The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-03-17
Entered at the Post-Office at Richmond, Va, as
second-class matter.
CoRREsPoNDENC
Letter from Ireland.

MARCH ISt, lOSO.
MeSSrS. Editors, The political outlook
is uncertain. The obstruction of the Home
Rulers in Parliament is becoming intoler-
able, and some measures should be adopted
to preventa small faction from interfering
with public business. The Speaker is not
firm enough, and the Chancellor of the
Exchequer is too mild also The tactics
of obstruction were not begun until Dis
raeli was elevated to the Peerage. This
is the seventh session of this Parliament,
a most unusual thing in Parliamentary
history. Seldom has any Parliament gone
beyond sixth session. A dissolution is
talked Of, and it may occur at any time
The Government is more hopeful of
majority than at any time during the past
two years, and nothing delayed an appeal
to the country but the fear of defeat
The Chief Secretary for Ireland, Mr.
Lowther, has just expressed himself very
strongly and decidedly against any inter
ference with the Irish land question.
This is the great grievance of Ireland, and
very severe one too. The tenant must
pay an exhorbitant rent to landlord who
has not seen his estate perhaps more than
once or twice in his life, and who can
therefore know nothing of the hardships
and privations of his. tenants. And if
unable to pay, he must be turned out of
his home without anything to begin life
anew with, or without sufficient means to
take him where he could secure to him
self the fruit of his own industry. Itwa
expected that the present distress would
open the eyes of the Government to the
necessity Of doing something for the ten
ant farmers of Ireland and the farmers
= of the north have abstained from any agi-
tation in reference to their grievances.
but the speech of the Chief Secretary has
destroyed their expectations, and it is
very probable that they will show their
colors and their independence too at the
general election which may occur at any
time-which must be during the present
year.
Catholicintegrity, whatever that means,
is sought for by a number of the Ritual
lists, and to secure it they have overturned
the Propaganda Eide They have stated
certain conditions, but it is exceedingly
improbable that the Pope will take sin
gle advance step to meet their yearnings
They must submit fully and without any
conditions, or remain spurious Roman
lists In the Anglican communion aOithom
ordination. Some Ritualists have no
yearning for Catholic integrity. Arch
deacon Denison, described by his broth
er, late Speaker of the House of Com
mons, as George and the Dragon, hates
the Pope as heartily as the most thorough
Evangelical. So do those who accent
him as their leader Thus there are two
parties amongst the Anglican Ritualists
-one yearning for ordination and Cath
ollc integrity and the other repudiatinp
the Pope and all his belongings. And
yet the influence Of both is identical and
leads logically and inevitably to Rome.
The late Professor Smyth of Magee
College, LondoNlerry was a member of
Parliament. He was the first Presbyte-
rian clergyman that ever had seat in
st. Stephens, and did credit to himself
to his country and his Church. Death
arrested him in the midst of his fame and
usefulness, and the Irish Presbyterian
Church mourned over his bier. 1t is
probable the Rev. Isaac Nelson of Bel
fast, will be elected by a southern con
stituency at the approaching general
election as a Home Ruler. Mr.. Nelson
has identified himself with the party, and
Romanists court his influence and advo-
caoy. Mr. Nelson is an able and a
learned man, but has been for years an
Ishmaelite in reference to his brethren.
1t is limited in the papers that if elected
to the House Of Commons, he will secede
from the Presbyterian Church. He is
advanced in years, being on the thresh-
hold Of seventy, if not beyond He is an
old bachelor, and therefore has angulari-
ties If not eccentricites. Tn the pulpit.
ne IS a man Of massive assertion and i'm
perious bearing
The distress in Ireland Of which you