THE ENGLISH CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 40, 29 January 1886, Page 15

THE ENGLISH CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT.

§ORD SALISBURY'S Ministry has sustained a crushing defeat. This must not have been unexpected by him. His tenure of office depended entirely on the support of the Irish Homo Rule members, and certainly the dispatch of a London bookseller with almost dictatorial power to Ireland to rule the people there and the introduc- *~ tion of a Coercion Bill in order to put down the National League, etc., were not measures calculated to win their

support. On Mr. Jesse Collinos' amendment to the Address, the Irish members succeeded in defeating the Government and have thus secured victory No. I in the new Parliament. It is now very probable that the Conservative Government will resign. Unable to carry their motion on the Address it is impossible for them to continue in office, so there is an end of the Conservative regime for the present. What sort of Government is likely to succeed ? Some of the leading Whigs, such as Lord Hartington aud Mr. Goschen voted against Mr. Collinos' amendment and with the Government. Are these and their friends about to desert the Liberal party and throw in their lot with the Tories ? And should they do so, will the number of deserters enable Government to retrieve their defeat and defy Mr. Parnell ? We shall see. Meantime, our own opinion is that Mr. Gladstone will be called upon to forma new Ministry. But the important question is, what will be his policy for Ireland, for on this depends his tenure of office. Certainly he c«m Uave no security in the present Parliament of remaining in power any great length of time, unless he comes to terms with the Irish Nationalists. Should he fail to do this nothing remains for him or any other English party, but a new appeal to the country. We are aware that great hopes are entertained by the Radicals that such an appealjwould in the present circumstances result in such a majority for them as would enable them to defy the Irish Members. This, however, is far from being certain. Were another election to take place, Ireland would return an almost unanimous vote in favour of Home Rule, and this would be an expression of opinion which could not possibly be disregarded. Nor is it so certain that England would listen to the demand of the Radicals or any other party to defy Irish public opinion. The contrary is more likely, the vast majority in both countries have grievances in common, and the probability is that the masses in both countries will make common cause and unite against landlordism and capital. The programme of those who hope the English electors will unite to tyrannise over the Irish' people is a dangerous one, far and away more dangerous to the English aristocracy than anything Mr. Parnell has proposed. Such men as Mr. Gladstone see this plainly, and are therefore prepared, we have no doubt, to do justice to all, even though this should be accompanied with the loss of class pre-eminence and privilege. On the whole, therefore, the probability is that Mr. Gladstone will return to power pledged to grant large concessions to Ireland, even Home Rule itself. He is too far-seeing a man to provoke republican reprisals and too devoted to the throne to imperil its existence by refusing to do justice to a nation. Owing to the Union, Ireland has been plundered and beggared, is now iv poverty. Owing to the Union, her manufactures have been ruined and her commerce destroyed. Owing to the Union, no Irishman is permitted to hold an important place in the government of his own country, and it rarely or never happens that an Irishman of any party is permitted to be a member of the Cabinet. Owing to the Union, Ireland has been habitually handed over to shave-beggar politicians to practise their prentice hand, and the destinies of a nation have been handed over to the tender mercies of beardless boys and London booksellers. Owing to the Union, Irishmen have been habitually treated with not only neglect, butcontempt in their own country by the government of the day. Owing to the Union, every dearest interestof Ireland has been sacri6ed to supposed English interests or absolutely neglected. Under such eireu instances nothing but the restoration of her own Parliament can or ought to satisfy Ireland, and it is vain for English parties to expoct to be able to hold office unless on the condition that the Ministry of the day will do its best to repeal the accursed Union

The Dominican Convent High School, Dunedin, wi,l resume ■todies on Tuesday next, February 2.

Tickets for the opening of the Danedin Cathedral may be obained from the clergy of the mission, or from Messrs. F. Meenan, M. Fagan and J. A. Macedo, as well aa at the office of this r-aier.

At a meeting of the committee of reception and arr-u Yemenis held in the Christian Brothers' schoolroom, Dunedin, on Tnursday evening the 21st inst., the name of Mr. W. H. McKeay, i itir., was added to the list of members.

" The swift tword of Erin," has been once more wielded with » vengeance in the H use of Commons.— Notice of a Government Bill for the renewed coercion of Ireland has been immediately followed by the defeat of the Government, on an Amendment to the Address-

jin Beply carried by the Parnellites with a majority of 79. Lord Salisbury was expected at once to tender his resignation to her Majesty. So may all the enemies of Ireland perish. I The usual meeting of the Danedin Catholic Literary Society, was held on the 22nd inst., when Mr. O'Neill read a paper on I " Shams," written by Mr. James Eager, whu was unable to be present | m person. Mr. O'Neill, however, did full justice to the paper, which was written in Mr. Eager's best style, and was warmly praised by the critics. A recitation by Mr. Carohn, and a reading from Dickent by Mr. Power, were both much above; the average, and were well received by the members. We regret to learn that Chriatchurch is about to suffer a serioua loss m the departure of Dr. Doyle who has taken over the practice of Dr. Moloney of Melbourne.— Our friends in the City of the Plains are losing not only a skilful physician and an accomplished gentlemen, but a genial and thoroughly patriotic irishman, who has not hesitated at any time to come forward in aid of his country's cause We heartily wish the worthy doctor success in his new sphere and all the happiness that he so fully deserves both in his professional and his private capacity. It would be interesting to learn what has become of all the tenderness of heart poured out so gushingly over the alleged illtreatment visited on prisoners in the Dunedin Gaoldnringithe gaolership of Mr. Caldwell. Has the sympathy of all these soft-hearted people melted into thin air, or how has their charity towards their neighbour become less fervent ? However it be, there are none of them to protest against the barbarity at present in full swing and whereby, for example, one unfortunate is condemned to 86 days cumulative punishment, 57 of which have been (served, on bread and .water in solitary confinement ? Behold an illustration of the milder system as introduced and administered by Captain Hume. It xb to be hoped nevertheless, that some one or another bold enough to brave the indignation of the " quality " at Wellington, and adopting our own Wide and vulgar but honest course, will find a way to the ear of those who are in authority, and persuade them to inquire a little more closely into the management of the prisons and the manner in which the former cruelty has been replaced. The case to which we allude is a blot on our civilisation. That it should affect a gallant reputation, however, is not to be thought of even for a moment.