Seeing that the Land Act has been received throughout the world, and by the majority of Irishmen themselves, with such satisfaction, it is a pity that party strife should again rage around it, and |this before any trial of its working has been made. Should the Conservatives succeed by this means in getting into place and power, they will be regarded by all right-minded men as the veriest of tricksters, and will richly deserve the opprobrium of those who regard honor and fairplay as essential qualities in statesmen. Further, if the Lords persist in carrying out their design we do not see how a col lision between the two Houses can be averted. Such collisions are common enough in the Colonies, and their consequences have been disastrous ; but for such a state of affairs to exist in England would be infinitely more terrible. The people would lose con fidence in what has hitherto proved itself the best Government in the world, and the House of Lords, which is now by no means popular, would probably risk its existence, as it would certainly damage its reputation. Lord Salisbuet has already gone so far as to say that he regards Mr Gladstone's motion as a threat to the House of Lords ; threat or no threat Mr Gladstone is not a man to eat his own words or retire from any course he has publicly indicated. "We are confident that the proposal for this Committee must have been made with an ulterior object in view, or the House of Lords would never stultify itself by appointing a Committee to enquire into the working of an Act which passed through its own chamber only last Session, and which has scarcely yet been put into operation, and would never cast a reflection upon the House of Commons by an action which reflects upon a law emanating from the Government, and passed by a Large majority. Unless the Lords retire from their position, there is every probability of a severe political conflict ; a conflict which will prove more than ever the need for the cloture ; and a conflict the only issue of which will be either a change of Government or the strengthening of the position of the present ministry — we trust the latter. 