31 JULY 1886, Page 1

Mr. Arthur Arnold's letter to Wednesday's Times indicates an intention

on the part of the Radicals to join the Par- nellites in refusing to vote the Estimates without some clear declaration of their Irish policy by the Government. Mr. Arnold states with perfect justice that "the Esti- mates were laid aside in order that the judgment of the country might be given upon the question of establishing a legislative body in Ireland for the transaction of Irish busi- ness ;" but when he goes on to say that "before Supply is granted to her Majesty, by whom this question was submitted to the people, they have a clear and Constitutional right to know what is the policy of the new advisers of the Crown," we think that these new advisers might be quite content to answer that they have received the support of the country in rejecting absc- lately the proposed legislative body in Ireland; that they intend to make a last resolute effort to enforce the law without going beyond the resources of the existing law ; but that if they do not succeed, they pledge themselves to call Parliament together in the autumn to consider further proposals. If they speak in that sense, and announce their intention of proposing a large settlement of the agrarian question, we are quite sure that the great majority of the House of Commons would dis- countenance any attempt to resist the granting of Supply by the Parnellites and their few Radical allies, as unconstitutional and factious.