Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-22
PARNELL DEFEATED.
HIS Bill Rejected I'm the House Of
Commons.
by Anglo-Americsn cable to the Dispatch


LONDON, September 2l.--Mr. John
Morley, in the House Of Commons to-
day, resumed the debate on the second
reading Of the Parnell land bill. lie
thought that Mr.. Psrnell in his speech
last night had proved his case in regard
TO The fall in prices Of Irish farm-pro.
duets. He contended that the bill pro.
yided better machinery and better me.
lhod Of answering the Governments
own question as to the necessity Of re-
lieying the Irish teDantry in some form
than would the appointment Of any
roy al commission. lie believed that the
landlords Of Irelend-and not for the
first time in their history-were making
a grievous mistake in allowing the bill
to be rejected. Irish cheers.
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach stated that
the Government commission to inquire
into the working Of the land act Of 1881
would consist Of Earl Cowper CHAIR
mani, Earl Midtown, Sir James Csird,
Judge O'Hogan, and George Fottrell.
Mr.. Morley, continuing, said he re-
GREETED that Mr.. Matthews, in his first
speech, had not offered hopes Of con-
citation. 1t was generally admitted
that there had been q heavy fall in prices
since the Judicial rents were fixed. The
onUs proJandi durability opay the rent
devolyed upon the tenants. If the pro-
posed deposit Of so per cent. was too
small the Government could propose to
raise the amount in committee.
GCheers.l If it was true that the ina
bility Of the tenants was due to the ex-
cessiye use of whiskey or subscrip-
tons to the League it would be easv to
insert an amendment requiring
tenant to show satisfactory cause Of
his inability to pay rent, render
ing dishonesty impossible. What had
the landlords to fear if their cause was
just? ICheers.l The vicious land sys-
TEN in Ireland prevented tenants from
reaping the fruits of their industry.
lie would vote for Mr.. Parnell's bill
because he believed it would create a
smooth and calm interval between the
sessions and enable them to consider
the Irish question generally.
Mr.. ChspliH CONSERVATIVE opposed
the bill. lie tainted Messrs. Gladstone
and Morley with again using the argu-
ment Of fear. The Parnell bill was the
most imprudent proposal ever submitted
to Parliament. Itinvolyed reduction
Of 80 per cent. for an indefinite period.
( Cheers
Lord Harrington regretted that he
vas unable to support Gladstone's con.
illusions. He said there was little doubt
that the time had arrived for full
inquiry into the agrarian question in
Ireland and the Government was about
to institute such inquiry. Yet pending
this investigation, Mr.. Gladstone was
prepared to take action on Parnell's
bill in a way which only last August
be (Gladstone) argued would be unfair.
lCheers.l The existing judicial rents
were fixed during period Of great
depression and it had not yet
been proved that the land courts had
failed to make due allowance for the
state Of things that had arisen since
that time. Parliament would incur
great responsibility if it rejected the
Governments proposals for the pre-
servation Of order, as such action would
encourage socialistic and communistic
ideas in the interest of a certain class
of persons. [Cheers.l The late Govern
ment, he continued, had not ventured to
suggest temporary relief measures for
Ireland. Its whole action had been en-
tirely opposed to the idea that judicial
rents were not properly fixed. Lord
Harrington, however, failed to see that
any case had been made out which
would justify interference with judicial
rents. The bill did not deserve the as
sent of the House. 1t offered temp
tation to tenants to withhold half their
rents, and debarred the landlords from
recovering their rightful dues. 1t was
without precedent and totally dissimi-
lar to previous bills which embodied
that bad principle. Since 1880 the
position of the tenant mad enormously
and he now possessed every
protection against eviction or harsh &C
ton on the part of landlords. Cheers
Sir Michael Hicks Beach said he
thought there was certain want Of
reality about the discussion. He was
puzzled to account for the silence Of the
PaInellites. Did they think the bill
bad any chance Of passing? He was
afraid the reason for their action was
that the bill was simply
measure to enable the Separatist
party to attack the Government, who
were acting in accordance with all their
previous declarations, in declining to
consent to the second reading Of the
bill. The increase in the number of
evictions was no proof Of the inability
Of tenants to pay rents. He believed
that the total number OF evictioDs in
1885 did not exceed three in two thou
sand tenants.
There was scope for inquiry into the
whole matter upon the announcement
Of the result Of the royal-commission
inquiry. The Government would SUBJ
nit proposals to the House during
he next session. The position of
Affairs in Ireland was such that
he Government might be obliged !
10 ask Parliament to deal with
he question earlier than usual. [Cheers.l
But the Government would not buy |
peace by doing injustice by blackmail. |
IN conclusion, he said that the discussion |
If Mr.. Parnell's proposals was an act |
If gross injustice to the Irish land
oTds.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt said he !
bought the House and the country would |
notice the alarming tone of defiance and |
menace with which the Chief Secretary
or Ireland embarked on his mission OF
,eace. Lord Harrington, continued
be speaker, was alone, like the
: last rose OF SUMNER" Laughter |
Where were his companions? Where
gas Chamberlain? The House had
,eard one Birmingham member (Mr.
iatthews). Where were the other six
nemhers2 RI auphter and chearo ITnon /