Sir Michael Hicks-Beach was not disposed to complain of the
Government for following, in many cases, the lead of the late Government. This, when in Opposition, they had treated with the most deliberate hostility, not because they really condemned it, but because they wanted to satisfy the political appetite of the most violent of their adherents. Mr. Asquith followed very nearly the policy of the late Government in relation to Trafalgar Square meetings ; and Mr. Herbert Gardner is following Mr. Chaplin's lead at the Board of Agriculture. Now, if the present Opposition were to imitate their predecessors, they might make their position unpleasant, but they would return "good for evil." Well, we hope they will, especially as it will be the most wise and prudent course not to join battle with the Gladstonians on any side-issue, but to give them the most ample opportunities for developing their Irish policy without premature interruptions. But we do not know that it is very wise for any party to pose too osten- tatiously as returning good for evil. It has rather a Tartuffian effect. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach thought that the depression of agriculture would make the constituencies very unwilling to embark on difficult questions of constitutional change, when so many landlords, farmers, and labourers are suffering very serious distress. Well, that must depend on how keen the distress is. With eighty Irish Home-rulers insisting steadily on receiving what they have been promised, it will need a good deal of keen distress to fortify the Government in ignoring the urgent demands of this formidable body of allies.
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