New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-16
IRISH AFFAIRS.

rush in the closing days of the Parliamentary
session. Mr. Gerald BalfourS Land bill was
passed, happily for all concerned. The landlord
Peers decided at the last moment to recede. with
what grace they could command. from the ut
terly untenablc position they at first assumed,
and passed the bill substantially as it came from
the Commons. In that they did themselves an
inestimable service. They also relieved the Gov
eminent from the most serious embarrassment
1t is likely DO have in the whole septennate
What good the bill will do to the Irish people
remains to he seem but there is excellent ground
for thinking it will prove one Of the most benef-
cent measures of modern times. 1t Is to be OBJ
served that, apart from certain ulra-Bourbon
landlords and few malicious marplot Radicals
the bill had the general approval of the repre-
sentatives OF the people Of the United Kingdom
The Parnellltes Under Mr. Redmonds leader
ship directly favored it. SO did Mr. Healy and
his followers Mr.. IIealy cordially cooperating
with Mr. Balfour in formulating such amend
ments TO the bill as were during the course OF
the debate made to appear desirable. Mr.. Dillon
and the Anti-Parnellites were less friendly, bur
were not actually hostile Their opposition was
more academic and sentimental than practical
The BILL on the whole. had a more general ac-
ceptance in the Commons than any similar meas
IRE since the beginning of the Land League AMI
Home Rule agitatiOn-a circumstance which
ought certainly To b. Of happy omen.
Second only TO this in importance was the re-
port of Mr. Horace Pmukett's "Vacatlon Com
mittce' Mr. Plunket is the philanthropic but
emnently busnesslike Irish statesman who or
ganzed and has brOugh. TO success the system
of agricultural cooperation In Ireland. Il system
which has already done mut,. good and prom
Uses TO do ncalculaby more. year ago he in
vited Oh his own initiative. a number Of Mem
bers Of Parliament and other Irishmen. repre-
sentative of all political parties. to join him in
considering practical ways and means for pro-
noting the Industrial and particularly the agrl-
cultural, prosperity Of that island. committee
was thus formed which has now with most graf
flying unanimity made report and various
recommendations. which it has requested Mr..
Gerald BafOur TO lay before the Lord-Lieuten-
ant. Briefly stated the committee proposes the
creation Of new Government bureau. TO be
known as the Department Of Agriculture and In
dusries for ireland, with Minister responsible
to Parliament at It's mead He IS 10 be- assisted
by Council of forty-two members partly elect
ed and partly appointed. The work Of this de-
partment will be TO diffuse among the people
expert information for the Improvement of
agricultural and industrial methods. and to
promote such public and private works as
the construction of roads. the drainage of
swamps, and the rcplantng of forests in
the treclcSs districts which are now too plenti-
full How this scheme will be regarded by
the Government il somewhat problematc.
There will be. no doubt plenty of arguments
against it. Bur the fact will remain nds-
putable that the committee proposes for the
Government to do for Ireland no more than most
European Governments are already doing for
the countries under their charge.
4 third incident Of far different character
is the decision of the Government TO release the
Birmingham dynamiters n soon as the prison
doctors advise such action which will probably
be ut once These men were sentenced to i'm
prisonmcnt for life. some thirteen years ago. for
one of tho most detesabe of offences-thc manu-
faclure Of explosives for criminal Use. Their
release has been asked by Irish Members Of
Parliament many times. of both Liberal and
Conservative Governments. but has invariably
until now, been fatty refused. II has not been
asked At this time with any unusual earnest
ness. No extraordinary pressure has been
brought 10 bear upon the Government. But the
health Of al least one Of the convcts Is known
u
prisonmcnt has been heavy punishment TO
them all. and there il no probability that they
or any other Irshfhcn will renew the attempts
of few years ago 10 destroy property ana life
wholesale by means Of dynamite explosions
The Government, therefore. deems it proper TO
exercise clcmency and to let the prisoners go
with the hope no doIbt. that In so doing 1t will
remove some Of the irritation and luminosity still
nnhappily felt in Ireland toward Great Britain
What effect these things will have upon the
Irish people. and upon their desire for separation
from Great Britain. Is question that time VIII
soon answer. Some Indication of the answer may
De afforded by the National Convention which Mr.
Dillon is organizing for next month. which he
hopes 10 have attended by Irshmen Of all fac
lions, and at which he hopes TO have those fac