Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-06-08
CHURCH AND STATE IN ENGLAND.

The situation In England Is peculiar and de-
serving Of special attention. For the first time
since the earlier years of George the Third, the
Ministry. in spite of a series Of the most damag-
ing defeats, continues TO hold the reins of gov
eminent. Nothing Of a precisely similar kind
has ever been witnessed in the entire history of
Parliamentary government in England. II has
been the custom in THAI country since the gov.
eminent began to be conducted by responsible
ministers, for the chief Of the Cabinet, so soon
as il became manifest that on any leading
question he was in a hopeless minorlty, 10 see
his Sovereign and give place to the leader of
the opposition. II has not only been the Gus
tom, but it has been point Of honor which no
leading stateman up to the present time has
ever violated. Pitt, Wellington, Melbourne,
Russell, Peel, Palmerston, Derby, each in his
day by voluntary resignation recognized the
principle that the majority. not the minority,
should rule the country. II was reserved for
MT. Disraeli TO ignore this ancient custom
He threatens that in the event of a
vote Of want of confidence being pass
ed he will appeal to the country This is
the whip which be holds over the mem bers of
the House Of Commons. A general election
would not establish him In his position: but j I
would prove both an annoyance and an ex-
pense 10 every member of the House. Its
bills similar TO that which has been passed for
England shall have been passed for Scotland
and Ireland, Parliament shall be dissolved and
an appeal made to the new constituencies. The
Scotch and Irish bills have not yet passed into
law, consequently a dissolution of Parliament
and an appeal TO the constituencies now would
not obylate the necessity of another dissolution
and another appeal to the constituencies early
IN 1863. A compromise, therefore, is the result
blr. Gladstone permits Mr.. Disraeh to hold
once, and Mr.. Disraeli does not object that Mr.
Gladstone should lead the House of Com mons
and legislaie at will. Such is the situation and
such are the reasons why Mr.. Disraeli, in
spite of the adverse vote of Friday evening.
continues to be Prime Minister of England
That vote was referred to in our cable tele-
grams Of Saturday The Protestant Estab-
llShed Church Appointments Suspensory bill
was read and passed in committee. II is the
object Of the bill to prevent all further ap-
pontments to existing or possible vacancies in
the Irish Church Establishment until the fate
of such Establishment be fully determined by
act of Parliament. 1t so happens that In Ire
land there two other bodies besides the
Church established by law which receive State
aid. These are the Presbyterans and the Ro-
man Catholics. The Presbyterians have en-
joyed since the time of William Ill special
gift from the Crown, hence called Regium
DORun- The grant is not large-has never,
in fact exceeded seventy pounds to each
n mister, and, of course, has done little
more than barely keep Presbyterianism alive
The Roman Catholics have since 1915, received
an annual graft Of thirty thousand pounds,
generally called the Maynooth grant. 1t was
moved as an amendment on Friday night, in
the course of the debate on the Irish Church.
that similar suspensory bill b. passed in
regard TO the RegiUm DoREm appointments, and
also in regard to Maynooth College The
amendment was negatived and the original
motion carried by large majority, amid the
ringing cheers of the Gladstone liberals The
suspensory bill now awaits the decision of the
Lords. Such is the state of things up TO the
date Of our latest news, which leads thin king
men irresistibly to the conclusion that the Irish
Church movement Is but the entering wedge
which Will ultimately break mp the Church
Eetablishmen system IN Great Britain.