A discussion on the outrages in Ireland took place in
the House of Lords on Monday, questions being asked as to the Galway murder and the shocking display of feeling towards the widow of the murdered man after the murder,—a person having, for instance, gone about Woodford, shouting through the streets, "Finlay's soul is in Hell, and that is where he ought to be." Lord Spencer's reply came only to this,—that however bad the outrages and boycotting in Ireland may be, they were still worse at the end of last year under the late Government ; and that, therefore, there can be no special claim on the present Govern- ment to do what the late Government did not think it needful to do. We cannot think this a position which a tolerably strong Government would take. " If I am weak, you were weaker," may be a sufficient reason for not going back to former im- becility; it is no reason for acquiescing in your own weakness. Besides, every one knows that the National League, in the hope of getting an Irish Parliament which shall really repre sent them, is doing all in its power to discourage the more showy forms of outrage, lest they should put a spoke in the wheel of an Irish Parliament. This is not a motive for discountenancing- lawlessness which can be expected to outlast the temporary reason for so acting. It is painful to find such a man as Lord Spencer putting forward apologies like these.
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