Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-30

AT last light is breaking for ireland. The
Conservatives are pressing MIR. Smiths mo-
lion, AMI Mr. Gladstone has welcomed it as
a move in the right direction, and in his
usual manly way, admits thai there is
mnch that is good in the 81. and law of Ire
land-act amendment bill, /" as drafted by Mr..
PArnell and Mr. Healy. Mr.. Smiths m otion
reads: "That, in the opinion of this House,
further legislation ia imperatively required
to provide increased facilities TO enable ten
ants to acquire the freehold Of their land in
their occupation on just and reasonable
terms" That Is to say, that, instead Of the
government advancing three-fourths of the
purchase money to the tenant, 1t should
advance The whole, to be paid, We suppose,
by apnuities at the rate of five per cent.
having thirty years to run. Mr.. Gladstone
seems to have been caught by this move
of the Conservatives, for refusing on
Wednesday last TO support the second read
ing OF the Parnell- Healy bill he said that
while tie Land act might not be disturbed
he would Eot promise that the purchase and
arrears clauses Of it would not be. "The
lattr clause certainly fell far short OF its
obi =et and should be legislated upon early in
the present session. The government would
approach the question impartially, listen
ing to the suggestions of all qualified
persons and settling it eff;ctually."
He promised 10 discuss the purchase clause
on Mr.. Smiths motion, and praised the
system for settlirg arrears sketched in the
Parnell Hesly bill. He said he saw in this
the "ifst CLEAN Of hope on a dark subject,
for, although he was confident Of the power
Of the empire, compulsion, he declared, was
completely alien to the spirit OF the consti-
tuition" Mr.. Gladstone said "he approved Oi
the application OF the Irish Church surplus
fund for aiding tensnts in nrrear, but feared
that the fund was moi large enough for the
purpose" Mr.. Healy expressed himself
satisfied With Mr. Gladstone's state
ment and "beiieved that the intentions
of the government as indicated by him were
sincere." Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice Glib.
eral) maintained that any plan for dealing
with arrears should be compulsory. "He de-
C ared that unless this question was dealt
with and state of things introduced en-
abling the parties affected to start afresh,
there would never be peace and quiet in Ire
isad. He suggested that Grifiths valuation
be established as the bssiS of rents until the
Land Court should be able to tx them.a
Evidently Mr. Gladstone and his sup
porteFs mean TO make OF the Land act
stepping-stone to more Eadieal measures,
rs the APPEAI has long believed and stated
he would, snd the Conservatives viii find
ihemseIv YES IN trap of their own making out
Of which they can emerge with honor only
ky sustaining the Inost extreme and commu-
pistic measure Of legislation since The sweep
ing DEGREES of the revolutionary government
OF France al the close OF the last CEN
tury. In 1870 and in 1881 tLe Con-
seryatives protested against any State system
for the conversion Of tenants into proprietoTs.
As the New York Ifibans says: "If they
ave now abandoned their ground and taken
an advanced position close to his own line OF
attack upon Irish disafection, Mr.. Gladstone
can offer with good grace 10 join forces with
them in practical legislation. The establish
ment Of peasant proprietary in Ireland Is
a Liberal idea twelve years old, and the
provisions of the present Land act can be
easily modified so as TO facilitate the pur-
chase of estates.'S Light breaks for Ireland.
The Conservatives and the Liberals are agreed
upon the necessity for a peasant proprietary
system and ParneI if he Is wise, will indofse
Healy's satisfaction With 3ladstone's fairness
and craftsmanship and with all the home
rnlera come promptly 10 the assistance OF the
premier in his efforts 10 carry out his sweep
ing measure Of reform.