MR. J. COWENasked the First Lord of the Treasury, If the Government will accompany the "message of peace" which they are about to send to Ireland either by the release of the two hundred persons kept in prison without trial, or accord them the constitutional right of having an opportunity of defending themselves before being punished? The hon. Member, after putting his Question, said, he would not put it at the present moment if the right hon. Gentleman thought the period inopportune.
MR. GLADSTONESir, I hardly feel justified in asking my hon. Friend to delay this Question, because if I were to ask him to do that, it would be like making myself a party to the Question, and, probably, giving occasion to expectations which I might not be able to fulfil. I think it would be better to take the Question as it now stands, and to say this. Naturally and necessarily when a Bill of an exceptional character is in force under which a number of individuals have been confined upon the responsibility of the Government, it is the desire and duty of the Government at all times, in connection with any Land Bill or any other way, to look at the 843 question whether at all, and if so how far, it is in their power to counteract or put an end to such a state of things. That is a standing duty. This Question, however, places the exercise of the duty in especial connection with the Land Bill, which is glanced at in the Question as a "message of peace." Of course, it will be obvious to my hon. Friend that we do not at all know what decisions the House of Lords, in the exercise of its discretion, may arrive at with regard to the Land Bill, nor what view this House may take in respect of that decision. Consequently, the contingency which my hon. Friend has proceeded upon is one that is not yet realized as one which it is possible for us to have before us, as one of the facts of the case. But, in making that declaration, I must beg not to be understood as conveying, in any manner or degree, any anticipation of any decision of the Government in one of the gravest matters it could have to consider, which it only can consider from time to time, according to the circumstances of the case, on a comprehensive view.