Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-21
ENGLAND.
Discussion Of the Irish Church CUES
tIOn i'm Parliament.

Discussion Of the Irish Church CUES
tIOn i'm Parliament.
LONDON, March 20-Mr Gladstone s
bill to disestablish the Church of Ireland
came up again in the House last evening,
and was debated at great length.
Sir JnO Girley, Liberal member from
Kilkenney, regarded the established
Church in ireland as badge of con,
quest, and asserted it must be abolished.
Hon. Edward NEAL, (LiberaD from
Bradford, also supported the bill in a
speech of considerable length, and was
followed by the Right Hon. Stafford in
opposition.
Hon. John Bright then delivered a
long and able speech in favor Of the
measure. The Established Church of
England had the assent Of a large
majority of the people of England,
but the question was whether that
church was good also for the
people OF Ireland. The opponents
OF this bill had utterly failed to prove
that the opinion of the civilized world
was hostile TO this measure, as had been
stated. He reviewed the opinions Of
statesmen on the question, and quoted
Lord SANKEY'S remark, that Ireland was
the question Of the hour. He referred
TO the conduct of Lord Mayo while Lord
Lieutenant of ireland, aud the 0, nion
OF other tories TO show that that
party had no policy on the Irish
question. The bill now before
the House, he continued, was acceptable
to the mass Of the people OF Ireland,
Catholics or Protestants as well, and was
almost universally approved by the peo-
pie Of England. As had been before
stated here, the established church in
ireland was badge of conquest. Con-
seTvatives of the future would view the
attitude Of the present Conservatives on
these questions with greats urprise.
He quoted Cavanaugh's work on ireland,
where that author shows that the estab>
lished church promotes disafection and
animOsities in that country and canses
the peasantry to be in worse condition
than slaves Of the Antilles and that the
Irish were continually protesting against
it. The speaker then cOntrasted
the position Of the church in Eng
land. England'S liberties were not
secured by the churches but by the
Puritans and nonrconformiSts. Nations
never forget their religious grievances
until the cause is removed Protestant
ism was only a fire that was destroying
every thing that is good and noble in
Ireland, resulting in the absolute disap.
pearnce Of peace and loyalty. The
lrishmen who had emigrated to the
United States and Australia were
watching anxiously the result OF the
great question. The entire Fenian pro-
iect was fed and kept alive by the SYM
psthy Of Americans, under the idea that
England never did justice to Ireland
There were 10 bitterer foes to England
IN the United States than ITishmen. The
House was now asked TO do justice to
Ireland not for fear of foreign enemies,
but for the sake OF internal peace
and tranquility. He contemplated the
voluntary system prevailing in Scot
land, and anticipated the best re.
suits to posterity for Ireland ii this bill
becomes a law MIR Bright concluded
bysaving this measure would have the APP
proVal of the Supreme Being, for it was
founded On principles of mercy and
Justice. the attributes Of his glorious
reign