New-York tribune., 1886-01-17
4 CRISIS IN IRELAND.

Lord Carnarvon's resignation is placed IN a
new light by our special cable dispatches. In
stead of being an indication that LORD nan
dclph Churchill's policy has been adopted by
the Cabinet and that Castle government was 10
he abolished, ii is now construed as marking
tho collanse of an honest effort to govern ire
land by ordinary law. The condition OF the
island is represented to be most alarming. Inc
aerariaD question is once more uppermost. lhe
tenants are combining in large portion OF the
country against the landlords VINO, IN ther
turn, are organizing for defence. The League
has established a scale of reductions OF
rent, and is attempting to enforce
it by prohibiting payments and agltatlns
against evictions. The appeals OF loyalists ana
landlords TO the Government for protectlon
have been quickly followed by menaces OF re-
prisals from the League press. The Island Is
on the eve of an agrarian revolution, and armed
alone with the resources of ordinary law, the
Government is pOwerless to prevent resistance
to judicial rents. On all sides 1t is admitted
that general strike against rents Is imminent.
In this crisis the Viceroy, who accepted ONCE
without the Crimes Act in order TO adopt con-
ciliatory policy and to receive assistance from
Mr.. Parnel in maintaining order, Is forced to
resign. II is not believed in London that sue
cessor will be appointed. The office will be
lett in commission, the Chief Secretary and the
Lord Chancellor of Ireland probably shar-
ing between them the responsibility OF
governing the island. The Natlonalists
infer that the Viceroy's resignation implies CO.
ercion in a most stringent form. a force Dill
must be passed before the ordinary processes OF
law can be suspended, and this cannot be done
unless the two main parties unite against the
NatiOnalists.
The delay caused by the prcliminaries of or
canization at Westminste is unfortunate since
it prolongs the period of suspense and uncer-
tainty, The three statesmen whose influence
is greatest in this crisis have not declared their
intentions. Lord Salisbury's policy is still a
Cabinet secret Mr.. Gladstone refrains from
exerting his political authority; and Mr.. Par
nelrs designs are inscrutable. The de-
bate on the Queens speech will tend
70 lessen the tension of political excitement.
II will disclose the policy of the Government
and the attitude of the two parties in opposi-
ton. and this will be positive gain, even II
Mr. Gladstone ana Mr.. Parnel, as is probable,
keep their own counsel respecting their Interior
aims. But while British politics after the
Queens speech VIII cease TO bea game OF bind
mans buff, in which all the leaders have their
eyes bandaged, the prospects of the session
will stiIl be shrouded with uncertainty. Our
London correspondents declaration that the
first Irsh question which Parliament will be
called upon TO settle will not be political
but agrarian, is justified by the alarm
ing state of affairs in the island. But
one question after all is the complement of the
other. Let the land question be settled and
home rule will present few difficulties, GER
tainly none that are incapable OF solution. But
the land question, in our judgment. cannot be
settled in what has been the characteristic
English way-by force bills and cyictions-and
it will be an act of supreme folly Tor Lord
Salisbury to resort to coercion. pure and simple.