The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-14
TEE MINISTERIAL CRISIS IN
ENGLAND.
tasadstone's ntfon--H4cndfng
Measures OF his Govarnment-The
Irish University Bin why tho
Ministry was Defeated.
fAbridged from phllade,ph,a re,ear,nh.

Ministry was Defeated.
abridged from Philadelphia telegraph
AT banquet given to q leading politician
on the evening Of March 9TH Mr. Gladstone.
in the course Of speech, advcrtcd to the
Irish educational bill, and intimatcd that the
| Government would gladly accept al valuable
| amendments, and would even co.sseut to
| notifications which would not better the
! bill in order to avoid the adoption of any
worse measure. In concluding his remarks
unon this subject Mr.. Gladstone said:
"When the hour for the dissolution Of the
Ministry arrives we will be ready TO retire,
but we will not ucedlessly abandon our
posts"
On Tuesday evening, in very full House,
although about one-fourth of the members
were absent, the Irish education bill was
| brought to a vote, resulting in 2S4 for the
measure and 2ST against it-a majority Of
| only three against the Government. But
| Dir. Gladstone has chosen to regard this adj
verse vote as indicating that "the hour for
| the dissolution of the Ministry" has arrived,
| and has accordingly presented the resisna-
| ton of himself and his colleagues to the
Queen.
GLApsToSE's ACCESSION TO POWER.
On the e5th of February, 1868, the late
Earl Derby resigned the premiership into
the hands of Mr.. Disrael, who forthwith
devoted all his energies to the perfection of
the reform measures inaugurated under the
leadership of his predecessor, by which the
Conservatives hoped to satisfy the camors of
the people and maintain their hold on office.
Mr.. D,sracli's skilful strategy carried him
not until the Liberal leader, Air. Gladstone,
introduced, on March 80, 1868, a resolution
! declaring "that the Irish Church, rs an
establishment, should cease to exist" that
the Premier found his hold upon the
majority of fhe House Of Commons
weakening. Mr.. Gladstone's resolution
passed the Commons on the 30th of April
by the decided majority Of IS votes. As 1t
was evident tha. the House of Lords would
acquicsce in such radical measure only in
answer TO very strong pressure from the
House OF Commons, and Mr.. Gladstone de-
sired time to mature his plans and feel the
temper of the country, he did not urge the
immediate resignation Of the Disraeli minis
try, but contentcd himself with the passage
Of Il bill restraining the Ministry from making
any new appointments to fill vacancies. and
the building, rebuilding, or charging of any
church edihccs Or property in Ireland during
the year ending August /, 1860.
| Parliament was prorogned in Jul 81 and in
November following, general election for
members Of the House of Commons was
held. resulting, after a most exciting can
vass, in the return of a Liberal majority of
about l12. Mr.. Disraeli did not wait for the
opening Of Parliament, but resigned on De-
ccmbcr ,, 1865, and new Ministry was
formed on December 8, with MIR. Gladstone
as prellicr-a task Of extreme difficulty,
owing 10 the fact that Parliament was not in
session, and Mr.. Gladstone'S following was
made up Of several factions, the leaders of
which differed widely on many of the vital
questions which were to be agitated.
THE pIsEsrABLlsuMENT or THE IRISH CHURCH
was the first measure towards which Mr..
Gladstone turned his attention. A bill 10
this effect was introduced in the Commons
on March !, 1869, and passed 4 second read
ing, after Il long and excited debate, on the
oath OF the same month. hy 4 vote OF Sos to
$50, showing ministerial minority Of us.
When the measure reached the House Of
Lords it encountered bitter opposition and
| was very essentially modified us to its card-
nal principles Nearly MI the amendments,
however, were rejected by the Commons, to
the great Indignation of the upper house.
but a compromise was finally effected, and
The bill. only slightly modified, finally passed
both houses, and received the Queens assent
on the 26th Of July.
| FURTHER IRISH REFORM MEASURES.
During 1870 Mr.. Gladstone maintained his
position, although his large majority in the
Commons was weakened. The measures in
PRODUCED and pressed to 4 passage by him
during the year were numerous and i'm
portant, and bore principally upon the veXa-
tolls irish question. Among these were the
Irish peace preservation bill, Il very stringent
measure, and the Irish lana reform bill. which
was assaled is incomplete aud needlesSly
Objectionable. They were not passed with.
out undergoing material amendments, which
in some cases effected considerable changes
in their character, but they were finally
passed by i large majority in the House OF
Commons and a small majority in the House
of Lords.
Other important measures Of the Gladstone
ministry were the act for the promotion OF
elementary education, passed in 1870; the
settlement of the Alabama question (Which
was bitterly assailed by the opposition); the
abolition of the purchase system i'll the army
effected by Royal warrant; and new and
improved system Of elections.
Meanwhile the Ministry has had on its
hands several vexatious foreign issues. The
refusal Of France in 1871 to renew the COM
mercial treaty between the two Governments
presented a difficulty which was only re-
Gently bridged over, and the course Of Rus
r STA in Central Asia has led to complications
which are still unsettled. The policy pur.
sued by the Government in both these cases
has afforded fitting commentary upon the
great falling of in the foreign influence OF
Great Britain. for which the Gladstone Coy.
ernmcnt has been held by its ANTAGONISTS Is
ia great measure responsible.
THE IRISH UNIVERSITY BILL,
+ upon which the Gladstone ministry has
finally sustained defeat, was intended to
remedy one of the most srieyous evils which
is still inflicted upon Ireland, and the Min.
istry were determined to press it through
Parliament if possible. 1t had special refer.
ence to Trinity College, Dublin, and by the
tenth section it was forbidden TO impose
on any person for any purpose any religious
test or qualification, and to make the taking
of orders condition of holding any emolu.
mcnt." The eleventh section provided that
ION and after the first day Of January, 1875,
the Council shalt have power to question,
reprimand, or punish by suspension, deprl-
yation, or otherwise, any professor, teacher,
EXAMINER, or other person having authority
in the university, who, when in dis
charge Of his functions as university officer,
may, by word of mouth, writing, or other
wise, be held by them to have wiifully given
offence to the religious convictions Of any
member of the university" This was the
most Objectionable clause in the measure,
and the one which has led to the fierce strug-
gle resulting in Mr.. Gmdstone's defeat. The
bill encountered the opposition even OF the