Sir Stafford Nortlo,ute has made his first exercise of power
as the Chief of his Party. At a meeting of the Conservatives at the Carlton Club, on Thursday, he deprecated giving a decided negative to the Irish Land Bill, and proposed to meet it with a vague amendment, expressing the wish of the Conserva- tives to confirm and "secure in full efficiency the customs in Ire- land" (in other words, Ulster tenant-right), and to remedy proved defects in the Irish Laud Bill of 1870; but, beyond this, &daring. that it would be better to seek for the social and material improve- ments in that country by means of measures for the development of its industrial resources, rather than by a measure which con- fuses, without settling on a just and permanent basis, the rela- tions of landlord and tenant. And Lord John Manners has given notice of an amendment to this effect. The policy pro- posed is moderate, and so far wise, for the Conservatives would have been deserted by their own Irish supporters if they had. proposed any more resolute resistance to the Bill; but the actual terms of the amendment are superfluously vague, and do not point to anything on which Conservative feeling could definitely fasten.. If Sir Stafford had pressed a full compensation to the Irish land- lords as the main amend ment to be urged in Committee, he would. have shown more tact as a leader, for the general industrial development of Ireland are words of much sound and little meaning. Wise Conservatism should be moderate, but it should.. also be very definite.
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