Turning for a moment to the nature and policy of
the Ancient Order of Hibernian, Lord Lansdowne pointed ont how the Government, under the Insurance Act, were giving this body, mainly political in its objects, a princely subsidy. He went on to read out a passage from the organ of the Order :—
" To-day the alleged leaders of the Irish nation are protesting their love and loyalty to England, but the younger generation is getting ready. In such cases it is the younger generation which counts. The Parliamentary Party has no power to bind them, and they will not be bound by any pledges the Parliamentary Party may give. They are heirs to a great tradition, descendants and legatees of the generations that waged an implacable war on England, and they will carry it on with what weapons they may. Ireland can wait until the present decrepit compromise—[that is
your Bill;—is settled one way or another ; but her hands will not be tied and her children will never rest content with English domination, even though it wears the green robo and has its headquarters in Dublin."
Very pertinent was Lord Lansdowne's comment, "Do not tell me after that that the apprehensions of Ulster are without foundation."
