Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-29
THE LAND PURCHASE BILL.
Continuation of the Debate in the House of
Commons.

Commons
LONDON, Nov. 22.-The debate on the
land purchase bill was resumed in the
house of commons tonight by Parnell.
He declared emphatically that he ap-
proved the bill, bat he believed it was so
designed that under the present circum-
stances it would be impossible to put it
into effective operation. He had always
held that the creation of peasant pro-
prietary was the only means
OF solving the land question.
His own bill simply asked
that the church tenants be allowed to &C
ouire land by paying the church COM
missions annually for forty nina years,
rent equal to 4 per cent. on the capital
lied value of the holdings, That would
have created no risk to the imperial tx
chequer. The conservatives opposed
that proposal, but the time would come
when they would find it needful to
go farther. The Irish party was always
ready and eager to assist In
the settlemet of the land question. 1t
was calumny to say that any one of
their members tried to make political
capital out of the question or oppose the
bill because it would make the govern
ment of Ireland easier. (Cheers.) On
the contrary, their opposition to the bill
was due to tho knowledge that it would
cause a loss to the exchequer without
effecting it's ostensible object. The gov
eminent had not taken up the land ques-
ton with view to helping tenants, but
at the solicitation of the landlords, who,
seeing that they could not any
longer maintain their position, wanted to
dispose of their property at inflated
prices. The only way to make landlords
of congested estates agree to accept
the value of their property was to en-
power the commission to purchase at
such price as would really represent the
landlords interest. The arrears ought to be
considered along with rent reduction,
otherwise the land purchase arrangements
were futile. Any bargain with the
farmers ought to have basis that would
put reputation out of the question.
The measures showed entire absence
of consideration for national senti-
ment. The present system of gov
eminent trampled upon national
feeling. If the government meant to at
tempt large scherie of land purchase
it was essential to establish in Ireland
a representative of authority to act as
buffer between the tenants and the state.
The tenants would have their eighty
six and may be 101 members of parlia-
ment. (Parnellite cheers.)
Lord Randolph Churchill said the asser-
ton that the bill was introduced to en-
able the landlords to sell ct inflated
prices would not bear examination. The
Parnellites knew that the imitation did
not exist in Ireland, but very much the
reverse. Regarding the national senti-
ment, he had appealed to Parnell to say
what room there was for romance IN
dealing with the matter of fact advance
and the repayment of money. Had Mr..
Parnell any alternative bill would rs sup
port the principles of the Gladstone bib
of 1886? Mr.. Parnell here gave mega
tive shake of his head. Then, what other
scheme?
Mr.. Parnell-I would accept the bill II
the disadvantages connected with 1t were
modified by dealing with arrears.
Lord Randolph continuing, said be
trusted that, after the recent speeches of
the ministers, the government would
bring up the arrears question early in
the future. In the meantime he could
not admit that coercion initiated against
land purchase. (Cheers.)
The bill passed the second reading by
q vote of 299 to 224.