The record-union., 1898-08-07
Though a Greater Amount Of Useful Work
Has Been Done
Than in Any Single Year of Con-
servative Government During
the Queens Reign-The Passage
of the Irish Local Government
Bill a Remarkable Achievement
for the Unionist Ministry.

which England has known for a gener-
alton is drawing to a close, with the
Irish local government advanced in the
Lords to the committee stage and with
the benefices, criminal case evidence
and other measures astpractical proofs
of legislative industry. Stagnant poll
tics has not impeded idleness on the
part of the law w-malxerS. 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, following
the main lines of similar legislation for
England and Scotland, with modifica-
tions required for reconciling the land
owners to tenant rule. The passage Of
so complex a scheme for the transfer of
local administration in Ireland from
the old-time governing class to the
masses is a remarkable achievement
for the Unionist Ministry, and the re-
mainder of the legislation of the session
is of unusual variety and Importance.
1t has been busy and fruitful session,
but it has been, in the language of the
smoking-room of the Commons, dead
ly dull politics.
The strangest anamoly has been the
facility with which an Irish bill Of great
struggle and hardly a single angry or
resentful debate in either house.
After the storm and stress of agita-
ton, obstruction and passion over Irish
legislation for a generation, there has
been a great calm, when violent parti-
sans have become listless and amicable
and nobody has seemed to mind what
was going on There has been no sys-
tematic opposition to the measure in
either house. The Liberals have been
1istless spectators: the Nationalist
groups have shown good temper and
refrained from their usual harassing
tactics, and the Unionists have voted
with languid Indifference and cynical
amusement In the Lords there is
disposition to be critical respecting
minor details, and Lord Londonderry,
the Duke of Abercorn and Lord Morris
have recourse to gloomy vaticination
respecting impending corruption and
misgovernments, 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 scene In either
house or contentious debate Of any Sc
robustness. Parties, factions and classes
seem to have experienced a benignant
change of heart on Irish questions.
Inc marvellous Ol ltillpei III
the relations of Ireland and England is
to be attributed mainly to the touch of
sympathy which Mr.. Gladstone supplied
Nv the closing wears 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
opponents to bring in large measure
of local government based on demo-
cratic principles. He softened the as
perities of Irish judgment respecting
England and prompted a growth Of
good feeling between hostile races. Dis
astrous as his home rule policy proved
for the Liberal party, 1t was triumph
ant as practical expedient for effect
ing a reconciliation between Ireland
and England Lawlessness, outrage
and political crime have. ceased in the
island; obstruction is no longer the
Nationalist weapon at Westminster,
and there is a free field for broad and
progressive reform measures.
During so dull a session political rep
utations have remained unchanged.
Gerald Balfour has shown capacity
for discussing intelligently the details
of a complex measure and Is perhaps
held in higher estimation than ne
was at the opening Of the year Ar
thur Balfour has had little need to
exert himself in leading the house. Mr..
Chamberlain has been a silent figure
during the session, and has been less
constant in his attendance than he
usually is No new men have come
forward on the Government side. The
security of a Ministry which Is sup
ported by a majority Of 40 in full
house has tended TO paralyze debate.
There has been lack Of humor and or
lively by-play in the proceedings.
Everybody in the Commons has seemed
to be hopelessly bored, and certainly
there has been marked decline In
public interest in the debates. Even
reports Of debates, illustrated with car
toons, have failed to interest the pub
lie.
on the Liberal side there have been
no signs Of either leadership or en-
thusiasm. Sir William Harcourt has
no opportunity for repeating his sue
cessful campaign against the educa-
ton bill Of two years ago. He caused
temporary excitement by plunging into
..no popery" crusade over the benefices
bill. but he was compelled to draw out
Immediately in Difference to warnings
received from timorolls members Of his
marty. He has led his side with state
iv dignity and has made no mistakes,
display of his tactful powers or aggres-
siye leadership. He himself was CEN
srred for inefficient leadership and was
finally forced from motives of self-re-
spect TO withdraw from public life.
Sir William Harcourt has been the
only leader of the opposition in sight
and. while his bitterest enemies cannot
Justly condemn him for any error of
Judgment, his warmest admirers cannot
claim for him any high degree of sue
cess in harmonizing the conflicting
g sentiments of his party.
n While the Liberals have been increas-
ing the poll in bye elections. the func-
tions of the opposition of well-organ-
rized and carefully disciplined body
have we'll nigh ceased. Neither Lord
Rosebery nor Sir William Harcourt
could form in an emergency govern
i. snent which would command unbroken
Liberal support If armed with execu-
tive power Radicals would be certain
TO blacklist Lord Rosebery as a Whig
and Peer, who could not be depended