Year: 1869


voice of the House of Commons, has so pronounced
and cannot recede.


TIE IRISH CHURCH BILL-THREATENEp NON-


FLICT BETWEEN THE LORDS AND COMMONS.


The announced predetermlnation of the majority
Of the House of Lords TO reject the Ilsh CnuIcn
bill creates intense excitement, and threatens 10 pre-
ripitate in an eventual inevitable conflict between
the Lords and Commons. 1t is rumOred III some
Quarters that the announcement is only made to feel
the public pulse, and ascertain how lar the Lords
dare co. The general impression is that the bill will
he thrown out on its second reading. The Standard
rTory admits that the peril of the proposed action
s too obvious TO be ignored by the least thoughtful
Or conscientious of the hereditary legislators but
SAYS the Lords resolved in compliance with the
urgent demands Of tens and hundreds of thousands
Of people in every part of the country to risk all
IN a contest with an imperious minister, and with
The Overbearing majority in the House OF Commons
If crushed not only the church but the Constitution
falls with them the liberties of England will be
sacrificed to the ascendancy OF that democratic prlnc
pe which is tho most dangerous foe OF personal and
nolitcal freedom It matters not whether those who
approyed regret the decision to give battle. There
s nothing for them to do but to take their places in
the ranks and fight for all they hold dearest in the
full certainty that all is at stake Let the whole
Protestant and Conservative power of the realm be
exerted and give the Lords such support of public
opinion to restrain the struggle within the limits OF
the Constitution, and make self willed and over
bearing Minister always at heart tie enemy
of the Lords and likely to be exaspeTated by
his unexpected defeat, feel that there are
limits which he dare not pass. Already
have his organs threatened that which if done
Would call for impeachment. 1t is necessary that
he be made to feel that be dare not execute the
threat; and that he must not only deal with the
Lords but with the wealthy, resolute, and intuen-
ta classes of England and Ireland, who are the ac
tua majority of the English nation. The Morning
Post shows that rejection of the bill will not pre-
vent its ultimate passage, and dscredits the idea
that the Lords will refuse it second reading The
Star uses threatening language and says the Church
of Ireland must not cumber the ground after Decem-
ber; that the least which will be said will be pro-
claimed from the hOuse-tops viz. that the House Of
Lords is not more logical desirable excusable m
stitution than the Irish Church in the fever-heat
which will follow the rejection of the bill-a heat
such as has not been seen since Birmingham threat
ened to march on London in the name ofTefOm Cries
will be heard for the downfall of an obsolete
Chamber, no longer adisguised anachronism exist
ing by the decent Difference Of the popular will,
which, Wellington once said, ought never again to
be withheld With pure blindness of buzzards these
misguided noblemen require further proofs to be
convinced of the opinion of the country 1t is not
worth while TO attempt the demonstration of that
opinion When the issue comes, their lOTdships
will probably be wise in their time. The Necs
saws tho vote of the Lords will at the
worst postpone for a few months only the fate
of the Irish Church Its indirect effect VIII
be Qraver 1t will raise the question of the position
DC uoIsv of I-orae holds under the Constitution
The relations of the constituencies the House
of Commons, the Executive, aud the Crown
are selEadjusting; if a hitch occurs, the ma
chinery sets itself in order by its own action.
The House of Lords stands outside this system
It's good sense fails only when brought in harmony
with the rest of the Constitution, by the forcibe
obtruson upon it of number of members sufficient
TO overbear the opinions of the original body. A
biased jury has to be packed. Whether second
Chamber dOingit work upon these conditions can be
apermanent part Of the Government, the Lords seem
bent upon forcing the public to notice their position
The Peers threaten the revival of pretensions long
abandoned, viz: the old baronial attitude of the
medieval dayswhen the Commons were only allowed
the right of humble supphcatiOn and petition, and
not really to govern the country. The Telegraph
tmOderate) has timid article which concludes as
follows The country has spoken Enthusiastically and
finally If forced to speak again its accents viii no
longer be free from Indignation preserve the mood
of moderation which TO the last it desires earnestly
to maintain


THE EVE OF CRISIS.


The Times says we are on the eve of crisis. Moth
ing since the throes which preceded the Reform Bill
can be compared with the consequences which at
tend the threatened conduct of the Peers The re-
suit of the struggle is not doubtful If the Lords
succeeded at first they would be compelled to
Jergo a second tender of the measure which they
have rejected at first The results Of their
action touch all, put in jeopardy not only them
selves and their privilege, but the peace of
the great town and the maintenance of
law and order in the couutry-above all
they do their best TO provoke outbust Of passion
ate violence in an unhappy country the vast majority
of whose inhabitants the Lords propose to outrage
by contemptuous disregard of their wishes As TO
the majority the Opposition draw this conclusion,
tia; they are resolved TO intrench themselves in
tlicir own opinions, and rely upon their financial
power in disdain of the consequence TO themselves
and the Nation They win be rudely awakened from
their delusion. 1t cannot be doubtful which will
succeed in the contest. themselves or the Nation.
The only question is not whether
the power they think they possess IS to be proved
non-existent but whether the power which they
can exercise will not be so rrevocably broken as TO
vanish out of existence The outside papers, which
circulate more among the people talk very reyolu-
tionary The probability is the Lords will be alarmed
into the passage Of the bil but the mere fact OF
the announcement of the inclination and power to de-
feat it evidently exctes discussion adverse TO the
continuation of hereditary legislation.


LORD DERBY's sPEECH-GLADsTONE TO PRO


ROGUE PARLIAMENTARY PEERS


In reply to Conservative deputation to-day. Lord
Derby said he spoke unit in the House Of Lords,
not wishing 10 influence the minds or fetter the
tion of others. While many friends of the Irish
Church wish to amend not reject the bill for its dis