3 MARCH 1888, Page 2

Mr. John Morley on Wednesday followed Lord Randolph Churchill's example

in making a speech to the Oxford Union, though in this case the great majority of the audience was opposed to the speaker, instead of being partisans of his Irish policy. Mr. Morley, of course, spoke with his usual point and distinction. He quoted the remark of a great Parliamentary authority that he had often known a speech change opinions, though he had never known a speech change votes. Now, he (Mr. Morley) did not on that occasion aspire to change votes, but only to change opinions. His first contention was that if Home-rule were defeated, Fenianism would revive, Fenianism being the form which Irish discontent assumes when it is desperate, Home•rale the form which it assumes when it has a prospect of remedy. That is a very convenient assumption for Mr. Morley to make, but it is contrary to all the evidence, which tends to show that the discontent of Ireland is agrarian at its root, and will continue, whether you grant Home-rule or not, so , long as the agrarian question oannot be properly settled, and

will not continue, whether you grant Home-rule or not, if the agrarian question can be properly settled.