Mr. Goschen put the dangers of persecution in Ireland under
Home-rule with great and wise moderation. He did not believe in the revival of formal persecution, but he did believe that under Home-ride the Protestants would be "elbowed out in various ways." The lay leaders of the Nationalist Party might be eager for perfect tolerance, but they would have great diffi- culties with the Roman Catholic clergy ; and in relation to their educational arrangements, the difficulties of the Protestants would be serious. He pressed upon the House that this step, if taken, would be irrevocable. "We may summon back the Members for Ireland to modify the Act we are now passing ; but depend upon it, if they are so summoned back, they will be summoned back not to tighten the bonds, but to widen the breach." And therefore, if we maimed the Constitution, we should maim what we could never again repair. He concluded his speech in these eloquent words :—" We are told of Legislative Assemblies of former centuries, but they had not the duties, the privileges, the respon- sibilities of ours. They did not hold in their hands, as we do, the supreme and concentrated powers of the State. Remember that we are life trustees. Let us feel that we are bound to hand on that glorious possession which we have inherited, unimpaired and unimpeached, without waste and detriment, to those who are to come after us. I implore this House, by the traditions of which we are the heirs, by every present obligation of duty and honour, by our hopes in the mighty and beneficent future of this great Empire, by our duty to the Sovereign who rules over these realms, I implore this House to look to it that those who come after us may bear witness that we have not betrayed our trust."
