1 OCTOBER 1887, Page 2

The remainder of the speech interests us less. It is

only a reiteration in fine English of the statement that England and Scotland are needing reforms which are stopped by the Irish agitation and the methods of it promoters. These reforms, in Mr. Chamberlain's opinion, are Disestablishment in Scotland and Wales, local self-government everywhere, new temperance laws, more economy in expenditure, and as a pressing necessity, better measures for the security of life at sea. Upon this last subject Mr. Chamberlain waxed warm, and indig- nantly contrasted the hot feeling of the humanitarians when three lives were lost at Mitchelstown, with their tepid indifference to the destruction of the thousands of industrious sailors annually drowned from causes which shipowners could prevent. The law which permits an owner to profit by the loss of his vessel "is nothing less than scandalous." That is all true in principle, though our list of needed reforms would be a different one ; but what hope is there while the Liberal Party supports the Irish Members—or, if you will, tolerates them—in attempting to make Parliamentary government impossible P