New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-03
fBy cABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.J

Copyright; 1889: BY The Ne,r- York Tribune
London, Nov. 2.-Rumors have long prevailed
that the Government would tackle the Irish Land
Question next session. They are confirmed in to-
says Standard" 1t is the dual ownership of
land in Ireland which gives rise to so much of
recent trouble. The legislature created 1t, and
the legislature is to be asked to terminate it. The
Cabinet will; without delay, says the Tory organ,
attempt the problem of releasing both from a
connection hateful to them and mischievous to the
State. There is no doubt, though The Stand
ard does not say so, that the Cabinet, some of
the Cabinet, has for some time past been engaged
in this problem. There speculstions about
Mr. Goschen's visit to Ireland in September and
October Nobody who met him at any Of the
houses he visited doubted what his errand was.
Wherever he went, local people were invited to
meet him-those who were supposed to know most
about the land question. He discussed the land
question fully with them, and discussed hardly any
thing else The fruits of these visits and interviews
are now ripening. The financial genius which
carried through the conversion of consols VIII be
applied to the conversion of dual into single owner
ship of Irish land The question is, how to
make the tenant the undivided master of his
holding while afforling reasonable compensation
TO the present nominal owner, without imposing
on the English taxpayer an unreasonable and
dangerous liability. This is what Mr. Gladstone,
in 1886, tried. He failed disastrously. Nothing
did more TO wreck Home Rule than the coupling
il with Land Purchase. Mr.. Gladstone declared
the two measures TO be inseparable and then
threw over Land Purchase to tighten the ship
when the storm grew heavy; but too late. MI
Chamberlain has since launched scheme of his
own but could not get it seriously considered
Lord Randolph Churchill proposed another, so
~, ncba INIT hats
TOO. fell fat Now come Mr.. Goschen and his
colleagues
No experiment could be more interesting, none
more hazardous The Ministry can hardly avoid
stalking it's existence on such a measure, and tlln
measure will undoubtedly pledge British credit
in order to compensate landlords who are to be
bought out. This will be no mere extension OF
the Ashbourne act, but a bill covering the whole
soil of Ireland perhaps even compulsory upon
landlords to sell wherever tenants are willing
TO buy. The Nation at large is TO stand security,
says the inspired scribe who this morning makes
this momentous disclosure. Nothing could be
more explicit. The stake the Government play
for is enormous nothing less, in their belief
than the extinction Of the Home Rule cry and
the Home Rule party by tle paciication of Irish
discomfort. There is distinct school
which believes that land, not Par
really want The Government has Joined that
school If they will add to their programme such
q measure Of Catholic Endowment as shall satisfy
the Irish Bishops they will come before Parhament
next February with the largest Irish programme
vet framed Mr.. Gladstone's not excepted. The
Standard" says nothing on this point and nothing
has lately been heard from any quarter, but Mr.
Balfours hint at the end of last session was not
div thrown out The scheme which he had in
mind whatever it was, will not be lightly dropped
Local government in some shape must sooner or
later be added. Supposing, however, that Minis
tcrs put both Land Purchase and Catholic Endow-
ment forward together, they will array against
themselves two of the strongest sentiments known
10 the British mind: hatred of taxation-or OF
increased habilites-snd hatred of the Pope.
They know perfectly what they have to face, but
the die is cast and they are going to face IT,
They might have sat still and lived out their
Parliamentary life for three sluggish years They
prefer to risk all, even the allegiance Of one
tion Of their party. One of their shrewdest
supporters said the other day that if they at
tempt constructive legislation they are lost
But constructive legislation of the gravest and
most difficult kind is now to be attempted
Mr.. Davitts long speech before the Parnen Com
mission has clearly made an impression on the
Judges, though not on the public The audience
has been small throughout and the reports in
the papers, " The Times excepted, brief Mr.
Davitt wound up with expression of regret for
bis want Of legal skill, and Mr.. Justice Ilannen
said MIR. Davitt, your expression of regret for
your want of legal skin was not necessary. You
have put your arguments with great force and
ability, and obliged 10 you for having
given us assistance which has been withheld from
by Others" 1t would be difficult to combine
ia. Mi
ment TO Mr.. Davitt with rebuke to Mr.. Parnell
Sir Henry James began his reply in a spirit
that indicates his readiness TO meet the issues
precisely put by Sir Charles Russell. He is
expected TO speak for fortnight, and before he
sits down all the world will know just what the
of The Times is and just what they will
ssk the court TO decide.
The Gweedore trials have ended, said "The
Daily News Wednesday. in collapse. On
Thursday the same journal discovered that the
sentences were extremely severe, and il attacks
the Attorney General for Ireland for his conduct
OF the trial There is, however. dispute about
the facts Police Inspector Martin, trying to
arrest Father McFadden. was set upon by mob
and brutally beaten to death. Coll. convicted
as one of the leaders, gets ten years penal serVi
tuae two others seven years each, fourth five
Years and three more six months each. All these
except Coll pleaded guilty Of manslaughter
Others, whose share in the murder was less. get
tiOm two to six months. We deeply regret"
ays The Daily News that the Judge did not
temper Justice with mercy" For the rufians who
savarely murdered Inspector Martin this journal
mas only soft words but IL thinks that the police
Scted with criminal recklessness. and that Mr.
baloars conduct was mean and cowardy.
Inc Daily News appears to have made up
"s nina to push Mr. John Morley as Leiier in
succession 70 Nh. Gladstone. Hundreds of thous
anus says this Glsdstonian organ, look to Mr.
"ofiey iof guidance in difficulty, and for en-
eourasement IN conflict only less eagerly than