The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-07


account of the first scene in the recent strug-
gle in Parliament over the question CT reforms
for Ireland, the elimination OF which has since
reached us by cable kilograms:
The whole aspect Of politics has changed with
in a week-I might say in day, since 1t is the
Irish debate on Monday night which wrought
the transformation. Last week everything was
doubt and uncertainty. The Liberals scarcely
knew their own minds on Ireland, nor whether
they had leader. Inc Tories had leader,
| the two parties, each hesitated 10 begin open
bostilities. The step has been taken, the
| armed truce has broken into fagraEt war, anu
pitched battle is to be fought-probably
fought and decided before this can reach you
The Irish debate, which ended apparently IN
nothing, by the withdrawal OF the resolution OF
Mr. Mcguire, out of which it sprung, has cor
soldated tie Liberal party, and confirmed lIr.
Gadstone's leadership. Not since Lord Pal
merstop's death have the Liberals been so
united, go clear OF purpose, and so confident IN
their captain as to-day. They propose to move
Immediately upon the enemy's works. That
has come to pass which at the beginning Of the
session it Was universally agreed would not
come to pass. The Liberals have found them
selves stronger and their patience weaker than
they supposed, and the government policy
proves incredibly timid. DisraeG is too much
for Liberal patience to bear, and they will turn
him out if they can, and then deal with the
Irish question without waiting for the new
Parliament. ~
government unsatisfactory and announcing the
| liberal programme, including the abolition of
the Irish Church, will be moved within ten days.
If this is carried, the Government must dis
solre Parliament or must resign at any rate,
ANYBODY but Mr.. Disraell would feel bound to-.
What course he will take is beyond conjecture,
though dissolution is still regarded on botn
sides as most improbable, and will be resisted
bv Mr.. Disraeli's followers j. he attempts it.
Yet can it be supposed he will renounce any
means cf maintaining his hold upon the Office
which has been the ambition OF his hfe, and to
obtain which he has sacrificed everything that
to most men is dearer than onice!
Il is only fortnight since Mr. Souver!e, IN
replying to the opening speech Of the Premier,
described the Liberal party as rabble with
out a leader. When the hisn debate opened,
they retained party organization, but on the
three leading Ir1sh questions there was 10 CO
herence il the Libera. poi:cy. There was n
iacr, no one OF those questions on which you
could lie sure tEaI t.:e party you'd suc:ee! N
closing its ranks. At tEe most, they agreed IN
regarding the ministerial polcr as m:serar!v
insufficient tor the crisis. As tho debate went
on, the atmosphere cleared Up. 1t was found
that the proposition for Roman Catholic Uni
yersity, pure and simple, net with universal
derision on both sides of the House. On the
land question, wlile there was wide variety
in the suggestions of different speakers there
was genera! u;.animity IL condemning the
Government scheme as iiluso-y and made
ouate. But on the church al. went further,
and both conservative Liberals and the
Radicals, who agreed in nothing else, agreed
in this, that the church must be got nd OF.
Mir. Lowe was as emphatic cs Mr.. Mill, and
Mr.. Fortescue as ready to strike blow as Mr..
Bright. 1t was this conveyance OF IDEAS on
this point which led to the project, spoken OF
in my last letter as being contemplated, though
not resolved on, Cf forcing division on Alr.
Maguire's original resolution. That resolu-
ton was found 70 be so general in its terms rs
to be unsuitable for uniting the Liberal vote,
and it was known when the debate began on
Monday night that it would be withdrawn.
But it was not generally known what line Mr..
Gladstone had resolved to take. 1t is or
church questions especially that the Liberal
leader has advanced with the greatest circum-
spection. There was truth in Mr.. Disraehs
sarcasm, that his efforts for Irish Reform had
consisted largely in making speeches for the
perpetuation of the Irish Church.
When, therefore, Mr.. Gladstone rose at III
o'clock on Monday night, the cheers with which
he was greeted were demonstration OF en-
couragement as well es of the enthusiasm OF
his supporters. The house was crowded to ex-
cess. No doubt Mr.. Gladstone's Intimate
friends knew what he had resolved on, but the
bulk Of his supporters did not know whether
he stood ready to head an immediate movement
for the overthrow Of the irish Church. lie
exordlum gave them hope, for almost the open
ing sentence declared that crisis IN the his
tory OF Ireland had been reached, the gravity
Of which the government had failed to COM
prehepd. During the first hour OF his speech
he went with great mnuteness over the
smaller Irish questions. Mr. Disraeh's Cath
ole University was demolished. Then the
land was discussed. out discussed with
caution, and dropped without the distinct
enuncation OF anything that could be call
ed O policy based on tangible measure OF
relief. Even this caution and abstinence were
IN accordance with the general result Of the
previous three nights debate. Finally came
! Inc church, with regard TO which, said Mr..
Gladstone, he had witnessed with satisfac-
ton almost equalled BY h!s surprlse, tue ex
traordinary progress OF opinion that had taken
place both within and without the House.
Nowhere. ne might have added more extra
ordinary than in his own case. few SEN
fences removed all doubt cf his final decision,
and the enthusiasm CT the House broke out
every moment in cheers, which reached their
climax when their long hesitatins champion
| declared that the IisE Church as . State
Chach must cease TO exist. From that mo-
ment dates the reorganization, or rather the re-
generation. ofthe Liberal party. But Mr.. Glad
stone having made up his MUD, was iar from
proposing t. stop with mere announcement
Of his opinion, or with Z Theoretical dissent
from the do-notbing policy Of the Ministry.
His recommendation 20 Dir. Mcguire TO with
Graw his resolution was followed by the lorna!
declaration that tie statements OF tie Gorern-
ment we're to the Liberal side wholly unsatis-
factory, and that unless its bead had something
new 70 offer, thu Opposition would make pro
posal. and ask the opinion Of the House upon
the Irish Church question. There could not
be more distinct challenge, ard there could
not be heartier welcome than the Opposition
benches gave to this clarion ncte from their
leeder. The days OF great parliamentary con-
tests seemed to have come back.
Mr.. Di.raelis reply was insolent beyond
conception. The words Of it you can read ior
yourself in the printed report. The manner
of it is scarcely to be described In no other
man would the House have tolerated it. and it
went fer beyond the license in which even
Disraeli is usually INDUCED. There was no
paragraph that was not edged with a sarcasm
against MIR. Giadstone-few sentences that did
not overflow with contemptuous bitterness
| toward thc members Of either party who
could be suspected Of convictions. In Us way
nothing could be more brilliant; but what a
speech TO be delivered in Parliament! I have
Heard Disraeli often; never heard him ap-
proach his performance OF Monday. 1t was
surprise to men who have listened to him
for thirty years. / asked Liberal member
OF great emlnence whether the House
liked such exhibitions. Liked them - he
exclaimed s'if I had made such speech
snould have been blown OUT Of the House,
and deserved.y too" There was no lack
of readiness in Mr.. Disraeli to meet the
| issne so rnexpectediy presented to him. No