Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1888-07-28 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE STOCKTON HERALD.  policy were opportune, coming at a time when some ambitious Frenchmen are restlessly promoting clumsy plans for the overthrow of the Republic and for the restoration of a Monarchy, and who think that these results can be best achieved by means of a gre:et military conflict. M. Waddington takes a very sanguine view of the present outlook. He thinks France has now exceptionally strong guarantees for the maintenance of peace. One of these is that war would now more than ever be unpopular. And this was the reason he gave: So many mothers, in the event of war breaking out, would require to give their sons to their country that the very possibility of such a contingency makes them strive and work for the continuance of peace. M. Waddington is no doubt right, but only to a certain extent. The desire for peace does not always, not even generally, prevent war. It has seldom been the people that have made wars, and when military conflicts occur the people are not consulted, or if they are, :Liey are generally deceived. N )w, of course, the position is different in France teem what it was in Napoleon's days, and we sincerely Lope that M. Waddington's calculations may be realised in all their fulness.  IRELAND and Irish questions in many forms continue to monopolise attention in this country. Demonstrations of Liberals, some on a large scale, and others of a more local character, have during the past week been held in many parts of England and in Scotland. At all the meetings the Irish policy of the Government has been strongly denounced, while an earnest demand has been made for Mr Dillon's release. The anxiety felt for Mr Dillon has been intensified by the revelations in the Mandeville inquest of the horrors of prison life in Ireland, and it is probable that the English people will not cease their cry on Mr Dillon's behalf until the prison doors are open to him, or, at all events, until assurances are given that he will not be maltreated as Mr Mandeville was. A rumour has been revived that the Cabinet recently passed through a crisis in connection with Mr Dillon's case. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, who was once an Irish Secretary, urged at a r.leeting of the Cabinet that Mr Dillon should in prisen be treated as a first-class mislemeanant, but Mr Balfour sternly rebuked his merciful colleague, and went the length of threatening resignation if the Cabinet yielded to the plea of leniency. Mr Balfour is Lord Salisbury's nephew,aud he, of course, prevailed.  THE Parnell Commission Bill has been read a second time, but it was not accepted without comment, as the Government desired it-skould be, and as Mr Smith at first said it must be,else it would be withdrawn. The debate occupied two days, and the Liberals acquitted themselves splendidly. The speaking was of a high order. The Government was pressed closely to define the scope of the enquiry, and to formulate the charges, but the Ministers, who spoke and acted more like men on their trial than the Parnellites, stubbornly refused this simple and just demand. The fact is, the Government has found that it has no substantial charges to formulate, and that the only safety lies in making the Commission's instructions so wide and far-reaching that the enquiry will be vexations alike by reason of its cost and its length. But the Parnellites are wisely keeping the Government to the pledge to give an investigation, and in the Committee stage of the Bill the Opposition will i endeavour to eliminate the worst features of the measure. •  THE Mandeville inquest, and that also held on the body of the doctor of Tullamore Gaol, who committed suicide, preferring death to appearance as a witness to speak to the system of .phson management, have attracted world - wide attention. The evidence of some of the witnesses as to the treatment Mr Mandeville received has shocked humanity. and it has aroused terribly bitter feelings against the Government which inspires and tolerates the barbarities which have been perpetrated.  Tn Vandelenr evictions are in progress. The Government is represented by strong forces of police and by the military. Some cases of extraordinary hardship have been reported, and the proceedings are bound to command attention in Parliament, where the Government ought to be called to sharp account for the heartless work which is going on. It is surprising that the Irish members are able to observe the restraint they do in Parliament considering all that is happening in Ireland at the present time. Nobody will blame them— at least, nobody who cares more for the ilrish peasant than for sport on the 11 moors on the 12th August—if they, by raising their voices on behalf of the oppressed people they represent, keep Parliament sitting beyond the day sacred to St. Grouse.  THE Speaker hag been taught this week that in some respects he is like other members. On Friday night there was a great scene in the House of Commons, the result of which was that Mr Conybeare was suspended for a reflection upon a ruling by the Speaker, who had, as was alleged, allowed the closure rule to be abused, having sanctioned its application to suppress a debate upon an Irish Bill before a single Irish member had been permitted to speak. This week the Speaker's constituents have had his conduct under review, and Mr Peel has been obliged to read some very plain words regarding his behaviour. There are, it has been made manifest, some people in Leamington who do not like his procedure, and who are resolved not to be held in any way responsible for his actions.  Ma and Mrs Gladstone entered on Wednesday upon the jubilee year of their marriage. They received congratulations from friends and admirers in many parts of the world, and they held a reception in London, which was numerously attended. Both Mr and Mrs Gladstone were on this occasion presented with their portraits. The event has excited much interest not only in Parliamentary circles, but all over the country.  SOME years ago Mrs Gladstone expressed to a friend her feeling of longing that the remaining years of the lives of her husband and herself might be spent in quiet and peaceful retirement, removed from the din and the harassment of political warfare; but private inclinations have with her, as with Mr Gladstone, been always ranked secondary to public interests, and the wife and the husband whose service and years well entitle them to repose have never been heard to grudge the sacrifice of personal comfort which the public demands upon them are entailing. They both feel that the cause they are striving to achieve, and with certainty of glorious and abiding success, is one which is deserving of their warmest sympathy and their highest and strongest effort.