11 JANUARY 1896, Page 2

While Mr John Redmond tas again this week struck the

note that England's difficulty is lreland'a opportunity, and while an Irish audience tas been cheering the Boers not for their self-restraint and prudence, but for their hostility to this country, Mr. Macartney, one of the Irish Conservative minority, speaking in the Scotland Division of Liverpool on Tuesday night, has been exhorting his countrymen to strengthen the hands of the Government, and not to attempt diverting the attention of the " man at the wheel " from his responsible office, to the impatient cries of unsatisfied critics. Mr. Macartney admitted the very perplexing and difficult character of the foreign questions which had arisen, but pointed out that a century ago England was beset by far greater difficulties, through which she was safely steered, and he questioned " whether, in the whole history of this country, there had ever been more re- markable testimony to the influence of this country " than the Sultan's piteous appeal to Lord Salisbury to unsay in 4 public his distrust of the policy of the Turkish Government. Mr. Macartney also expressed his perfect confidence in Mr. Chamberlain's capacity as Colonial Secretary, and in Mr. Goschen's courage and skill in raising the efficiency of our Navy. In short, he gave his influence as a North of Ireland representative to the present Government with a loyalty and cordiality which contrasts very effectively with the attitude of all the various sections of the Irish Home-rulers.