Lord Rosebery, for instance, sighs for a Cromwell who might
deal austerely with the House of Lords. But Cromwells, when we do get them, are not very manageable persons, and perhaps a new Cromwell, if he took to revolution, might think it better first to purge the House of Commons. And probably the first and greatest difficulty in reforming the House of Lords is, that the House of Commons is exceedingly unwilling to set up a rival to itself in popular favour. As to estab- lishing such a Senate as the United States have got, that would enormously diminish the influence of the House of Commons; and the idea of "Federation," in which the Home- rulers now find so much comfort, must practically mean chopping England into little bits, probably on the pattern of Wales. Otherwise, the only course consistent with Irish Home-rule is to leave Irishmen where they are, and let them vote away English and Scotch taxes, while denying English and Scotch Members the power to deal with Irish taxes ; and that would be for the Irishmen to treat England as large Railway Companies treat a branch line,—namely, to depute a number of Irish directors to see that the English manage their affairs in a manner consistent with Irish interests. Lord Salisburylardly thought that England was inclined to acquiesce in such a position as that.
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