The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-17
FoSEBERRY NOT ROUTED YET.
HIS MAJORITY N THE HOUSE RE-
MAINS Is.


Hsrraeny Among the Irish Fac
tons
London. Feb. 1s.-The debate on the
amendment which Joseph Chamberlain
introduced in the House OF Commons
scoring the government for frittering
away the time Of parliament in the con
sheraton Of measures which the ministry
has no expectation of passing, while
other vitality important matters requiring
ths immediate attention of the House.
afscting the whole country. are thrust
INTO the background, has lost its prac-
ticaI interest in view Of the ascertained
fact that the virtually fixed majority of
The government IN the House is now
about Is The ministertaIists feel assured
that If an unceasing watch is kept upon
the rank and file to guard against surprise
divisions a business session can be pro-
ceeded with until the anti-lords resolution
shall wind up the present parliament.
The position Of the government, too,
may be further strengthened by the Par
uellite vote if the Irish land bill shah be
in any degree unsatisfactory. Apart from
Ilc uQ5AAS support winch mas Deen
given the Parnellites to the opposition,
the appeals of Archbishops Croke ana
Walsh for unity on the part of the Irish
party against the common political foe
has Influenced the Parnellite faction to
a feudal spirit which certainly must in
duce them to forget their local grievances
and rally in support of the main wing
of the party.
The anu-Parnellites are also modify
ing their methods. as instanced in a
meeting of its members, held yesterday,
at which a vote of coincidence with the
family of the late Eugene Kelly was
passed. This action showed conclusively
that there was a growing feeling of
harmony among the members of the fac
tons of the Irish party, and the subse-
quent cordial conversation of the lead
ing as well as the minor members of
the respective groups attested the estab-
lishment Of better feeling, il not an
absolute entente.
The position of William O'Brien. who
is anxious to retire from parliament and
devote himself to literature and journal
ism, and the successful issue OF she
suit Of ex-Commoner Chance against
him TO recover f400, the balance of the
cost of Mr.. OBrien's action for libel
ag1nst Lord Salisbury, has again raised
a dispute between Mr.. O'Brien and the
committee Of the Irish National party
as to the responsibility for the costs of
the action. The committee positively de-
clines to pay the costs out of the party
fund.- but rather than lose his services
in parliament to the cause of ireland
Mr. O'Brlen's friends have promised to
pay if Mr.. O'Brien will consent to the
money being by subscription. In the
meantime, Mr.. OBrien has declined to
express himself in the matter, and the
unionists who had gleefully expected that
damaging revelations would arise from
10 .,r ND LOT to
the discredit of the Irish party would
come out of the controversy over the
payment of the costs, have been griev-
usy disappointed.
Lord Salisbury spoke at length on cur
rent politics this evening at the inaugural
dinner of the Irish Loyalist Club at the
Hotel Metropole. What had happened in
Irish national politics before. he said. was
now happening again. When the first
enthusiasm of any movement passed away,
when the initiators of it were removed, or
their influences grew less, the Irish party
was split by hopeless divisions which re-
suited in weakness and discouragement.
On the other hand, the unionists were
stronger than ever. He regretted that
there was in England no special machin-
cry. such as had given stability TO the
American constitution, for obtaining the
opinion of the nation on proposals to alter
the constitution. England's only means
OF obtaining the cOuntfyS OPINION lay III
dissolution of parliament on particular
question. The ministers had introduced
many measures, having nothing on earth
TO do with home rule. Despite all preten-
sions, it was a fact that home rule was
kept in the ministerial programme merely
for the purpose of confusing the electors.
If the question should be put squarely
and openly to Great Britain and the cleo
tors should vote deliberately in favor of
home rule, 1t was reasonably certain that
the lords would not resist the execution
of the verdict. 1t would not be their func-
ton, under such conditions, to do so.
The difference of opinion of experts in
regard to the new rules of the road at sea
has led the government to accept Sir
Donald Curries suggestion in regard to
the appointment of a select committee
of the House of Commons to consider the
matter. AS the taking of testimony is
likely to occupy the period extending over
the whole session of parliament the
Washington convention must wait till
the parliamentary committee has con-
Guided its labors.
Sir Edward Grey, in his statement in
the House OF Commons last evening that
any agreement made by Belgium, giving
France or any other power the right to
pre-empt territory IN the Congo region
without the consent of the great powers
was not valid and further stating that
state an important fact-England ad-
dressed q note to the powers, inviting them
to, express their united objection to the
conclusion of a treaty giving the right to
France to pre-empt Congo territory. The
Congo State and the English foreign Office
appeal with confidence TO Germany and
Italy to join in formal denial of French
rights in the Congo country, while the
French newspapers rejoice over the pros
pect of securing the Nile regions beyond
the Uganda. In the meantime England
agents are silently effecting an actual -oc-
cupation of the disputed territory. The
questions involved fail to draw the atten-
ton of the ministers in parliament. though
it is known that a British expedition left
Uganda six months ago, with the avowed
intention of taking possession Of as much
of the country as possible.
The latest phase Of the anti-TurlSish agi-
tation has shown itself in an attempt to
excite alarm over a probable massacre
of Christians in Constantinople. Accord
ing to the speaker, the months fast of the
Ramazan, the ninth month in the Moham-
medan year, viii probably witness an out
break of fanaticism, and it represented
that if the Russian and English fleets are