After the storm, a calm and rather muggy weather. The
debate ou the second reading of the Irish Coercion Bill commenced yesterday week, and terminated last Wednesday, after a discussion lasting through four full sittings, which was, on the whole, a flat one. Mr. Forster, in moving the second reading, and in the short reply which immediately pre- ceded the division, declared that the Bill was not aimed at the Land League, and was not even justified by the outrages, but was justified by the complete failure of the ordinary law to bring the perpetrators of the outrages to justice, and to give the protection to loyal citizens which they deserved. It was the fullest purpose of the Government to minimise, as much as possible, the use of the extraordinary powers for which they asked, and to bring before Parliament as soon as possible the real remedy for Irish discontent, in the shape of a strong and maturely considered land reform. The rejec- tion of the Bill was moved by Mr. Bradlaugh, in a speech well described as a good specimen of the " hollering " typo of speech. Lord Randolph Churchill made a long attack on the Liberal party for its fondness for Coercive Bills, and on the Government for having stirred up Ireland by making it the battle-ground of party ; and he gave utterance to great search- lugs of heart as to whether he dare trust a Minister who had used the ordinary law so inefficiently as Mr. Forster, with extraordinary powers. Mr. Jesse Collings resisted the Bill, which was strongly supported by the late Tory Attorney- General, Mr. Gibson, who declared that the Irish snake was now "simulating coma," but would wake up at once if Par- liament showed any deficiency of resolution ; while Mr. A. M. Sullivan excused the outrages of Kerry peasants, by reciting the outrages of Charles I.'s Star Chamber on Prynne.
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