For the rest, the most remarkable part of Wednesday's speech
was a reiteration, in even a more vigorous form, of the argument of his speech at Derby, that for peoples in very close proximity and speaking the same language, the alternatives are either complete separation or absolute fusion ; and a repetition of the demonstration how strong is the tendency to absolute fusion, even in spite of mutual antipathies of a formidable kind. Above all, Lord Salisbury's urgent advice to the British democracy, —advice probably brought home -to him by that unfortunate vacillation of his own in 1885,—was Do not hesitate ; great as are the injuries we have inflicted on Ireland, the greatest and worst injury is that which has been caused by our vacillations. Avoid keeping a half-hold on Ireland. Now is the time to show tenacity of purpose. Now is the time when any feebleness of purpose will bear the most pernicious fruits, and be as fertile in calamity to Ireland as in calamity to the Empire.
