Sir Michael Hicks-Beach spoke again yesterday week at Netheravon, his
Wiltshire seat, and remarked that "some very wise individuals" had observed'in his Bristol speech "some extraordinary change" to which they had given different names. He could only say that his opinions on Ireland were exactly, he believed, on the same lines as they were when he held the office of Irish Secretary some fourteen months ago; and as for believing in the possibility of allowing anarchy and disorder to continue in Ireland, or the wisdom of banding over Ireland to such a Home-rule Government as Mr. Gladstone was willing to do, he looked upon them as the greatest mistakes that could be committed by any set of politicians in England." We never entertained any doubt as to the latter part of this assertion, and are heartily glad to accept the former as indicating that Sir Michael Hicks-Beach has no wish to see the Irish policy of the Government conceding anything at the present moment to Mr. Parnell'e eighty-five irregulars. Bat as to Sir Michael's
remark that his views are unchanged, we would rather have heard him say that, as compared with his views, in 1885 at all events, they were not unchanged. Our remarks last week were not written without observing, as the Guardian takes us to task for not reminding our readers, that Sir Michael only wished the opinion of the Irish majority to be consulted so far as was consistent "with justice and honour." Still, one cannot altogether forget that Sir Michael thought it consistent with "justice and honour" in 1885 both to abandon the Crimes Act and to review once more the Irish Court's repeatedly reviewed decision as to the Maamtrasna sentence, and no more fatal concession to the Irish irregulars was ever made.
