New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-20

1OND ENDURANCE THE IRISH COMMITTEE
FROM OUR OwS CORRESPONDENT
LONDON, March 3-WheTc will Nh. Gladstone
stopH How many more such weeks as the last two,
how many moro blunders, how many moro on
slaUghts on his own supporters, how many more
public declarations Of his own indifference to the
wishes OF his own party, can Mr. Gladstones Minis
Try suryiyel Those who knew best the divisions in
the Liberal ranks, and who predicted in advance
that dissensions must show themselves when the
seSsi commenced did not and could not anticipate
the reckless management which has already brought
the Government and the Liberal party 80 near
crisis. I know that a Conservative leader
who sits on the front bench has openly
ayOwed his expectation that this Ministry will
he out Of office in five weeks. He is over
sanguine, il he counts merely on a continuance OF
the policy, amazing as it is which Mr. Gladstone Is
now pursuing. What is more striking is the Ian
grage Of Mr. GladstOne'5 own friends. Ono Of the
men who knows The House Of Commons thoroughly
well. and who holds high Official position. said on
Thursday, after The conclusion Of Mr.. GladsYones
speech on the Irish Secret Committee, that never In
his Parliamentary experience had he seen such lead
orship Of party as Mr.. Gadsione's during this
sion. And now, Oh the Irish Secret Committee, it
has outrJm all lengths.
broke of my letter Of last Saturday saying that
would express no opinion on Lord Hartng5On's pro-
posal for q Secret Committee on Westmeath till tho
thing had been debated. Before Monday evening
came, protests against the scheme had made them
selves everywhere heard in the press, in private fe
in the inneImost Of those mysterious circles which
surround a Prime Minister, and sometimes convey
TO him, and sometimes keep from him tho opinion OF
the outside world. In the House. and on
both sides Of tho House, the same feeling
was equally unmistakable and equally strong. 1t
was apparent from Lord Har,ingtgns own speech
that he was doing reluctantly act that had
been imposed upon him. against his own Judgment
by superior authority The gossps OF the Hobbies did
not hesitate to say that there had been serious
division in the Cabinet and that Mr.. Gladstones col
leagues had yielded only tohispersonald determination
that a measure once announced should be carried
through az I'll hazards. II need hardly attempt" said
Lord Hart lgon 80 describe the feelings Of painful
dismay with which undertake the task now before
me" OminOus exOrdum for the speech Of Cabi-
net Minister! The impression it made upon House
already acquainted with the doubts Of the Cabinet
was not removed by the labOred exposition that fol-
lowed Il must be said for Lord Hartiagion That
having taken brief in a cause against his own
Judgment. he did his best TO make out a case. Ad-
uniting that the general condition Of Ireland had
improved, lie insisted that Westmeath was an ex-
ception: that it was a center and hOtbed Of Riband
ism that landlords could exercise no right Of prop
crty that employers dare not discharge a workman.
that the law rs il stood had proved wholly INSULT
cent to deal with organized terrorism, and that the
Government, wishing extraordinary powers to re-
press these disorders had resolved TO base their de-
1nand upon evidence TO be obtained by Committee.
The original motion contemplated that the Com
Inittee should also indicate a remedy, but tho Gov
ornmert nowpror1sed 70 DO that for themselyos Hc
abandoned also TO a great extent, the point most
criticised, that the Committee should be secret and
explained that the sessions were Only to be secret
when occasions should arise to Justly the Committee
in sending down to the House for leave to SIT with
closed doors.
Mr. Disraeh rose at once TO reply, remarkng as DO
got on his legs that he quite s1npathzed with tho
feeling Of dismay expressed by the noble lord which
be thought most natural, aud sentiment that did
him great honor IN speech Of less than half an
hour he contIived 10 launch about one sarcasm a
minute at the Government, and above all at lr.
Gladstone in a tone Of contemptuous indifference
that was scarcely simulated, 60 complete was the
GREAT Tory leaders sense Of the blunders his op-
ponents were making What must be the effect of
an announcement one week that the condition OF
Ireland demands o secret inquiry, and deolara-
ton the next that the element Of secrecy is no longer
to he insisted onf Then what is tho Committee TO
do9 he asked and his way Of answering is 50 char
acteristic that give the passage as reported:
What is the Committee 20 dol Observe the description
evils but these spreading cvilsobserve the description
gwen Of It by the Minister. He tells us IL Is intOeTabc
I"Hcar, hear! lie tells us The state OF Ireland - III
T. cradle lcries Of mo, 10" from the Ministerial
bencne that TIE state Of great portion Of Ireland is
intOerabc, and therefore VIII want inquiry renewed
crles OF "Nc no"l Well that the state ot coulty IN
erial side II it reduced 10 that Is county In state
20 intOcrale that you must come To the Senate 70 ask
for commute 70 ,a ahIIe mo ~ C1 yo
OF Commons and asking II to appoint secret committee
10 Oegise means to govern county kenewed cheers
and ladghter.l
A Government as strong as the present ought to
accept the responsibilities, and not try 10 shelter
themselves behind committee. This Ministry had
devoted itself TO the Irish question; had come into
Office TO pacify Ireland had immense majority,
had wrought its own will. Under Mr. GladstOne's
influence, exclaimed Mr. Disraeli, have legalized
confscaton; we have cOnsecTated sacrilege We
have cOndoned treason; have destroyed churches;
we have shaken property to its foundation, and we
have emptied jas and now he cannot govern a
county, and he must come to Parliamentary Com
mittee. The hit was papable The House cheered
heartily, and the Liberals did not care to answer
with counter cheers.
Mr. Gladstone, still bleeding with the wounds OF
last Friday, postponed his reply. Other members
continued the debate, which was ADJOURNED, anu
which everybody expected, and Mr.. Gladstone ex-
prcssly said would be resumed and concluded on the
following night. But on the following night Mr.
Gladstone had not made up his mind what 10 do
So instead of the ooked-for discussion on the Irish
Committee, the House and the galleries of eager
strangers were treated to debate on agricultural
taxation and other like exciting matters On
Thursday Col. Wilson-Patten, a Conservative OF
b;,b character and great moderation, appealed Ia
the Government 10 withdraw the motion for a Com
mittee. His appeal was an expression of the wishes
of nearly all M Gladstone's supporters, and | ain