Mr. Goschen, in a speech delivered in Rossendale on Wed-
nesday, offered a most formidable Parliamentary argument against the premature creation of Iris& County Councils. He said that the Government Bill for making light railways in Ireland had been resisted by the Irish Members, Mr. Dillon even observing that he was glad to have a new Irish grievance. The clauses in the Land-Purchase Bill dealing with the con- gested districts enabled the Government to encourage fishing, or any other industry, and to help in consolidating scattered holdings ; yet Mr. Parnell specially denounced the clauses about congested districts,—though, curiously enough, he forgot when he sat down that he had not dealt with them. How is it possible, asked Mr. Goschen, when the Irish Party thus receives such offers, to deal with local self-government so that they shall be satisfied? "Gentlemen, they do not wish us to succeed." That is, in a sentence, the core of the whole matter, and it makes discussion only a waste of time. Mr. Goschen denied the foolish rumours of a dissolution. "We are anxious that this Parliament of Alliances, of the alliance between Hartington and Salisbury, between Gladstone and Parnell," should prove to the full its competence to the tasks imposed on it.
Previous page
