The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-07
REFORMS FOR IRELAND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL CERTAIN
TO PASS PARLIAMENT.
Little Determined Opposition to the
Dull Politics" in England.
Correspondence of the New York tribune.

Correspondence of the New York Tribune.
LONDON, July 25.-The dullest session
of Parliament which England has known
for generations is drawing to "a close with
the Irish local government bin advanced
in the Lords to the committee stage and
with the benefices. criminal cases evidence
and other measures as practical proofs of
legislative industry. Stsgnant politics has
not implied idleness on the part Of the law
makers More useful work has been done
during this session than in any single year
of conservative government during the
Queens reign. The Irish local government
bill is a large. progressive measure, follow
ing in the main similar legislation for
England and Scotland. with notifications
required for reconcilng the land owners to
tenant rule. The passage of so complex a
scheme for the transfer of local adminis-
tration in Ireland from the old-time gov
erning class to the masses is a remarkable
achievement for the Unionist Ministry and
the remainder of the legislation of the ses-
sion is of unusual variety and Importance
1t has been busy and eventful session,
but ii has beer, in the language of the
smoking room of the Commons, deadly
dull politics."
The strangest anomaly is the facility with
been enacted without a struggle and hardly
a single angry or resentful debate in either
house. After the storm and stress of agi-
taton, obstruction and passion over Irish
legislation for a generation, there has been
= seat calm, when violent partisans have
become listless ard amicable, and nobody
has seemed to mind the war going on. There
Is systematic opposition to the measure
IN either house. The Liberals have been
Istless spectators; the Nationalist groups
have shown good temper and refrained
from their usual harsh acts and the Union
lists have voted with languid indifference
and ironical amusement.
In the Lords there is a disposition to be
critical respecting minor details and Lord
Londonderry the Duke of Abercorn and
Lord Morris have had recourse to gloomy
vaticination respecting impending corrup-
ton and disagreement: but the measure
will be accepted with possibly one or two
trivial amendments. 1t is the first Irish
measure which has been passed in thirty
years without a scene in either house or
contentious debate of any seriousness. Par
ties. factions and classes seem. TO have eX-
perienced a benignant change of heart on
Irish questions.
The marvellous shifting of temper in
Ireland and England is to be attributed
mainly to the touch of sympathy which Mr.
Of his life. BY his chivalrous championship
of Irish ideas he created an atmosphere for
the redress of grievances, and while he
failed to carry home rule, he forced his OPP
ponentS to bring in large measure OF
local government based democratic
principles. He softened the asperities of
Irish Judgment respecting England and
promoted a growth of good feeling between
hostile races. Disastrous as his home rule
policy proved for the Liberal party, ii was
triumphant as a practical eXpedient for ef-
1ecting a reconciliation between Ireland and
England. I4awlessness, outrages and politi-
cal crime have ceased in the island; OBJ
StructiOn is no longer the Nationalist
weapon at Westminster and there is a free
field for broad ard progressive reform
During so dull a session political reputa-
tions have remained unchanged Mr.. Gerald
BalfOur has shown capacity for discussing
intelligently the details of a complex meas
ure and is perhaps held in higher estimation
than he was at the opening of the year. Mr..
Arthur Balfour has had little nee0 to exert
himself in leading the House. Mr. Chamber
lain has been a silent figure during the ses-
sion and has been less constant in his at
tendance than he usually is. No new men
have come forward on the government side.
The security of a Ministry which is sup
ported by maoy OF G in fun TSeS
has been a lack of humor and of lively by
play in the proceedings. Everybody in the
Commons has seemed to be hopelessly bored
and certainly there has been a marked de-
cline in public interest in the de-
bates. Even reports of debates, illustrated
public
On the Liberal side there have been no
signs of either leadership or enthusiasm.
Sir William Harcourt has had no opposi-
ton for repeating his successful campaign
against the education bill of two years ago.
He caused temporary excitement by plung-
ing into a no popery" crusade for the
'benefices bill" but he was compelled to
draw out Immediately in difference to warn.
his party. He has led his side with state
ly dignity and has made no mistakes, but
there have been no chances for the display
of his tactical powers or for aggressive
leadership. He himself was censured for in
efficient leadership and was finally forced,
from motives of self-respect, to withdraw
from public life. Sir William Harcourt has
been the only leader of the opposition in
sight and While his bittereSt enemy cannot
justly condemn him for any error of Judg-
ment. his warmest admirer cannot claim
for him any high degree of success in har-
monizng the conflicting elements of his
party.
While the Liberals have been increasing
their poll in by-elections, the functions of
the opposition as a wel-organized and care
fully-disciplined body have we'll nigh ceased.
Neither Lord Rosbery nor Sir William Har-
court could form in an emergency govern
ment which would command unbroken Lib
eral support if armed with executive power.
Radicals would be certain to blacklist Lord
Rosebery as a Wing and "a peer who could
not be depended on to interest himself in
democratic measures like shorter parlia-
ments. the abolition of hereditary legisla-
tors salaried Commons, old age pensions,
state purchase of railways and other large
measures of state socialism. Sir William
Harcourt on the other hand, would find few
of his former Cabinet associates eager to
join a Ministry headed by himself. Mr.
John Morley would be loyal TO him, but
nearly all the other members of the front
opposition bench would prefer Lord Rose
berry.
There are so many things of disaffection,
of decentralization. on the Liberal side that
it is not probable that any leader can hope
TO unite the party. There are conferences
at the Reform Club. at which the reStora-
Lord ROSeDeTV Leadership
vaguely proposed and there. are alluring
solicitations from the National Liberal Club
smoking room to Sir William Harcourt 10
proclaim himself a Radical and to lead d
genuine democratic movement, but until the
two rivals. who are not supposed to be on
speaking terms, can be brought together
and reintroduced party diplomacy will be a
tinking cymbal Until there is a leader
armed with full authority for directing the
political action of the opposition the princi-
pal occupations of the Liberals will be sand
blowing in groups and hard swearing at one
another.
BUILDING UP BIG GUNS.