JUSTICE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 130, 4 August 1870, Page 7

JUSTICE.

In concluding his speech in reply to Mr Disraeli, on the Irish Land Bill, Mr Gladstone is reported to have said : — Last night an hon. friend of mme — the member for Merthyr Tydvil — as he was well entitled, excited the curiosity of the House by producing to us a proverb in Welsh, and afterwards he conveyed to us the English of it. I cannot recite Welsh, but the English was this — a nation was stronger than a lord. I, Sir, admit it. I admit more— a nation is stronger than a Parliament ; but I will add yet another saying — there is something else, stronger

than a nation, and that something is justice. The career of Ireland has ever been onward. Her career has ever boon Excelsior ! but because she has had justice for her cause, and has been sustained in it by that which is the highest earthly organ of justice, the favouring opinions of the civilised and Christian world. We, Sir, have accepted the challenge. We seek in friendly contest to deprive Ireland of that alliance. There is but one way in which it can be done, and that is by offering her justice. Will you take it upon you to ask for more ? „ Victors you have been in many battles, but what will be the issue of the .strife when already — as we know from the utterances of high and low in other lands — the world has begun to recognise the efforts this great country is making for peace and concord, what will bo the issue of that strife — what will be the weight of responsibility if, intoxicated by success, and believing that that which has been must ever be, you venture to make, on the part of Ireland, or on the part of a portion of the people of Ireland, demands that justice cannot sanction or concede ? Sir, we have been invoked to-night in solemn terms from both sides of the House to be just, and fear not. It is our desire to be just, but to be just we must be just to all. The oppression of a marjority is detestable and odious ; the oppression of a minority is only by one degree less detestable and less odious. The face of justice is like the face of the god Janus. It is like the face of the lions the work of Landseer which keep watch and ward around the record of our country's greatness. She presents one tranquil and majestic countenance towards every poiut of the compass and every quarter of the globe. That rare, that noble, that imperial virtue has this above all other qualities, that she is no respecter of persons, and she will not take advantage of a favourable moment to oppress the wealthy for the sake of flattering the poor any more than she will condescend to oppress the poor for the sake of pampering the luxuries of the rich. I beseech my hon. friends to pause' before they call on the House to do an act which <will break up the concord and unanimity |of the House. We have been met, i and handsomely met, from the other side of the House ; we have been met, j and gallantly met, by many of those j who have been foremost in fighting the battles of the people of Ireland ; hesitate, I beseech you, before you run the risk of lighting a flame which you will in vain endeavour to extinguish, lest, unhappily, your country, after surmounting every difficulty, and after conquering every e&emy, should at length miss the prize of peace, happiness, and contentment through the agency of those she believed to be her friends.

A Modern Poetia. — A correspondent says :—": — " It appears that we have a modern Portia in the person of Miss Phoebe Couzins, of St. Louis. This bonny barrister is said to be a young lady of twenty-one ; she has black hair, and is strikingly handsome. She is tall, of a very good figure, and has a most charming and winning manner. An enthusiast thus describes her: — ' She approached the stand with timid gracefulness that won all hearts before she said a word, and then assuming apparently without design, an exquisite pose, she opened her lips, and the sweet voice came ringing out like coins dropped down a many-fathomed well.' Who would not like to be defended by this dainty damsel ? Upon my word, it would be wo th while committing a crime to hear her pleading on your behalf. The best of it would be she would be safe to get you acquitted ; no judge or jury could resist the influence of bright eyes. It is almost a question whether the ends of justice would be served by the introduction of young lady barristers." — [There is no difficulty without a cure. Send all the pretty clever girls to the bar to oppose each other. A fine trial of female temper or have juries of very ugly females on such occasions.]

We (Evening Post, June 14) have learned with great regret of the untimely demise of the learned pig which formed part of the crew of the steamer Airedale, Last night, in coming through the Straits, a sudden lurch of the vessel sent poor Dennis through an open port-hole, in front of which he had incautiously ventured, and in the darkness all efforts to rescue him proved in vain. Though only of tender age, Dennis was a very accomplished animal;; he could mount a ladder with the utmost facility, and had a perfect knowledge of all the spots where food was attainable, either on board or on shore. He was well known on all the different wharves on the cost, where he might often have been seen trotting about with a gaudy collar on, and his placid: temper and amiable manners had endeared him to his shipmates. Their regrets for his loss are intensified by the thought that they might have secured him by converting, him into bacon, for he was in • prime condition.

The " Grey Valley Timtss" says :— "An establisnment has been started in the Ahaura for the manufacture of cigars, and the firat fruits of this novel industryhave been placed in the local market for public patronage. The samples exhibited are, in appearence, fully equal to the finest Figaros, whilst for their delicacy of flavor they have been pronounced -•unatss--passed by the importe&uirticle."