New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-04-05
THE IRISH CHURCH.
THE DEBATE AND THE SPEECHES.
IRON OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

ana ended last night, was OF the most lively ana III
teresting description 1t is true enough that every
thing had long before been said which be said in
the way of argument of material facts Neverthe-
less, the speeches Of Mr. Gladstone Mr.. Disrael Mr.
Lowe, and, above ALL of Mr.. Bright abounded in in
genious and striking illustrations The very fact
that they had to discuss threadbare subject, made
the display Of oratorical ability the impressive
A man who succeeds in saying new thing or good
| thing about the weather, must have extraordinary
powers as q conversational. The Irish Church Is TO
politics what tho weather is to society. The debate
might have been expected to deserve Caryles satlr-
cal account of the abors of editorial writers, as the
thrashing of cha over and over again. But there
no known limits to the flights of Mr. Disraels fancy
especially in dealing with historical subject His
speech was brilliant and amusing as speech but as
declaration of policy, or great question: by the
head of what is still great party with intense
| convictions, it was utter failure The
truth is, now as formerly, Mr.. Disraeli cannot
| quite sufficiently disguise his contempt for the
great bulk of his followers. The extreme l0oseness
with which he clings to his opinions gives tone OF
hollowness to his most defiant assertion. He likes to
play with the preudices Of the Tories, to startle
their dull intelligence with what seems like q renun
citation of some cherished party tenet, which he
finally comes back to by route circuitous that he
leaves the minds of his audience halfway behind
He has amused himself so often in this way that the
men who still recognize him their only pos
sible leader are half irrtated and alienated.
1t was very noticeable that when Mr.. Disraeli
entered on Thursday evening, in crowded
House, to move the rejection Of Mr.. Glad
stones BILL he was suffered to pass to his
seat without q single cheer. When he had
made his speech and sat down, there was
general feeling that he had damaged his cause more
than he had helped it, and this in spite of the great
interest he had contriyed to excite throughout
almost every part of his long address. The great
journal which last year not ashamed to lavish
base batteries on tho leader who was demoralzng
English politics. says that "iiimslness relieved
with spangles, the definition OF Coumbines skirt,
is a too apt description of Mr. Disraells speech III
docs not deserve so contemptuous a criticism. IL
abounds IN rhetorical effects Of very high
order and its shortcomings arc not rhe-
torical at all, but political. From tho House Of
Commons point of view it open TO criticism be-
cause of its tendency TO generalization. The already
famous passage in which he describes religion as be-
ginning where philosophy meets the insolube excited
somo merriment, and on the part of tho Tories no
little wonder what their champion could DO driving
Mr.. Lowe who spoke on Monday night was in his
most remorseless mood. Ho spared nobody. Mr..
Dsraoli he could scarcely be expected to spare. as
there is standing quarrel between them and II might
be found that there was balance Of spicy adectiyes
in Mr.. Disraeli's favor. Mr. Lowe cleverly compll-
mented his old opponent in his graceful and proper
recommendation that so grave n subject should be
discussed in spirit of selfcontrol and mutual for
bearance rcmarking however that the force OF that
admoniton was q little spoilt by accusing 80 the
very innocent gentlemen on this side OF
the House. Of confscation, plumber, robbery,
and sacrilegious spoiation. IL gentlemen
come here merely TO get tho cheers OF their own
party they cannot do better said Mr.. Lowe than
such language though 1t can no purpose except
10 enyenom a discussion that ought 10 be calm and
statesmanlke. There is kind of superstition ncul
Gated in America by some imported writer's on En-
gsh affairs that personalities seldom employed in
the House Of Commons To anybody who cherishos
such notion recommend the reading OF this, or OF
almost any other speech of Mr.. Lowe. lie described
Mr.. Disraelps speech so vague that 1t might Just
M well have been made any other subject; Affirm
ing that in the whole of 1t no said single thing
except two viz: that the Irish Church was Church
connected with the State, land the other that 1t
was corporation" and that not correct" For
an important constitutional question that was
hungry and jejune method Of treatment thought Mr.
Lowe. He made great fun Of the insolube' point
as the basis OH withholding the starting poing OF
religion-Mr. Dsrae had built the foundations oil
the Church he was defending Then Mr.. Lowe sur
prised the House by saying that In place OF oharac-
terzino te Irish Church for himself he would adopt
tbe description OF n preate Of the English Church
last wear i'm the House Of Lords who declared that
had been the worst and meanest instrument OF
English misrule.7 The Tories, astounded and in
credulous. cried out Name" "Tbe name is the
Bishop OF Oxford" gleefully responded Mr.. Lowe,
aud the hit was tremendous one. Almost equally
good was his refutation OF Mr.. Dsraefs argument
Tor fl.al nat
that theory Mr.. Lowe said he would produce the
great authority Of a very eminent lawyer that the
State was not trustee for the Church but the
Church digntarios were trustees for clergy and
aity alike The authority for that turned out to be
no less a person than the Tory leader in the Lords
! Lord Cairns and the House was immensely amused
| at finding Mr. Disraoli's law upset by one OF his
| own colleagues, undoubtedly the ablest lawyer on
! the Tory side.
sides Sir Rounded Pamer's speech was looked for
ward TO as the most important Of the debate because
although Liberal, and a strong personal friend Of
Mr. Gladstone, he had refused TO take office In min
stry formed to disestablish the Irish Church Could
| ho have overcome his scruples he would have been
Lord Chancellor, and the House felt that much was
! TO be expected from lawyer admitted TO DO tho
most eminent in England, yet too conscientious to
accept the most splendid prize of bis profession Bnt
the impression made by the speech ms argument
against disestabishment not great. Its ability
all conceded butall wondered that arguments which
the good sense ofmen mach inferior TO Sir Rounded
Palmer had long since disposed of should continue
10 control his iudment. The truth is-although
do not wish TO use an offensive word-there is some
thing of the bigot in Sir RoundelPs attachment to
the Church. On all other subjects he is liberal and
| open-minded, but touch the Church and his mind