12 MAY 1888, Page 2

Mr. Gladstone went over the Mitchelstown controversy in exactly the

old way, ignoring, as before, the evidence given by a witness completely trusted by the Nationals, as to the necessity for the Constabulary's firing if they would have saved one of their comrades' life. He maintained that it is the English Home-rulers who are the best friends of law and order in Ireland, because what they advocate is a law and order that shall be popular with the people of Ireland. Indeed, the excuses that Mr. Gladstone put forward both for the "Plan of Campaign" and for the cruel boycotting of which we have had recently such hideous instances, read exactly as if, rather than not have a popular law in Ireland, he would adapt the requirements of law to the temporary dispositions of the people, however cruel or unjust.