Year: 1869

competency OF Parliament to pass sucn an aCt-oI
rather as Parliament is the sole judge
of its competency and no Supreme Court IN
England to pass political questions IN re-
view-the act of disendowment will be absolute
The legal title to all the revenues and funds of the
Church will be in the new Commission, and cannot |
be got ont of their hands by judicial vetoes or judi
cal interpretations in of law that all the
world knows was passed in another.


The funds Of the Church being thus disposed OF, |
it is reasonable to allow time for the organiza-
tOn of voluntary system to take the place of the
existing Establishment Mr. Gladstone thinks lS |
months will be enough butintimates that if pressed
no may allow longer time. But some day will be
fixed certainly not later than 1872, on which the
Irish Church will cease to be State Church, Its
union with the Church of England dissolved the
Ecclesiastical Courts Ireland be abolished the
Ecclesiastical jurisdiction cease, the Ecclesiastical
laws no longer have authority and the Irish Bishops
no longer be Peers or sit in the House of Lords
which latter take to be one of the most gratifying
incidents of this piece of legislation, sure also to be
followed at some day by the exclusion of the English
Bishops as we'll The day will come the sooner for
the violent and foolish opposition they have offered
to the present measure.


When both Disestablishment and Disendowment
arc complete, what arc called the vested interests OF
incumbents are to be preserved by the payment OF
their incomes during life, SO long as they continue
TO discharge their duties The Church will retain its
private mountaineering money contributed from
private sources since 16G0-and its edices on condl-
ton of maintaining them for public worship, the
State further undertaking to supply funds for keep
ing up certain cathedras which are considered ma
tional monuments.


The total value of the property Of which the State
takes charge computed at 0OO0OO-abOut $780,
Of VII off
needed TO secure vested interests, there will remain
mark this-a surplus of nearly one half the whole
sum- The answer to the question what shall be
done with this vast fund, is the third great feature of
the bl-much discussed out Of doors since the last
session. 1t had been proposed to employ it in public
works or for railways or in relief OF the poor-rates
or finally and most generally to education. MT.
Gadsones objections to all but the last are forcble
lie has nothing to say against using the 1und 1or
promoting education, except that it might give rise
TO the suspicion of being endeavor to get rid OF
theannual grant-which surely might be continued
or to controversies to what system should be los
tered by tho Government objection as fatal to the
employment of any other funds as of these. Indeed,
the very summary dismissal of the point in his
speech showed plainly enough that to Mr. Glad
stones mind the objections were not conclusive,
as they certainly do not meet the general expecta
ton. 1t was absolutely unknown what the Ministry
had resolved on SO well had the secTect been kept
and Mr.. Gladstone held his audience long in sus-
pense while he mentioned and dismissed, in success
sion, each of the above proposals. The final an
| nouncement that the money was to go in public
| charities, not included in the Poor Law, proved
genuine surprise. The sum is large that it seems
out of proportion for such objects i'll country like
Ireland. although against the objects themselves
| lunatc and idiot asylums deaf and dumb and blind
! schools training schools for nurses county intrma-
ries and reformltories-not word can be said. But
this part OF his speech certainly that which has


least satisfied his party OF the public have sent you
| in another form complete analysis of the BILL so
| | need not attempt to crowd further details into
this letter. / should bo glad TO take more
time for comment on Mr. Gladstones speech, but this
is hardly the place. As it was more than eleven col


ums in length, l don't suppose you have found room
for the whole of it; but those who have access to
English files will do well to read it carefully through
| if they wish to get in single speech favorable
| view of Mr.. Gladstone's power parliamentary
orator 1t would be difficult to quote any single pas
sage Of remarkable brilliancy. The force of the
speech belongs TO the speech whole to its struc-
ture and not to its ornamentation. The peroration
has been much praised but it is inferior TO perora-
tons of come other speeches of Mr. Gladstone, while
in elevation of thought and splendoro dictionit will


not Dear comparison bnOSe VI DIlgut. luo
opening is better-easy, suggestive, and cOncise-and
there are fine specimens Of kind of debating power
peculiar to tho House of Commons. mean the re-
sponse of the orator to the interruptions Of his Oppo
nents and especially that kind of interruption which
! breaks in upon an unfinished statement with iron
ical cheers for the first half of It, Take or two
instances: We shall be told" said the orator. that
this measure is adverse TO the interests of Protest
antism," Hear hear from the OppositionI :" but we
shall point TO the condition of Ireland and shall argue
from the facts of that condition that the interests of
Professionalism have not been promoted" lCheers
| from the Ministerial benches. I've shall be told,
perhaps that invading the rights of property
! lHear, hear from the ToEies Z" No possible con-
fdence can be greater than that with which shall
meet that argument" Ministerial cheers.l The
came Grgumentatye cadence occurs often. In fact,
the first half of the sentence is kind of trap for Op
| position cheers which only serve to emphasize the
other side of statement, which by their help has
all the effect Of instantaneous retort' Mr. Dlsraeh
bore unwOnted testimony TO the merits of his success
full rivals speech. in announcing his intention still to
oppose the policy which the right honorable gentle
man has so fully, 30 adequately. and 80 elOQuently
placed before the House this evening" To tho
merits of the bill explained in the speech he bore
still stronger testimony by demanding three weeks
time to consider how il might best be opposed. Mr..
Gladstone was gracious-he is apt to be little too
gracious in such matters-and gave him till Thurs
day fortnight g. W. s.