HOME-RULERS AND HOME-RULERS.
• [TO THE EDITOR 01, Till " SPECTATOR:1 8i.-Pray allow me a Word-or.two on that letter from Mr. J. G. MacCarthy under the above heading which appeared in your issue of last Saturday. Ile there asserts, contrasting my scheme of Home- rule with that of the Conference Mr...0'Malley's is quite a different proposal;' it was rejected by the Conference; and has been adopted by nebodybut itsingenions and learned author." This is a bold a,ssertion-, as to the latter clause of it and I might say, rather silly. Adopted by nobody ! How can he know that, or how could he prove it? I know better, and I. peremptorily repel that assertion. And as for my proposal being rejected by the Conference, it is grossly inaccurate. It was mot rejected because, being unwill- ing to cause any division, I abstained from pressing it. In point of fact, the plan of the Conference is a clumsy, inartistic- thing. It professes to be a federal- arrangement, but there. is .not one element of pureifederalism in it The essence of a Federal Union is a separate:and distinct Nationallegislation,..as well as a distinct National admiMstration and government-and a separate and dis- tinct Imperial legislation, administration, and executive. In the plan of the Conference, they areitunbled together in a manner not easily intelligible. I thought, if -we were going for federalism at w6had.better,look for the real thing, and reject the shoddy. In :my view a the matter, I look beyond the merely Irish grievance, and propose in-my mode of removing that grievance to render a good service to the Empire. Every one. of every party admits it is absolutely impossible for our own Parliament to do its business, =not merely-do it.well, but do it at all.. I apply the obvious remedy, the division of labour, the division of the legislative labour, and I do so in a very safe manner. I have a very strong convic- tion that if. this Parliament is ever brought to listen to our claim of Home-rule, it must be upon the .plan of Henrietta Street, Dublin, March 16. THADEUS O'MALLEY.
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