers with which he WAS
greeted were demonstration OF ENCOURAGEMENT IA
well N of the enthusiasm of his supporters Tho
House was crowded 10 excess No doubt Mr. Glad
stones intimate friends knew what he had resolved
on but the bulk OF bis supporters did not know
whether he stood ready 20 head an immediate move
ment for the overthrow OF the Irish Church. The
cxor,lium gave them hope, FOX almost the opening
sentence declared that crisis in the history Of Ire
Land had been reached the gravity oi which tho
Government had failed To comprehend During
the inst hour OF his speech he went with
great minuteness over the smaller Irish cues
Mons. Mr. Dsrael's Catholic University WAS
demolished. Then the LandIwas discussed but dis-
cnssed with caution, and dropped without th"
distinct enunciation OF anything that could be Gallo"
a policy based on tangible measure OF RELIEF. Even
this caution and abstinence were IN accondance WIN
the general result Of the previous three nights nc
bate. Finally came the Church. with regard "
which. said Mr. Gladstone. he had witnessed WIN -
satisfaction almost equaed By his surprise, une eA
traordnary progress of opinion that had taken pc"
hath within and without the House. Nowhere, I'D
might have added more extraordinary than IN MS
ownc,.e few sentences rsmoved all doubt OF hls
final decision. and the enthusiasm Of the honSa
broke out every moment in cheers, which reached
their climax when their long hestatng champion
declared that the Irish Church ss eta'o
Cburch must cease 70 exist, From thaa
moment dates the reorganization, OF rather tno
regeneration of the Liberal party. But MI. uId-
stone having made up his mind, was far from pro
posing to stop with mere announcement OIL nus
opinion, or with theoretical dissent from the 40
nothing policy of the Ministry. His accommodation
to Mr.. Mcguire TO YithdIaM bis EssSg49 Va s'sS'