The Irish standard., 1890-08-23
A BARREN SESSION.

OCC4SlOu WAS DIS 5U0I0OLyp6u as 6V6r.
The average American citizen, who
keeps himself informed ON British pol
tics, would naturally ask himself what
had parliament to show the country fol
the many valuable DAYS and nights
spent at Westminster. The session OF
parliament which closed last Monday
was the most barren OF any session ever
held in ENGLAND. Almost all the i'm
portant matters introduced were either
defeated or withdrawn. The govern
ment had strong backing when ii
began to do business at the old stand,
but by degrees It's supporters grew lesa
and less, until there were scarcely
enough left to save the government
from defeat on the most trivial mea.
sures. That IS the way the Balfour
regime was approved by the members
Of the Irish secretarY's party. The
rank and file became disgusted with
the government, and the prOroguing OF
Parliament at this time was nothing
more nor less than a move to escape
defeat. The principal questions that
the government considered at it's last
session we're the Irish Land Purchase
bill and the License Compensation bill.
On the latter the government barely
escaped with their lives. and so seriously
did some of Sallsbury's adberents re-
gard the practical defeat of the govern
ment, that they strongly limited that to
save themselves the government must
resign. Salisbury and Baltour would
not hear Of that, and they proceeded to
bolster themselves up in Office by MAX
ing some good changes in the foreign
policy programme. This had good
effect and for a time the old weather.
beaten ship was kept afoau, ana when
she was about to give notice to launch
the life boats, the anchor was cast. and
all was we'll. For a time at least the
present government will hold the reins,
and when parliament reassembles, Sal
isbury will find himself confronted with
the same lack Of support that character
lied his administration before parlia-
ment took rest. L. will not take long
to settle with Salisbury after parliament
comes together again. The country is
tired of that policy. The many prom
lses made, and not fulfilled, nave had a
very bad effect, and the people are not
IN mood to be trlfed with either.
Salisbury and Balfour are two very as
ture men. but they were not sharp
enough for the Gladstonians. They
carried on everything with a high hand,
thinking that because they had a hand
some majority to help them through
they were bound to win. But this
majority grew alarmingiy small in q
short time, and SO dangerous did things
appear to becoming, that the Times and
other Tory Journals came out openly
and warned the government Of its
danger. They demanded a reconstruc
ton Of the cabinet. and a general
change Of policy all around. This will
come as soon as the men at the helm
get together and agree on it. Of course
we must not forget to mention the
Parnell commission as one Of the great
subjects Of Thought and discussion for
many weeks in Parliament. WHAT be-
came of that august body and its blanket
sheet report, is too we'll known to all
our readers. The report. as was to be
expected. was accepted and placed on
file where 1t has boen ever since. and
how copiously the Salisbury government
prespired after that remarkable period,
is also we'll known. 1t was a bitter pill
for the government to swallow. but it
had to swallow it just the same. Al
together the late session of parliament
was the most devoid Of ANYTHING prac
tical that we have seen for many years.
5f4t5l