Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-05-18
BRITISH TOPICS.
England and the TunfsIan NegOtIa.
tIOns-GladstOne on the Land Bill
The Premier Forced to Take TO
His Bed.

LONDON, May 17-In the House of Com
urged the government to join Italy In pro-
testing against the outrageous attack of
France on Tunis.
Mr.. Gladstone said that when serious
charges are made against a power with
whom England has been closely allied for
over generation, justice, even decencY,
demanded that the House shall be in pos
session of authentic information before
any action is taken. The conduct of Her
Maiesty's Government, he said, could
not be judged until the papers which are
now preparing are presented. The most
important part thereof would, however, re-
late to the proceedings of the late govern
ment. He iutimated that this part would
relate to Lord Salisbury's conversations
with M. Waddington. If England was
called upon to take measures to assert her
own views relative to the Turkish Suzerain-
ty over Tunis she might be reminded of her
own proceedings relative to Algiers.
Mr.. Gladstone was somewhat indIsposed,
aud therefore opened last nights debate on
the land bill, instead OF speaking later. He
pointed out that charges of confiscation
had been levelled against slmost every bene-
fetal measure of the government. He did
not admit that the bill contained anything
approaching confiscation, and therefore
was not prepared to admit any plea for
compensation. He said he had never known
so large a measure debated for so long a
time with so few serious points
brought into the discussion. Relative
to the objection that the tenants only
are able to appeal to the court, Mr.. Glad
stone said the government was prepared to
consider IN committee any proposal to ex-
tend that right to the landlords 1t had no in
tention OF refusing reasonable amendments
In proportion to their anxiety to give peace
to Ireland. 1t would be their desire to receive
from every quarter Troposals that might
tend to improve the bill. The opposition
were PLAYING with edge tools in making the
State of Ireland the battle ground of the
party. If powerful combination succeeded
In overthrowing the bill and the govern
only have to pass larger bill. Mr.. Glad
stone argued that Lord Beaconsfield
would have acquiesced In the inevitable
change. He gratefully acknowledged the
spirit in which the bill had generally been
received IN Ireland. The government, he
said, could not assent to great changes Of
its form, as it brought in one bill and pass
ed another. The House of Lords might be
encouraged to reject the bill. The debate
wss again adjourned.
Michael Brennan, In speech at Ballyroan
on Sunday last, declared that year hence
any reformer ho proposed to compensate
the landlords would be laughed off the plat
form. He characterized the land bill as q
miserable measure, and advocated general
strike against all rents. He said the anti
slavery movement in America commenced
by offers Of compensation to the slave-own-
ers, but that slavery was washed away in
blood. The people should make it impossi-
BILE for landlords to collect rents.
Mr.. Gladstone is indisposed and confined
to his bed, but his illess is not serious.