The Weekly Gazette for Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool and Cleveland District. — 1880-12-18 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

PUBLIC MEN ON THE SITUATION. '  On Sunday' the Bishop of Manchester, preaching at the Oldham Parish Church Jubilee, alluded to the Irish question, and said that in 1830 there was a great failure of potato crops in Ireland. Then there were outrages the same as now; but he asked if we had not the faith and courage of our forefather., and whether we would endeavour to hand down to posterity a heritage not only untarnished and undiminished, but enlarged and invigorated. Mr Jacob Bright, M.P., and Mr Slagg, M.P., addressed a meetingllu the Congregational Schools, Manchester, on Saturday night. Replying to a vote of confidence, Mr Bright said that Ereiland had the greatest possible interest in doing justice to Ireland, and in giving security to her industry England bad every selssh interest that could be imagined.' If they could, therefore, gradually build. up Irish industries, and it they could gradually come to such a point in the cultivation of her lands, so that they would double the prodnction ; if they made the people contented and secure, he thought it would do away with the need of coercion. Englishmen wanted to do their duty, whatever might be the result; they wanted to do everje,hing that was in their power for the. good of Ireland.—Mr Siagg said that if the House of Lords had been wise enough to pass the Irish Disturbance Bill it would have been impossible for Mr Parnell to haire produced the condition •of things that his followers had done. They could not allow any body of men to stand between the country and a question of such momentous importance as that now at issue in Ireland. A resolution urging the Government to introduce such measures as would deal jastly with the people of Ireland was passed. Lord Poltimore, addressing his tenantry and tradesmen dining with him at Poltimore Park on Saturday night in honour of his son's majority, contrasted the position of English and Irish landlords. The agitation , in Ireland was supposed to be agakst excessive rents; but the movement had a far deeper meaning, for it Was really in favour of Communism. It seemed to him that, whilst we had been sympathising with Bulgaria and other countries, we had forgotten the sister island, and things had been allowed to procoal unchecked until now, when anarchy reigned supreme and the law was powerless. Unless the present state of things WS6 speedily checked, the consequences would be most disastrous.  Mr C. B. Denison, M.P., speaking at the Conservative Club, Padsev, on Monday night, Bald there was no liberty in Ireland except for seditious mgnes and murderers. He hoped loyal subj...cts were not to be butchered because" Brummagem"polities were opposed to.necesserry measures. Mr Forster was like a child in dealing with Irish matters. Sir Caarles Duke addressed his constituents on Monday night at, Kensington. Referring to Ireland, be 'aid he was con. vincei that it was the intention of the Government to accompany any measures of repressive legislation which might unhappily be required with such remedial measures OA a large reform of the land laws. It was the intention of the Government that their whole Irish policy should be presented to Parliament at once on January 6th. Before next session closed he hoped the assimilation of the borough and county franchise wou4 be passed.