As we anticipated last week, Mr. Gladstone declined to commit
himself as to the course be should take in reference to the Land question and the Irish Constabulary in any Home-rule Bill he might bring forward, explaining to the four delegates of the Irish Party that the question raised by his letter to Mr. Morley was a question of leadership, forced upon him by the condition of feeling among the British friends of Home-rule, and that he must decline to mix up with that the further question as to what the measure of Home-rale should itself be when produced. " I recognise," he wrote, " and earnestly seek to uphold, the independence of the Irish Parliamentary Party no less than that of the Liberal Party. I acknowledge with satisfaction the harmony which since 1886 has prevailed between them, and when the present difficulty is removed, I am aware of no reason to anticipate its interrup- tion. From what has taken place on both sides of the Channel, I look forward with confidence, as do my colleagues, to the formation and prosecution of a measure which, in meeting all the just claims of Ireland, will likewise obtain the approval of the people of Great Britain." It was added that it would be pure folly, of which he should never be guilty, to attempt to force on the people of Ireland any measure which would not satisfy their aspirations. Of course Mr. Gladstone is quite right in refusing in any way to bind himself further ; but the meeting of the Irish Party took very little by his announcement.
