Mr. Gibson on the same day delivered a very different
speech at Edinburgh. It was intensely Conservative in tone, but gravely argumentative, and except in the last few sentences entirely free from vituperation. Mr. Gibson deplores the working of the Land Act, which he thinks has reduced rents contrary to the intention of Parliament, especially old rents which have been paid for long periods without demur; but he is far from despair- ing about Ireland. He thinks the virtues will, in the long run, beat the vices there. His chief suggestion is a new valuation, to guide the Land Courts ; but as he admits this would take three years, it is not very practical. The Land Courts are roughly revaluing estates. Mr. Gibson declared himself strongly opposed to the Closure, on the grounds that existing methods have proved sufficient, and could be strengthened ; that the power of Closure must be left to an individual, con- trary to British practice ; and that men who desire to speak on important subjects ought not to be prevented. The first argu- ment is, of course, final, if it is true, but it is not ; the second is unfounded, because the power would be vested in the House ; and as to the third, did Mr. Gibson ever mow a debate in which speakers who wished to speak were not stopped by the general decision to divide ? No form of closure will ever stop debate so completely and so arbitrarily as the arrangements of the leaders used to do, in the days when the House obeyed its chiefs.
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