Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-03-26
Debate in the British Parliament
Il Irish Reform.

LONDON, March 17th. the Com
mons last night, the debate on the
Irish reform was resumed in the Com
mittee OF the Whole. 4la
MIR. Gregory, member from Galway.
rose in support Of Mr.. Magnire's reso.
luton, and denounced the lonQ-oon-
tinued English misgovernment OF Ire.
land, OF this there seems to be no
end, for now, when the Irish people
asked for reform in the land and church
and in the educational systems. the
ministry evaded their den .nds, and
offered them other changes which theiy
did not want. He denied that there
were any persons among the Roman
Catholic clergy who favored the pres
ent system of national schools.
MIR. Gladstone, for the frat time in
this debate, gave his views on the
questions at issue. He said that Irish
tenants were wanting in enterprise
They have been encouraged by every
possible means to make improvements
on their farms. As to the church estab.
lishment it was the duty Of the minis
ters of the crown to mark out and sub.
NIT joint plan for the treatment of
that subject, aud meanwhile ParIia.
ment should lose. no time in doing so
itself in favor of religious equality in
Ireland. He entertained hopes that
the ministry have fully realized the
gravity OF the crisis. IL was vain TO
rely upon time as q cure for the evil.
Seven hundred years had thus been
wasted. The Irish inhabitants
OF Canada and Australia were
content and the great reason
for their content was that they possess
ed the fruits of their own labor. and
enjoyed civil and religious equality:
but in ireland the discomfort was wide
aud deep. The alleged material pros
perity OF ireland was proof of this, for
notwithstanding the improving condi.
tion OF the country, as described by
some of the gentlemen who preceded
him, no one seemed surprised that the
people OF Ireland should complain at
The same time of their misery. Tie
crisis was grave one, not only on ac.
count of the rapid depopulation Of
Ireland by emigration, but on account
OF the condition OF those who re.
manned in the country. 1t was the
imperative duty of the government to
give this question its early and earnest
attention.
Mr.. Gladstone then proceeded to re-
view oneby one the measures OF relief
which the ministry had proposed for
Ireland, The only one be approved
was that for political reform He said
that in 1645 the adoption OF bill for
the relief of Irish tenants was urgently
pressed by Sir Robert Peel, but with.
ous success, and all efforts made since
that time to carry similar measures had
failed. He deprecated an inquiry into
the Irish Church establishment. It
was well known that that system was
generally disliked. He ridiculed the
excuses for delay in this matter given
by the Government, and his speech
closed with an eloquent appeal to the
House to take immediate action.
MIR. Disraeli followed. He com.
menced by saying that he had reason
to deplore his fate in attaining to a.
fee when a crises Of 700 years standing
had to be settled, supernatural emer.
gencyl The ministry which preceded
that of Lord Derby had neglected
these wrongs Of ages. He went on to
combat the argument of Mr.. Gladstone
against five of the six measures EN-.
braced in the government plan for the
relief of Irish grievances. He denied
thatthe action of the Fenian organiza-
tion controlled events or affected the
plans Of the ministry. The Fenian
Outrages should prompt no measure
and hasten no policy. The members
of the House, he hoped, were
not alarmed by the speeches of
men, who, when in power,
did nothing but make speeches,
why should they unsettle system
which has been in operation 300 years,
under the influence Of q panic {? He
declared that II pressed 90 an issue
on that question the Government
would feel justified in making an appeal
to the country. There had already
been too many measures of violence,
too much confiscation of property 10
Ireland. No measure could be called
coneiliatory which outraged the rights
Of a million and q half Of men. Dis
raeli concluded by assuring the House
that the ministry we're disposed to con-
slider all questions which had arisen in