The Indianapolis journal., 1890-04-25
He Does Not Think Il Prudent to Force Meas
ure on ireland That Would Be 0bjec-
tionable to Its Representatives.
Pecuniary Risks Involved in the Bill
Would Lead to Great Embarrassments.
Mr. Goschens Reply on Behalf Of the Govern
ment--Several Austrian Rioters Killed
and Wounded In Fight with Troops.
AN OBJECTIONABLE MEASURE.
Mr.. GIadstone's Views on the Balfour Irish
Land-Purchase bill.

Mr. GIadstone's Views on the Balfour Irish
Land-Purchase Bill.
LONDON, April 24--Mr. Gladstone re-
sumed the debate on the land-purchase bill
in the House Of Commons this evening. He
said he was opposed to the bill under m
overwhelming conviction that it was COM
plicated, without undertaking to solve the
difficulty. He had been encouraged to hope
for solution by Lord Salisbury declaring
that the measure would not impose bur-
den upon the British taxpayer. He was
disappointed. however, when Mr.. Balfour
informed the House that the measure
pledged the country to the extent of f5S,-
100000, without mentioning the possibility
of further amounts being asked. Regard
ing Mr.. Parnelps plan, it was new in prin-
ciple. Its general purpose was clear, but
he was not certain that he comprehended
tho details. conservative laughter. Ii
was honorable. even chivalrous. in Mr..
Parnell opposing the government rs he did,
to deem it proper to propose an alter
native. He strongly sympathized with
one object of Mr. Parnelrs plan.
whereby the landlords would not
be expatriated. but would be retained. 1t
would be sorrowful conclusion Of the life
Of the landlord class If, when local govern
ment was esta blished in Ireland. they did
not take part in adjusting affairs. Mr..
Balfour's bill presented number of du-
bious points, which made it difficult to dis
Germ fully the character of the measure
Some of the proposals were so obviously
Objectionable az to Justify their rejection.
A ~ A., Ii 60 1,o ,Ero 60.
landlords already in possession. 1t should
not encourage landlords to become buyers
of land In order to take advantage OF the
enormous boons offered. Hear, hear!l
The provision respecting two years arrears
also required justification which would
be difficult to find. Cheers.l Another OBJ
lection cutting near the root Of the bill
was the method proposed for ascertaining
that it would enable the landlord to
obtain compensation upon o large mass
of income that he had never received.
Hear, hear.l There was to be no charge
against management for the rent, expenses
of eviction nor for bad debts. with other
charges necessarily falling upon the land
lords. The effect of this was that they
might be giving, instead Of seventeen years
purchase. twenty or twenty. 1--we years. He
an embargo upon the local funds OF conn
ties. Hear. hear.l That proposal violated
principle which the House ought to hold
sacred. Then there was nothing In the
bill to prevent the occupier who became
owner from sub-lettlng.
Mr.. Madden, the Irish Attorney-general,
explained that a tenant could not sub-let
without permission from the Land Commits
sion.
Mr.. Gladstone. continuing, asked on
what principle the land court would act in
giving permission. There must be a clear
understanding on this point. This was no
principle indicated In the bill The only
really available and valuable guarantees
provided in The measure were grants from
the imperial exchequer on account of pro-
bate duties and other. public charges.
The government had already given Eng
land and Scotland similar grants, placing
them wholly at the disposal of the local
authorities. Was it possible the govern
ment would tell the counties Of Ireland
that the a grant amt to that country must be
under the billf [Cheers 1t was viola
tion of equality in governing the three
kingdoms than which he never knew Q
more elaring instance. lCheersl
objections, any one of which formed an abb
solute reason against the second reading of
the measure, he urged it was obvious that
Ireland opposed the measure. in view of
the fact that hye-sixths of the Irish MEM
bers deliberately and determinedly opposed
it. lCheers.l As the government was GO
ing to make Ireland its debtor, it was i'm
portant TO consider what was the attitude
of the persons about to be subjected to debt.
If they declined to recognize the obligation
il was new wrong inflicted. Ii 1reland's
representatives declined to recognize the
binding character of the obligation. pro-
testing that the country did not get value
for its money, was it prudent to force the
measure upon the peoplei Was it possi-
BILE to imagine the government Imposing
q similar measure npon Scotland In dem
ss%sn.g o seooR e sixty as
objected, also, TO the use OF British credit
He did not entertain an extreme view
about the use of British credit, but he
cluded from large applications for pur-
chase of land. The last general election
settled the question. If the Conservatives
were then pledged against the use of the
Parliament certainly could not. in con-
formity with it's honorable obligations,
pass bill instituting loan fund having
an interminable operation. tCheers.l An
other objection was more formidsoie still.
This related TO state iandlordism. Besides
the large pecuniary risk. the bill
involved evils tenfold greater. threaten
ing to produce conditions which
would shock humanity, imperil order
the two countries. State landlordism
implied the use of soldiers against the ten
ant; the use of every weapon OF the state TO
enforce an unpopular law. Lastly, IL was
a sad disappointment to find under the
name Of voluntary arrangement between
landlord and tenant, device for bringing
an irresistible pressure upon the tenant,
with view Of extorting for the landlords
benefit nearly the whole os the immense
boon that Parliament might confer. These
| objections covered only q part .of the bill.
He was not sure that he had 90 yet OBJ
| tanned a full comprehension of the measure.
He had seen many complicated measures.
but he had probably never seen one SO coEl-
| plicated as the bill under discussion. It
contained every form of ambiguity. This
might have been successfully encountered
| and the antiquities got rid of. but the OBJ
| jections, rs stated, were fatal.
/ In conclusion he said: II feel il to be my
absolute duty to protest against principles
| of 90 fragrant o character and 90 tending to
| embark rho country in immense pecuniary
| risks, while making land purchase not an
aim in the settlement OF the general Irish
| problem, but a means TO further plunge us
| into the deepest political embarrass-
| ments.n tCheers. Mr.. Goschen said that
| Mr. Gladstones contention that the ten
| ants would be deprived of the benefits in
| tended for them destroyed Mr.. Morley's
| argument that non-purchasing tenants
would agitate TO get their rents lowered TO
| the same scale as the purchasers
rents. He agreed with both Mr.. Gladstone
| and Mr.. Parnell In desiring TO retain the
| landlords in Ireland, but the bill did not
| necessarily lead TO appropriation. Many
|