The Bill, of which Mr. Thomas Ellis moved the second
reading on Wednesday, for extending the principle of the Irish Land Act to Wales, was not supported by Mr. Glad- stone, who declared the Bill premature and the case for it not made out; while he advocated full inquiry into the grievances of the Welsh farmers, who assert that they have not been treated with the same consideration since the fall in the value of land, which English landlords have shown towards their English tenants. It is obvious that the Opposition leaders are getting a good deal alarmed at the contagiousness of their Irish propaganda, and intend to separate themselves, very firmly though very respectfully, from the Welsh Radicals, the result being that the second reading, which Mr. Chaplin resisted on behalf of the Government, was rejected by a majority of 121 (234 to 113). The Opposition are not guarding themselves too soon against the dangers of an anti-economic epidemic. Should they come into power this year, they will have to cope with demands on the part of many of their followers which they can neither resist without loss of popularity, nor concede without the most disastrous results.
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