GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. (TnE SESSION OF PAKLIAMENT.) 451 



The new ministers took np the task of legisla- 

 tion with more vigor than their predecessors 

 displayed. Following the guidance of Lord 

 Randolph Churchill, the Conservatives formed 

 a combination with the Irish party. In the 

 negotiations with Mr. Gladstone no mention 

 was made of the crimes act, but it was under- 

 stood that it would be allowed to lapse. Lord 

 Salisbury and Lord Randolph Churchill were 

 called upon to explain previous declarations 

 on both Irish and foreign affairs, but they 

 made no attempt to harmonize their language 

 in opposition with the policy they adopted as 

 responsible ministers. In the statement made 

 by Lord Salisbury, as soon as the composition 

 of the Cabinet was arranged, he did not men- 

 tion Irish affairs. The foreign policy of the 

 Government was limited by the arrangements 

 made by the retiring ministers. The Conserva- 

 tives were in a position to claim credit for 

 putting an end to disturbing complications 

 without being held responsible for 

 the course imposed upon them by 

 the conditions under which they as- 

 sumed office. Although the uncer- 

 tainty of their tenure was unfavorable 

 to the conduct of diplomatic affairs, 

 yet the foreign relations of Great 

 Britain proceeded more smoothly in 

 Lord Salisbury's hands than under 

 Lord Granville's direction. The Af- 

 ghan dispute was already settled in 

 principle by the concession of Penj- 

 deh and the final acceptance of the 

 Lessar boundary. By obtaining a tri- 

 fling abatement of the Russian claims 

 in respect to Zulfikar, the Cabinet 

 could claim to have made better terms 

 than the Gladstone ministry were able 

 to obtain. The men of both parties 

 were agreed that no reliance could 

 be placed upon Afghanistan as a 

 " buffer," and approved of strength- 

 ening the Indian defenses, and estab- 

 lishing a "scientific frontier," while 

 the military authorities were inclined 

 to consider the actual frontier settled 

 upon by the Gladstone Government a j 

 good strategic boundary. In regard 

 to Egypt, Lord Salisbury contended 

 that, in view of the financial and mili- 

 tary dangers, it was impossible to 

 bring the British occupation to an 

 end. The Egyptian convention, which 

 was strongly criticised by the Tories, 

 but was carried in March, on the plea 

 of urgency, by a vote of 294 to 246, 

 still remained unexecuted. The Tory 

 Cabinet was now enabled, by the good- will of 

 the powers and the favor of Prince Bismarck, 

 to issue the Egyptian loan. 



Lord Carnarvon, who was left by the Prime 

 -Minister to unfold the Irish policy of the Gov- 

 ernment, stated his intention to govern in Ire- 

 land with the ordinary law only. It was an- 

 nounced that the laborers' bill would be 



proceeded with, and that Lord Ashbourne 

 would bring in a land - purchase bill. The 

 Irish party was determined to force the Con- 

 servatives to take an unquestionable position 

 on the Irish question, and the Tory politicians 

 were not unwilling to join in reflections on 

 the Spencer administration that provoked Mr. 

 Gladstone and Mr. Chamberlain to defend co- 

 ercion. Mr. Parnell revived the Maantrasna 

 controversy, and demanded an investigation. 

 The Government opposed a parliamentary in- 

 quiry, but promised that Lord Carnarvon 

 would investigate fairly any case brought be- 

 fore him. The cool desertion of their former 

 allies in defense of a rigorous government in 

 Ireland exasperated Lord Hartington and Sir 

 William Harcourt. The former read a letter 

 from Mr. Gladstone, commending the admin- 

 istration of Earl Spencer. Lord Randolph 

 Churchill and Sir John Gorst, the Solicitor- 

 General, went beyond the Chancellor of the 



THE EARL OP CARNARVON, 

 Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. 



Exchequer in disparaging coercion and insinu- 

 ating a belief in the charges against the Whig 

 rule in Ireland. One or two Tories of the old 

 school revolted against the " Maantrasna alli- 

 ance." With the help of the Parnellites the 

 Government was able to carry its financial 

 measures before the close of July. The minis- 

 try could with justice shift the responsibility 



