Lord Hartington's Manifesto, issued on Thursday, is a dignified and
worthy paper, a little too long. Like Mr. Chamberlain, he denies that Home-rule was included in the programme of 1885, and regrets that " if it is now the deliberate opinion of Mr. Gladstone that the difficulties of the government of Ireland can only be solved by a fundamental alteration cf the
relations of the two countries," he did not place his view before the constituencies before an irrevocable step was taken. The plan adopted does not satisfy the conditions Mr. Gladstone himself laid down, and " we have no assurance that it will be reconstructed." Lord Harlington denies that justice is involved in the matter. It would be, if the claim of Ire- land were for Separation ; but to require that the people of Ireland should submit to be governed by a Parliament in which they are fully represented may be inexpedient, but cannot be unjust. The claim to self-government within safe limits is, however, reasonable, the question being the limits of safety. Mr. Gladstone's Bill goes far beyond those limits, granting us it does the control and administration of laws affecting the rela- tions of property, the punishment of crime, and the civil and religious liberties of the whole community. He therefore resists the Bill, especially as it would hand over the minority to a Government which they regard as menacing to their liberties and property. Mr. Gladstone has apparently abandoned the landlords, and is silent about Ulster.
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