An interesting discussion on Welsh Disestablishment was opened by the
Bishop of St. Asaph. He admitted the impressive- ness of the character of the political representation of Wales— the only argument of any real significance ; but the principles of justice and honesty were greater than any political or national considerations. Lord Hugh Cecil, in an able address, contended that the minority in Wales was seriously under- represented in proportion to its numbers. But the most inte- resting feature in the discussion was the speech of the Dean of Carlisle, who, speaking as an old Liberal Churchman, declared that the only way to prevent the Bill passing was to impress the Government with the large volume of Liberal opinion against it. It was very hard, he observed, for an old Liberal who had been faithful to his party for fifty years to have to oppose it. He had always regarded Liberalism as an expression of justice, equal rights, and truth. But this Bill seemed to him to strike at the very roots of justice and honesty. The Archbishop of York also made a powerful appeal to Liberal Churchmen, especially in Parliament, to consider whether, at such a crisis, the claims of party allegiance should not be overruled.
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