The debate on the Address collapsed on Tuesday night, some-
what unexpectedly. Mr. Sexton, who would be the recognised leader of the Parnellites, but for his feeble health, delivered to a rather thin house a lengthy speech, said to have produced a marked effect. We have commented on it elsewhere, but may say here that though eloquent and well sounding, it was marked by a total absence of argument, except as to the necessity for a Land Act ; by a reckless misrepresentation of facts, and an acrid hatred of the Liberal, and, indeed, of any British Govern- ment. Its general object was to maintain that, in advising "no rent," the Land League meant to advise the purchase of land- lords' rights "at twenty years' purchase ;" that the Land Act would only reduce rents by £1,500,000 on 217,000,000, and had consequently failed; and that Ireland would never cease how the present agitation until she had regained her "liberties,"
legislative independence and a national Parliament. It was expected that the debate would continue, but no Minister replied; the mass of Members were away, under some mistake about the division, and Mr. McCarthy's amendment was defeated by only 98 to 30. Three Englishmen—Mr. Labonchere, Mr. Thompson, and Mr. Carbutt—voted for it.
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