Mr. Labouchere will evidently be at no loss for opportunities
of differing from Mr. Gladstone. In the last number of his journal he not only declares that the electors are sick of Home-rule, but predicts that if it is put first in the work of next Session, the Gladstonians will be defeated at the next election. That is only an opinion, and probably an erroneous one, a large proportion of the electors wishing the question to go first because they are so sick of Home-rule ; but Mr. Labouchere takes up stronger ground. He will not allow the Irish Members to remain in Parliament. " It would be absurd," he says, " to leave Irishmen to decide on British affairs by holding the balance between the two parties in the State." And, again : " It would be the most monstrous crime to allow the Irish Members to be masters of their own local affairs, and to remain masters of ours. It would, indeed, be more than a crime, it would be a fatal fault, for I am con- vinced that the English constituencies would never stand it." There Mr. Labouchere has foothold, for a majority is probably of his opinion ; but, then, is it foothold against Mr. Gladstone ? We can imagine the Premier, if defeated on that question, accepting the vote as a triumphant endorsement of his own view, "surrendered only in obedience to his own followers."
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