Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7904, 24 March 1887, Page 4

The Salisbury Government have at length thrown down the gauntlet to the Opposition. According to previous intimation the Secretary of State for Ireland has stated that the Government are prepared to bring down two measures for the settlement of affairs in Ireland, one dealing with the resistance ottered to the law of the country, the other dealing with the land question. The Crimes Bill will be first proceeded, with, and the announcement has been made that in the event of the Government being defeated on the motion that it take precedence, an appeal will bo made to the country. On the part of the Opposition the challenge has been taken

up ; and in pursuance of his notice that he: would resist the precedence motion, Mr. John Morley has moved that no facilities be given for greater stringency of the law in Ireland without security against the present excessive rents. The floor of the House is thus cleared for a regular stand-up fight, and it is consi« dered probable that the debate will last for a week. It were premature to speculate on the result; but there is, wo imagine, little doubt of tho Government gaining a decided majority. The prospect of having to appear so soon again before their constituencies, which a vote adverse to the Government would necessitate, is by no means a welcome one for many of the members. This, to* gether with the firm stand taken by the Cabinet, will compel those who, like Lord Churchill and Mr. Chamberlain, are disposed on small issues, to go off at a tangent from the party they are pledged by the result of last election to support, to abandon their attempts to construct an independent platform. It will also bring the Opposition face to face with the responsibility which they have been incurring in constructively lending countenance to the illegal proceedings of which Mr. Dillon and other members of the National League have been found guilty. From such a responsibility not a few of the moderate followers of the Liberal leaders may be expected to shrink. For many of them it would be rather awkward if they were obliged by events to seek re-election after disclosing a sympathy with those who are violating the law of the land. All things considered, it is not at all likely that this debate will unveil a formidable opposition to the Go* vernment'a Irish policy.