Mr. O'Connor Power, in moving an amendment expressive of the
wish that the Irish land question should receive immediate attention, "with a view to legislation," reproached the Ministry with the meagre character of their programme, and with not touching at all in the Royal Speech on the most important ques:. tion before the country ; to which Mr. Gladstone, of course, re- plied that the Irish land question was of the highest possible portance, anti that it was impossible to reproach any Government of his with underrating its importance, but that the Queen's Speech did not usually touch on any legislation not immediately proposed; and that this subject was one far too important to take up in a fragmentary session, without anytime for careful deliber- ation. As to putting pressure upon Turkey to follow the advice of Europe, he accepted the phrase ; nor did he think it differed much from Sir Stafford Northcotc's phrase, of "insisting on - the fulfilment of the conditions of the Treaty." The Govern- ment would act in concert with Europe, and did not think that -the maintenance of the Ottoman Power in Europe was any special or separate interest of their own. We had no wish to obtain separate interests of our own in Asiatic Turkey, under cover of the Anglo-Turkish Convention. We desired to reno- vate the Turkish Administration, under the auspices of united Europe. Mr. Goschen's mission was intended to impress these views of ours on Turkey, and to convince her that we have no special anxiety of our own either for keeping her where she is, or for pushing her out of the way,—that our sole object in to renovate the administration of the provtices which she now misrules.
