The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-27
Mr.. Gladstone Placed in an Unpleasant Posi-
tiOn, Greatly to the Satisfaction Of
His Enemies the Conservatives.
A Monster Demonstration Yesterday in
Opposition to the House of Lords.
Generalization and Debauchery in Egypt
Caused by Plethora of MOney-MOre
RiOting in Belgium Notes.
BRITISH POLITICS.
The Maamtrasna Cases Absorbing Attention
to the Exclusion of Other Matters.

The Maamtrasna Cases Absorbing Attention
to the Exclusion of Other Matters.
LONDON, Oct 25-In English politics the
Maamtrasna case absorbs attention to the exclu-
sion of almost everything else and Ireland ap-
pears to be worse thorn in the flesh to Glad
stone than Egypt or the Congo. The scenes at
st. Stephens last night were curious and sig
ni6cant to those occupants of the lobbies who
had means of looking behind the scenes. There
is no doubt that the government nervously
breads prolonged debate upon the Maamtrasna
hangings, and fears that its effect at this crisis
would be fatal to Liberal supremacy. The Irish
Home-rule members of the House of Commons
affect Indifference, and claim to be absolutely
Independent as between the two great parties.
They say that the charges have been publicly
made and should be publicly met. If Mr. Glad
stone and his advisers refuse to meet these ac-
cusatons the onus must be on them and not
on the Nationalists. The debate will be re-
sumed on Monday evening, and it is expected
that Mr.. Parnell will make a powerful
and notable speech on that occasion. Mr. Glad
stone is between the horns of very perplexing
dilemma, and he and those who side with him in
the Cabinet are in danger of being impaled on
either horn. If they grant the inquiry demand
ed by the Nationalists, Earl Spencer will at
once resign the Lord Lieutenancy of Ireland,
and Mr. Trevelyan the late Chief Secretary for
Ireland, will resign the Cabinet sinecure to
which he has lately been promoted. If. on the
other hand, the Ministers refuse to grant the in
quiry, Mr.. Parnell and his followers will doubt
less refuse to vote for the Liberal side on the
final passage of the franchise bill. This might
defeat the measure in the House of Commons!
1t would at all events so reduce the majority In
its favor that the Lords would appear justified
in refusing assent to the bill when it comes up
to them.
The Tory members are delighted over the
quandary in which the government is placed.
They are egging the government or to an alb
solute refusal of the Maamtrasna inquiry, and
they raise great shouts of approval whenever
anything sounding like refusal is mentioned by
the orators in the House The only Tory who
supports the Irish demand for an inquiry is Lord
Randolph Churchill, and he is so notoriously
audacious and intractable that he simply fur
nishes the exception which proves the rule.
The crowds in the lobbles last night were
enormously excited by rumors that the govern
ment was about to yield to the Nationalists and
order an inquiry The report reached Mr.. Ire
velyan Just as he was preparing speech in reply
to Mr.. l. NJ. Healy. Mr.. Trevelyan was dis
gusted He bundled up his papers and left the
House, only pausing long enough in the lobby to
send message to Mr. Gladstone staying that if
the government weakened at this juncture he
would feel compelled to resign his seat as Chan
cellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Mr.. Gladstone
went into his private room, where there is a
special postoffce wire leading direct to Dublin
Castle and discreet operator always on duty.
Mr.. Gladstone summoned Lord Spencer, and
conversed by telegraph with him for over an
hour In the meantime the Solicitor-general of
ireland, who was only appointed to that post
last spring, threatened to resign. Mr.. Gladstone
found Lord Spencer firm and unalterable in his
intention to stand by his subordinates, and he
returned to the House. His first act was to wire
a message to Treveyan to the effect that the
government would refuse to order an inquiry
into the Maamtrasna case. Mr. Trevelyan, on
receipt of this message, promptly returned to
the House and made an effective speech on the
side of the government
The Parnellites rather hope that the govern
ment will refuse the demand for an inquiry.
They believe that such refusal will serve as an
admirable war cry during the winter campaign.
every parish in Ireland, and the Catholic clergy
men approve and assist the movement. The
Irish people generally are excited and indignant
over what they call the murder of the Maamtras-
ma sufferers.
The motion of Lord Dunraven for the appoint
ment of joint commission of the Lords and
Commons to inquire into the cause of the de-
pressed condition of trade and agriculture, re-
ceives the support of the Tories The Ministry
is inclined to refuse to appoint such commits
sion on the ground that the inquiry would have
no practical result The Tories will make the
bad condition of the country the subject of
plank in their election platform.
1t is reported that at the close of the present
session of Parliament Hugh G. Childers, Chan
cellor of the Exchequer, will be elevated to the
peerage. Ill health has rendered him unable to
perform the duties of his Office.