Mr. Gibson, Solicitor-General for Ireland, was not so in- teresting
as his colleague ; but he pressed in the strongest way the argument that any rupture among Unionists, or any falter- ing in their support of the Government, meant the return of Mr. Gladstone to power, and oonsequently Home-rule. He thought that Mr. Parnell's policy was to reap the benefit of continuous agitation in Ireland, agitation against both rent and law, but to keep himself in such a position, that when Parliament met he should be able to say he had always been in favour of constitutional methods. He believed Mr. Parnell really was in favour of them, because he could only win through them ; but he liked also to benefit by alternatives. That is tree enough ; but it must not be for- gotten that it is only continuous agitation that brings in American subscriptions, and that these subscriptions have been the very mainstay of the movement. Irishmen at home see the agitators too close to subscribe for them even as liberally as they subscribed for O'ConnelL
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