Those who wish to know what the so-called concessions made -
to the Liberal Unionists are worth, should consult the corre- spondence between Mr. Elson and Mr. Gladstone on the one hand, and between Mr. Elson and Lord Rosebery on the other hand, published in yesterday's Times. Mr. Eisen formulates the demands of the Liberal Unionists thus :—(1), The continued and fall representation of Ireland in the Imperial Parliament ; (2), that any legislative body created for Irish affairs shall be strictly subservient to the Imperial Parliament, and that the matters delegated to its attention shall be clearly laid down and defined ; (3), that the maintenance of law and order in Ireland shall remain under the control of the Imperial Parliament ; (4), that the financial unity of the Empire shall not be disturbed ; (5), that Ulster shall not be included in a scheme for the rest of Ireland. Mr. Gladstone, in writing to Mr. Elson, explains that his concessions had been made in the Singleton speech in the neighbourhood of Swansea, of which he sends him a copy ; and Lord Rosebery, writing to Mr. Elson, admits that Mr. Gladstone's concessions did not cover anything like the ground of Mr. Eloon's five points, and that he had never led anybody to suppose that they had covered that ground. The truth is, that only the first demand was con- ceded in the Singleton speech, and that the first con- cession, without the others, is not a concession to Unionist ideas at all, but rather a severe aggravation of the dangers which they fear.
Previous page
