New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-25
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
GREAT BRITAIN.
TIE IRISH LAND BILL.
tPROM orr OWN CORRESPONDENT.

| W,
that does not go beyond to-day; but it is after all
the view which nine ont Of every ten do take in
England. We must deal with things they are. A
majority in politics is superior to argument. Such o
majority as that of last night settles the Irish land
| question-for this year at least II allrms the prn
cple of Mr. Gadstones bill beyond all chance Of i'm.
portant modification. Mr.. Disrael undertook To say
that tho principle thus settled did not beyond an
admission of tho necessity for amending the Irish
| land law in some way. He knows better The thing
settled is the necessity of amending the Irish land
law in S1r. Gladstone's way. and not Mr. Disraelis
or anybOdys else. And it is impossible not 10 mo-
| tice, in dealing with matter so immeasurably
more important than party, how complete aud
| splendid is Mr.. Gladstones triumph as political
leader II was thought brilliant when he carried the
full strength of his party last year in support of tho
Irish Church bill This year. question incom-
parably more difficult, he has carried Liberals aud
| Tories together into the lobby with him. liz
majority was great that the diyiso lobby would
not hold it, but it swelled and overlooked into tie
| outer lobby-a fact perhaps without precedent in
party history. He who has done this is the man who
was long regarded as an impossible Prime Minister
| as lacking the tact and prudence indispensable to
the successful conduct of affairs 1t was believed ht
| could not keep his own party together dozen
members broke loose last night, but the Minister
|
or two of his opponents. Mr.. Disraei saw tit to say
of the bill that more complicated, more clumsy
or more Heterogeneous measure never yet brought
before the consideration Of Parliament. We're those
the qualities which compelled the party that h
| leads TO vote in body for the bill
But Mr. Disraeli was not without substitute. III
is always fertile in substitutes lie brought Iorwal'
| last night scheme of his own. Had he been firs'
| Minister instead Of Mr. Gladstone, this H. we NAV
presume the kind of bill he would have brought int
| Parliament instead OF that which Ar. Gladstone
| brought in. He introduced it with strong recon
mendation of his own as model OF simplicity ana
| brevty He would leave customs unegisiated upon
believing that the virtue of custom lies IN us nora
power. But-and this is the bill" if a man without
| a lease and who had paid his rent, were eSlcted.
why let his case go before the tribunal yon appoint
let the Judge investigate all the elements OF TIE
equity of the case; and let him come to a decision
which on one side shall guard the tenant from coef
| cion and on the other preserve the landlord from
fraudp One merit of his bill Mr. Dslacli omitted t.
mention. that Of novelty. To prescribe in an act oi
Parliament what sort of a decision Judge shai'
the way OF legislation. Mr. Benton once
complained that there was stninf
speech in the belly of certain bill
he did not like but l don't think even Mr.. Benton
antcipated the day when bill should lay down an az
vance the judgment OF court on state OF facts NAV
had not occurred. Il twas conception al genius 'e'y
possibly. or possessed. as Mr.. Gladstone i'adi! az
mitted one attribute of genius but twas blown away
with q single breath Suppose" said MI oIadotone,
"the landlord contracts with his tenant that lie shai
not upon eviction, go before judee--in that cas-
and subject 20 that single test what becomes of the
measure of the right honorable gentleman"
No doubt there is force in Mr. DisIaells objection
that this bill suspends the freedom Of contract ~
Ireland and that to suspend freedom Of contract by
act of legislation is to assume ncriority IN tho
| people or the condition of society for which such
legislation be said TO be necessary. Bat u Is only
doing Oh a large scale for Ireland what IL done on
! smaller scale for England aud for every CIVILIZED
country. The law. for instance, does not permit con
! tracts in restraint of trade, a. they are
! called. 10 does not permit certain cor.
| tracts 10 be made verbally; OF. Wat comes TO tDe
same thing it refuses to enforce them when somadr
| 1t will not enforce contracts which it deems nn
moral though they violate statute. IL j, bchoyoc
that legislation of that sor5 necessary. Atany rate
il is universal and its existence breaks th" force oi
the only important criticism Mr. DIsrJci had t0 Oder
| against the principle of the bill
| In crticismso of detail be aboundcl a~ u,.Il AMI
il is in such criticism that Mr. Dsmc shows most Cd
! his peculiar power. His talent Is always critical.
not constructive. Nothing could he more amusing
than the picture he drew of the probable working 81
he courts established by the bill and nothing couli
be further from the business of statesman discuss
ing great social problem than that Kind Of rdicuc
| However, Mr.. Disraelfs first principle j. that the
House must be- entertained. The processes OF "edu.
cation" he mostly conducts ont of doors.
A large part of M Gladstone, reply WAS taken mp
| with an argument on details into which | have no
space TO enter But hope yOu will reprint, rs aT
example of NJ. GldstOnes best manner, the pcfora-
ton of his speech. IL j. appeal to She member,
who moved and who inteuded 10 support the rejcc
ton of the bill. 1t not possible 10 hear it I'M
moved. 1t was not possible to read it mnoyed.
Mr.. Gladstonc's conscientious sincerity and earnest
ness, at which il is the fashion with some people L.
sneer give irresistible force 10 his oratorS on snch
an occasion. suppose ho would have preferred. IN
merely political view, that The division. IN which
he was sure of an almost unanimous support. should
take place But tho object of this appeal could not
be fully stated. Tho Irish members. many OF them,
| stand in singular position. They are under
! pledges 10 their constituents which Il
! il scarcely possible for them to carry ont
! by Parliamentary means. Some OF them are mem
bersof the National party, which believes IN noIusilce
for Ireland that Ireland does not award to herself
! They could scarcely be affected by the impressive
statement of Mr.. Gladstone that this bill offers To
the farmers and the coiters If Ireland privileges OF
! occupation such have never yer been enjoyed lh
two countries that admitted 10 be- as respects the
condition of the cultyators of the soil. at the very
| least among the foremost of the world" do not
question the sincerity of the minority when | SAY
! that they turned away from such an appeal-stll
lees can any ref cton be made those OF that small
band who, like the mover aud seconder. Mr.. Bryan
ard Capt White, are in no way connected with tho
national movement. ! still think they have made q
mistake in tactics and that no reason yet adduced