§ MR. ONSLOWasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether Her Majesty's Government intend to retain in the service of the Crown, and receiving salaries paid for out of the taxes of the Country, officials holding office under the Land League?
MR. GLADSTONEIn regard to this Question, Sir, I do not believe that there are persons strictly falling, so far as I am aware, within the designation of officials in Ireland, who are members of the Land League. The only case that I can find to which that description could possibly apply are one of a Roman Catholic priest, who receives simply an allowance for occasional duty, and the other of a collector of Income Tax, who, perhaps, may be described as an official, and who, perhaps, hardly would be a suitable object of penalty. The matter is one of considerable difficulty. I do not think the Question of the hon. Gentleman entirely without ground, because it should be borne in mind that we are not able to say that, according to the actual law of the land as it stands, the Land League is an illegal association. Illegal acts may grow out of its proceedings; but we are not able to say that it is an illegal association. It might be a nice matter, perhaps, even if we were able to say that, to take any proceedings, especially in cases such as are referred to.