Tue session of Parliament for 1881 wae considered all bat over when the last mail left, at least so far og regards making further progress with measures of first-rate importance, other than the Irish Land Bill, Phe massacre of the innocents had already commenced, and though tenderness for the feelings of some of his colleagues had induced the Premier to prolong, yet a short time, the exist. ence of the bantlings of which they were parents, it was known that the hardest of fates was in store for them.
Thus, Mr. Gladstone had not wholly pronounced the doom of the Bankruptey Bill, from which so much was expected, but it is quite certain it would not be proceeded with this year. The River Conservancy Bill, by which such disastrous floods as large districts in England have suffered from, particularly this year, were to be prevented; the Corrupt Practices Act, and the Endowed School and Hospitals (Scotland) Act, have been put out of pain, and thrown overboard. A number of other measures of less importance have sbared the same fate, and each mail, until the close of the session, will increase the number until the Cabinet Ministers, like so mary Macdnffs, weep for "all their pretty ones." Every one knows now the chief reasons for this failure of general legislation. The session hag been almost altogether occupied with Irish affairs, and the Coercion and Land Bills have been opposed in every regular and, we should think, in every irregular way. The Houses mot on the 6th of January, but the address was not voted until the 20th, instead of in one or two days, as has boon the conse formerly even when important amendments io it have been moved.
Four days after the address had been disposed of the Coercion Bill was introduced, and being fought inch by inch, practically occupied the whole of ince the early days in April may be said to have been taken up with the Land Bill, which at the time of writing has not yet passed into Inw. Now, although the blame for wasted days and nights is chiefly to be laid on the small band of Irish obstractionists, it is impossible to acquit the Government, and particularly Mr.
tone, of all share in having brought about a session practically barren of results'as far as England and Scotland are concerned. The Parnellite Irishmen were allowed to riot in disturbance, and to interpose every variety of annoyance to the House generally, before special powers to deal with them were conferred on the Speaker. In fact, the Irish malignants wore encouraged to set the Iaws of the House at defiance, as they had encouraged the Land League to break and defy the law in Ireland. The vacillation and weakness of the Government tempted the enemy, and gave them power of annoyance and defiance. The majority of the House consented at once, when asked, to arm the Speaker with power to close a debate when in his opinion it was being prolonged for the purposes of obstruction; and after scene or two the Parnellites were brought into subjection for a season. But there is no doubt the same extraordinary powers would have been granted weeks before had Mr. Gladstone demanded that they should be given. Part, at least, of the delay which ocourred early in the session: due to him. And, later on, when he proposed that the Land Bill should have precedence of other measures, the House readily assented. It seems, therefore, fair to suppose that if the Prime Minister had willed it, these Irish measures that have occupied almost the whole of the session might easily have been passed in much less time, While the Irish members are chiefly blameable for the wasted days and nights of the session, Mr. Gladstone has himself done a good deal to retard the progress of business, He undertakes duty in the House which would be much better discharged by his subordinates. His tongue overcomes and rans away with him, and he delights in having the last word, He mys himself open by this to be worried by his political opponents, and after being tormented in manner that would only have made Mr, D'Israeli smile, he bursts into long and passionate declamatory arguments and rebukes. He made the same mistake when ho was last in po and he is likely to continue to make it as long as ho sita on the Treasury bench. He transgresses the laws of prudent speech as often and as greatly as ever a member for the Land League. When during his enforced absence from the House in the past spring, the Marquis of Hartington was leader, business proceeded much more smoothly and rapidly. That noble Lord makes no pretensions to omniscience, and speaking, or mere pouring forth of words, has no fatal attraction for him, as for his leader. His practical, but stammering speech, doos not tempt the House into long and angry discussion; it seems rather to give it a sober desire to get the matter on hand settled as soon as possible, Had he been leader of the House during the whole session, the measures of the firat class which the Government introduced would probably been carried out, As it is, there is only the Land Bill to show for the wasted labours of more than eight months; for the Coercion Bill is merely a temporary measure rendered necessary by circumstances, which, it is to be hoped, will goon pass away. The postponed measures will be introduced. next session, but there is no assurance that they will pass the House of Commons. For there are Trish measures still unsettled, and it is likely enough that these will be introduced and forced on by the Parnellites who are not the men to subside into insignificance and silence after having tasted the pleasures of notoriety.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.