Mr. Butt has finally resigned the leadership of the Home-rule
party. He informs his Limerick constituents that he regards leadership of a Parliamentary party as a serious thing, and that he cannot hold his position while unable to exercise personal authority over the arrangements for the conduct of proceedings. He has there- fore resigned his post, and only asks permission of his constitu- ents to remain their representative for this Session, after which he will, if they please, place his seat at their disposal. The effect of this letter will be a fierce struggle for the leadership of the party, ending in its division, until the next general election, into two or three fractions. Mr. Butt's letter indicates a belief that, on the whole, the Irish constituencies are with the Obstructives, as otherwise his followers could have ruled them out, and re- formed the party without them. Now we imagine, the moderate Home-rulers must become Liberals, while the redder section will gradually merge in the old Nationalist party, which, though it has a more rational programme than the Home-rulers, has no proper place in Parliament.
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