Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-11-20
THE TORIES ASTOUNDED.
Sensation in Parliament Over
Mr.. Madden's Bill.
GLADsTONTs STRONG SPEECH.
Urgent whips Issued by All Parties for the
Debate, which win be I.iyeIy-Liborals
Delighted-An Admission OF the Rights
of Irish Tenants.

of Irish Tenants.
LONDON, Nov 20.-In the house Of com
mons Mr.. d. II. Madden, solicitor general for
Ireland, brought forward bill adding e5,
0O0OOO 70 the amount applicable under the
Ashbourne act In introducing the measure
he said the government thought that the
great success Of the Ashbourne act justified
their seeking to enlarge its operations.
Mr.. Gladstone moved an amendment that
in lieu OF voting E5,OOO0OO it would be ex-
pedient in view Of the sufferings arising from
the evictions which had recently taken place
to extend the land law 50 as to empower the
courts to reduce or cancel such arrears Of
rent as might be found excessive. He stated
that the amendment did not strike at the
Ashbourne act He did not desire 10 stop its
operations. He objected to the bill because
he believed the government ought to have
asked instead for limited grant to enable II
70 continue the operations OF the Ashbuurne
act until spring, when parliament could re
consider the whole matter Instead OF doing
shis tine government had introduced bill in
yolying parliament in fresh approval Of the
and purchase policy.
Mr. Gladstone continuing, said It was the
manifest desire of the government 70 with
lraw the land question from parliament for
several years. That could not DO allowed.
He did not desire that tho landlords should
he removed in the body. He wanted TO see
them resident and not absentees Under tho
Ashbourne act 95, ,O00, 600 had been obtained
apparently as a precedent for getting the
other 45,O0O,o00 thus slowly drawing the
houss into a system Of making tho state an
immediate landlord, without proper guaran-
tees. He objected to the act as giving the
landlords the initiative Of purchase instead
ot the peasants
Did this government, he asked, refuse 70
deal with arrears because arrears woull in
sure the servitnds Of the tenanti This bill
would enable landlords to increase rents,
while it would enable only a handful Of ten
ants to acquire holdings. Doubtless the
hssh tenants could ba eulogiaed as scrupulous
IN paying fair rents, but il another collapse
IN agricultural prices occurred the farmers
might be unable 70 pay even installments
The government, he declared, was not justi-
tiel in relying upon good will to pay after
the declaration Of Lord Salisbury that a
majority Of the people Of Ireland were bent
upon riding the pockets Of the minority. II
lrshmen did not respect the pockets oi their
counrymen, would they respect the English
exchequeri
Mr. Goschen denied that the government
was pledged not to introduce measures in
voivng protracted controversy during the
winter session. Mr.. Gladstones statement
that il the government had aslyea lOr just
enough 70 keep the Ashbourne act in opera
tian tlli next session tho motion would have
been agreed to was not correct. Inquiry had
been made into the matter, and the response
,,,at All t,rt aur,ttrofsa tho rraN.rtfttuf
to make the attempt Dealing with the ques-
tion Of land purchase was not incompatible
with dealing also with arrears. The govern
rnent would deal with arrears in due course
The suggestion of the ex-premier that the
government was practically conspiring to
allow the arrears to continue and 70 encour-
age evictions was scarcely worth answering
All Of the parliamentary parties have is
sued urgent whips summoning their ad-
hcrents TO be present during the debate on
the bill increasing tho sum to be applied
under the operation OF the Ashbourne act,
which the Irish solicitor general introduced
upon the very shortest of notice The
measure has astounded tho Tories and highly
delighted the Liberals, since il can be con
strued only into an admission that the in
terests OF a majority OF the tenants in Ireland
are paramount 10 the interests Of the land
lords This point has all along been con-
tended for by the Liberals, but no Tory
ofiicial has ever before recognized its validity.
Mr. Gladstone was in fine voice aud form,
and made a strong speech in support Of his
amendment 10 the bill
The Christian World, "A journal Of inn
mense circulation and influence aud hitherto
stoutly advocating Unionist principles, has
been converted to Home Rule.