The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-06-19
f UR oPE.
GREAT BRITAIN.

LONDON, June 18.-The press this morning
infers from the tone of the debate in the House
of Lords, that the passage Of the Irish Church
bin 10 certain.
The Times says the establishment is fore
doomed; the extent and mode of proceeding
remains to be settled. Notifications of the
bill are now admissible.
The excitement over the debate in the House
of Lords on the Irish Church bill increases
The benches, Hobbies and galleries of the House
were crowded again tonight
Earl Russell was the first speaker. He said
many lllustrious statesmen, animated by feel.
ings OF justice and generosity for Ireland, had
endeav0red to settle the church question, put
their efforts were made in vain The facs tnat
small proportion of the people of Ireland De-
longed to the church, establishes the lussiec as
well as the necessity of dealing win tne ques-
ton. The creation of the Irish Onurcn IN the
beginning was wise thing, Dus tue result OF
three centuries made an aiterauon necessary.
The act of Union was too solemn compact to
be interfered with save in great crisis; but
now a great crisis was at hand He reviewed
the former promises OF concession which Mr..
Pitt, If he had had the opportunity, would
have accomplished. He also traced the histo-
ry of abolition OF prelacy in Scotland, but said
Ireland had never been in position to initiate
Scotiand she had been oppressed by penal
laws and disabilities notwithstanding promises
OF relief He believed that concurrent endow-
ment was preferable to the present measure,
wv VIC CatHotlcs FeIus6u 10 uccepb IL. he 0eiu
that the tories were responsible for the present
state Of ireland. They had rejected the policy
OF Pitt, Canning and Peel and now, as an al
Tentative, they proposed to accept Pitts policy,
but he regretted to say that it was now too
late. They had no choice now but to disestab-
lish and disendow; the disendowments need
not be total. He was inclined to the generous
course which Mr.. Bright originally advocated
especially as the Catholics and Presbyterians
were to be compensated from the church reve-
nues. He wished to do the best he could for
Ireland, but not to endanger the churches of
England and Scotland; admitting this course
to be necessary for Ireland, we must now give
stimulus to those desiring to disestablish the
church. He desired the tories to accept the
verdict OF the constituencies to which they
had appealed, and said the result Of that APP
peal must be regarded as deliberate verdict
Of the nation on the question. Adyerting to
the course Of the House OF Lords on the reform
bill in 1882, Earl Russell implored their Lord
ships to accord with the spirit Of the con-
stitution, and accept the decision of the nat.sn
as final and binding.
The Duke of Abercorn opposed the bill as
the production Of man eager for personal and
party triumph, rather than for the good of his
country. The result would be the alienation
of Protestants, the introduction of discord and
failure to conciliate the Catholics
The Duke of Argyle arlued that disestab-
lishment and disendowment could not be sep
arated. He admitted that the question was
forced into consideration hastily, not by pro-
tracted agitation, but the result of political
freedom. He thought the measure was an at
tack on the rights Of property, and disiiked in
discriminate endowment, but the ecclesiasti-
cal system in Ireland which endowed Protest
ant sects and the Maynooth College was value
less to the church and had never promoted the
cause of professionalism. He urged their Lord
ships to consider carefully all the circumstances
and endeav0r to be in harmony with the ma
tion, andadeclared that the present movement
was dictated by desire to erase the foulest
stain on England's rule over ireland.
The Bishop of Litchfield said the diseadow-
ment was unfair and unjust, as the churches
nave discharged their duties in maintaining
frotestantism, religions freedom and liberty
of conscience.
Lord Westbury regarded the bill as full Of
evil and as the effect of mistaken policy,
which was likely to produce dangerous results.
Still he felt bound to vote for its passage in an
amended form, but If amendments were not
accepted be must insist on the rejection of the
bill. 1t was the constitutional duty OF the
House to bow to the expressed will of the PEG :
pie and to respect any policy coming from
them, but they should not pass bill full Of
evil and mischief The House was bound to
see that the will of the people is really and de-
hberately expressed. On any other principle
the House would become an hereditary oil
garchy, which was entirely out of place in the
British Government. The coronation oath
~S~-<t'~->e
the people, from which Parliament repre-
senting the people can release the Grown, and
does SO in every question to the House Of
Lords, which is inconsistent with the terms Of
the coronation, The oath of union is SINH
lar compact, which Parliament has full. power
to abrogate. Bafe
FRANCE. ~
BREsT, June 18.-Tho shore end of the
French cable has been submerged. The Great
Eastern has not yet come in sight When she
arrives asplice win be made with the deep ses
cable and the work of laying the line direct t.
the island Of St. Pierre Miqueton will com
mence..
SPAIN.
MADRID, june ia proposition is under
consideration in the Cortes for a reduction O
33per cent from the coupons of the public
rentes when presented for payment.
DENMARK.
CoPENHAGEN, June 18.-A meeting of the
National Rifiemens Association was held here
yesterday. The King visited the meeting and
addressed the ridemen. In the course Of his
speech he expressed his heartfelt and confident
hope for reunion with those who were long
ing to be restored to their mother country.