Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-10
Onion aud dispatch.
sUNDAY. MAY 10. IsGs
Largest Circulation in City and State.
THE IRISH CuURCU OUrsTION.

TIE IRISH CHURCH QUESTION.
The present contest in the English
Parliament with reference to the Irish
Chueh question, is founded upon three
resolutions offered by Mr.. Gladstone on
the 23d Of March last They are as fol-
lows First, that in the opinion of the
House the Irish Church should cease to
exist as an establishment, due regard
being had, however, for personal inter-
ests and the rights of property. Second,
that no new personal rights should be
created, and the commission on the Irish
Church should limit its operations to
matters of immediate necessity pending
the final action Of Parliament upon the
whole question. Third, that petition
should be presented to the Queen, pray
ing that the Church patronage Of Ireland
be placed at the disposal of Parliament
When these resolutions were brought
forward a month ago, and the To-
ries were defeated by a majority of
fifty-six-the vote standing 32S for the
resolutions, and 272 against them. Dis
raeli succeeded in getting postpone
ment for four weeks, and the time has
been industriously employed by the
Tories in endeavoring to make capital
against the measure by appeals to relio
gious passions and prejudices, and by
raising the cry that it would result in
complete overthrow of the Church estab-
ment in Great Britain, emascuate the
House Of Peers, and do away with all
the bulwarks to the British Constitution.
The personal influence of the Queen was
brought to bear in favor Of the Irish
Church establishment, and every means
that an active and powerful party could
devise was employed to fire the English
heart against the proposed change. The
result proves that there is no reaction in
the great reform movement, but a steady
progress. After the recess of four weeks
the Liberal party had more decisive
majority than ever before On the lst
inst, the second vote was taken upon
the first resolution alone, which des
clares that, ia the opinion of the
House the Irish Church should cease to
exist as an establishment, due regard
being had, however, for personal inter
ests and rights Of property and it was
adopted by three hundred and thirty in
favor to two hundred and sixty-live
against This makes a majority of sixty
five on the side of Mr. Gladstone, a gain
Of nine votes since the former trial.
Such a marked result could not be over
looked by Disraeli and he appealed to
the House for time to consider the sub
iect, for pause in legislation upon this
theme, to enable him and his colleagues
TO consult with reference to future ac-
tion on the Irish Church controversy.
At the meeting of the House on the 18th
inst Mr. Gladstone again opened the
subject by adverting to the rumor OF
dissolution of Parliament, and declared
that such a step would be unprecedented
when a ministry had been defeat
ed by sixty-fve majority He said it
was the duty of the Liberals to pass a
suspensory bill, thus clearing the way of
the new Parliament Mr. Bright fol-
lowed Mr.. Gladstone, and closed his
speech by remarking that an adverse
vote was no disgrace to ministry, but
to hold Office after such vote was. Mr.
Disraeli defended his course, and fixed
the 7th instant for continuation of the
debate on the Irish Church question
At that time, after some discussion and
the proposal Of various amendments,
nearly all of which were rejected, the
third resolution was adopted substan-
tally as follows
Resolved, That an address be presented
by the House TO Her Majesty, the Queen,
humbly praying that instead of preventing
legislation at this session, or creating new
personal interests through the use of the
public patronage, she would be graciously
pleased TO place at the disposal of Parlia-
ment, her interest in the temporalities Of
all the dignities and beneiices of the Church
Of Ireland.
Mr.. Gladstone gave notice that he
should introduce a suspensory act which
should, if passed, remain in force until
the st Of August, 1869. 1t is evidently
the intention Of Mr. Gladstone 10 drive
Disraeli TO the wall aad force resigna-
ton Of the Ministry lf such an event
happens, upon whose shoulders will the
mantle Of the Premiership fall ? Perhaps
upon those of the mover Of the Irish
Church resolutions lf this course is not
followed, the Queen may dissolve Parlia-
ment, and throw the question upon the
people for their decision But come what
may, the tide of reform has mounted SC
high on this Church question that it will
sweep away all the barriers that party
can erect, and compel Legislators to face
the people and their demands on this inn
portant issue.
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