The Irish standard., 1903-07-18
doing. But the papacy has an influence
everywhere, and it has to look after
everything"
THE LAND PURCHASE BILL.

THE LAND PURCHASE BILL.
The Irish land purchase bill has al
last been disposed of in committee of
the whole in the house Of commons,
and now awaits it's third reading and
final passage by that body. This last
act OF the commons will be but mat
ter Of form, and then the great meas
ure will be conveyed to the house of
lords, where, no doubt, it will suffer
from delays more than anything else.
The student of English politics is no
stranger to the curious methods adopt
ed at times by members of the upper
house when they feel like causing
trouble. 1t is safe to say that the
land purchase bill will be accorded a
very hattering greeting by the lords
in comparison to the chilly reception
given Mr.. Gladstones home rule bill
many years ago, but it must not be
supposed that the lords will permit
the bill to become law without some
opposition. AS near as the Irish
Standard can ascertain from the cable
and foreign exchanges ON this sub
ject, the result will be satisfactory in
the lords, though there are few men,
bers who seldom have an idea of any
thing practicable and who will en-
deavor to make an impression and get
their names in the public press by
their opposition to the passage of the
bill. Their efforts, however, will be
futile and the bill will pass the lords
with a good majority. How long it
will take to get this cumbersome
machinery in good working order on
the measure is matter of conjecture
at this time. If the opposition can
muster any forces at all the debate
may continue for many weeks, but it
is not at all likely that the opponents
of the bill, no matter how strong they
may appear, will be allowed to waste
too much time on measure that they
know little about. 1t is we'll known
fact that there is no more poorly in.
formed body Of men in the world on
matters pertaining to the best inter-
ests of their country than that of the
house of lords. This, of course, does
not imply that these men are illiterate
by any means, for some of them were
i'm, 1,ni, in, 1,ni
respective classes in Cambridge and
Oxford. Many of this aristocratic
body take little if any interest, in
matters of state, contenting them
selves with keeping their social en-
gagements, and allowing others to
look after matters of legislation. They
seldom appear in the upper house and
then only when they are gathered in
by the leader of their class to sup
port or vote against some measure.
What Il great blessing it would be to
England if this hereditary and aris-
tocratic house were abolished entirely,
or. at least, it's members selected by
popular vote like those of the COM
mons. Then the choice of the people
would be at the helm and reforms
much needed would receive proper at
tention. 1t would not surprise many
il such legislation came to pass. What
Tory member of parliament would
have dared to openly advocate in Eng
land five years ago such a measure as
the Irish land purchase bill? If one
were found so fearless he would have
been driven out of the party, termed
Il traitor to his country and branded
us unfit to speak for England OF her
laws. Yet we find a Tory ministry
formulate and push through parlia-
mcnt the best measure adopted for the
relief of Ireland in many years. Had
Queen Victoria stepped down from the
throne twenty-five years ago and in
vitcd her son. the present king. to take
her place. England would to-day be
fifty years in advance of what she is.
1t would appear to the casual observer
that the king is not going to let En-
peror William have all honors of pro-
@rcsSiveness. 1t will he Il great day
for England as we'll as Ireland when
t]c land purchase bill becomes law.