The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-06-30
Debate On Irish Reform Ia the House Of
Lords.


In the House Of Lords, on the 25th. o great
crowd was present, as an excitihg debate on the
ilsh Church question was expected.
Many members Of the House were on the h,or,
nd the galleries were packed. Crest interest,
-lmost approaching feverish excitement was
manifested throughout the proceedings.
Lord Granville moved the second readiug OF the
Irish Church appointments suspension bill. He
aid Fenisnism had been received with approval
and acquiesceDce by the middle and lower classes
n Ireland. The discomfort in the country was
general. Firmness aud decision were necessary
10 pot down seditious movements. but long before
his bill was proposed Mr.. Glad tone bad declared
A himself and others that the Irish question must
ne met. even " IL cost the wings their ofhces.
The bill passed the House of Commons by an
enormous majority. II q similar suspensory law
vas proper in Jamaica, IL was still more proper
IN Ireland, where the Angelicsns numbered less
than seven hundred thousand while the Roman
Catholics numbered 500 900, aud there was but
one diocese In which the sngelcans exceeded 10
number ore.fourth OF the population. Thus the
hsh Church was failure q missionary estab.
lishment II was remnant OF old conflicts. To
call its disestsblishment sscrilege was absurd,
g. lis revenues bad belonged successfully to sew
Mr.. wbstley had argued that IL was the duty Of
the State to take possession Of all benefzctions
which old not fuldll their object Other authori-
ties took the came view. The Church Of England
would gain by this measure. The Irish we're not
Indifferent TO the reforms Of 1866. yet riots aud
other demonstrations obliged the Tories TO pass
the reform bill
had contented the Csnadas the condition of Ire.
lsDd was painful 20 contemplate. and while the
writ OF hQbeds corpus remained suspended, the
government did not dare to furnish arms 20 It's
volunteers there, and sooner or later the church
must separate from the State.
Lord Palmerston said Englishmen will never
concede until concession becomes surrender.
Why should not this bill be passed, II was use
full, practical and its passage would prove that
parliament was ready TO treat the Irish case
justly. mo
Lord Grey moved the next reading of the bin
be postponed six months. de had always con-
sidered the Irish Church establishment As an out
rage, but he considered the present measure i'll
timed and inadequate and indefinite.
Lord Malmsbury complained Of the way in
which the measure had been sprung and urged
upon parliament. He quoted from the last year's
speeches OF Gladstone, which, be said, gave the
government reason TO expect that the contest
would not be brought on at SO early day, and it
was unjust to the government TO press it, The
government, however, was anxious 70 reform the
Irish Church, but this bill precuded any action on
ps part.
had been given as to the application of the spoils
of the establishment. The only, excuse for the
bill was that IL was intended 70 pscify ireland;
but such result was improbable. The destruc-
ton Of the IRISH Church would tend to sever the
Lord Clsrendo thought Lord Malmesbury was
inconsistent sn opposing this bul. Two years
ago be denounced the IRISH Establishment as the
church OF the few, and proposed TO DIVIDE its funds
among all the different sects.
Lord Clarendon continued by declaring that the
Irish Church bad failed 10 carry out its objects,
and its existence was injury 70 England through
out the world. He feared the rejection of the bill
by the lords. and deplored the eject such action
would have on Ireland.
The archbishop Of Canterbury opposed the bin
because he believed its purpose was not the re-
dress Of grievances. but the rapture OF union.
Lord Derby said that If the lords we're ready to
disregard and sacrifice all Protestant interests at
the bidding of q would be-minister aud OF the ma
jority of an expiring house, he would only protest
against the measure as an act Of spolistion. He
had always supported the paplsts 10 their strug-
giles to gain their rights, but he would not suffer
aggression; the bill would only foster discord in
Ireland. He protested against this attack on the
rights Of property which hereafter would be ex-
tended to England. BE said he knew his course
was unpopular, but he would never seek popu ar
ity for its own sake only.
Lord Kimberly said this was the first step which
had been taken 10 pacify Ireland. He deprecated
some illusions which had been made 10 the oath
taken by the queen her accession 70 the throne.
Der majesty acted on the advice of her ministers.
The argument concerning the violation Of the
rights of property would be found TO cut both
ways. The Catholics had never recognized the
transfer of their church property in ancient times
10 the AnRlicans. aGT
The bishop of London said be was willing TO
make concessions TO conciliate Ireland, but this
bill would not effect such concation. He did not
b lisve the people of Ireland desired the change
winch il contemplated.