Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-24

Liberal Council last evening. He said
the political situation was an eytraordi.
nary and critical one. 1t totally
changed within twenty four hours, ''al-
though" he continued, II have often
differed with Lord Randol h Chur.
chill, have never failed to
Go justice to bis great ability and quick
apprs citation of public sentiment.
Though reared in old Toryism he has
repeatedly risen superior to it and his
position in the present government was
a guarantee to one that they would not
pursue a reactionary policy. Churchill's
recent speeches displayed Lib.
eral principles upon the most import
ant questions, and his resignation was
very signifcln announcement. 1t
seems that the old Tory influence gained
the upper hand. The key note of
Churchill's policy was to maintain an
alliance with the Unionists, although
perhaps the Tories had grown
wise by experience and were pre-
pared to govern in liberal spirit.
If they abandoned that intention Lord
Salisbury must be prepared for the con-
sequences. Now, gentlemen, in view of
this startling change, ask myself what
will the Gladstonians do? 1t seems to
me that they have great and perhaps
final opportunity. We Liberals agree
upon ninety nine points and disagree
upon only one even upon Irish matters
When l look into the thing am more
surprised at the number of points where
on We agreed than at the remainder
upon which for the present we must be
content to differ. My opposition to
Gladstone's bill has been grossly misrep.
resented. / never SAID was oppos d to
the great land scheme. / opposed
Gladstone's bill mainly upon two
grounds: First, l believed it would in
volve loss which the British taxpayers
ought not to bear; second, 1 am
not prepared to do anything
precluding an arrangement to
make Ireland practically independent
1t is one thing to use all the resource OF
the State, to benefit your fellow citizens
is different thing altogether. l never
doubted it was possible to devise plan
for the settlement of the land question, |
am convinced any of the three Liberal
leaders can soon arrange scheme which |
without throwing unfair risk on the |
British tax payers, will in short |
time make the Irish tenant owner of |
the land he cultivates. We could go
even farther in the direction of unity, |
even on the question of local govern.
ment the difference recedes. We have
all agreed on the scheme applicable to
England and Scotland, and we are pre-.
pared to apply it with the
necessary change of details to
Ireland. Are we to remain |
disjointed, fighting and in inter-
nicine strife for the benefit of our
opponents, or are We to make this hon.
est attempt? Ii we do not agree on ev.
cry point, at least we can agree to hurry |
these important reforms on which there |
is no difference of opinion between us,
and leave it to time and frank discus |
sions of the subject to say, when we
have accomplished these reforms,
whether we may not go a step further
in the direction of the views of those |
now unfortunately our opponents.
Lord Chamberlain, writing to the |
leaders of the Crofter party, expresses
his willingness to take charge in Parlia
ment of the needful amendments to the |
Crofter's Act.
The Standard announces that Lord
Randolph Churchill in his letter of
resignation to Lord Salisbury gave as
the sole reason for resigniug his unwill-
ipgness to acce pt the naval and military
estimates.