On this Mr. Balfour replied that he was not aware
of any mystery at all as regarded the arrangements of business ; that he was quite satisfied with the prospects of the Small Holdings Bill, which even his opponents thought would not take above four nights more; and that he was anxious to for- ward some useful minor measures before they got into the great controversy as to Irish Local Government, to which he himself looked forward with the keenest pleasure, but which he did not intend to produce at a time which would enable the Oppo- sition to "wreck the Session." It was true, he said, that an air of mystery hung over the proceedings of the Opposition, and that if by finding six hours -for Mr. Blane's motion he could dissipate that mystery, it might be well worth while. But there was not really any mystery, except as to Mr. Glad- stone's own intentions. Everybody knew what the Parnellites would say, and what the Anti-Parnellites would say ; and as to the Government, they would not need to take up any of the time of the House at all in relation to that subject ; but nobody knew what Mr. Gladstone would say, nor, indeed, was it certain either that he would say anything, or that if he said anything, he would throw any light upon his policy. If he wished to enlighten the House, three hours would give him more than ample opportunity to do so; and if he did not, the extension of the time to six hours would not help the matter ; so that he must decline to extend the time of the debate on Mr. Blane's motion. This gave Mr. Blanc an excuse for withdrawing his motion altogether, a course which was said to be due to the inability of the Parnellites to muster strong yesterday, but which looks a little as if the eagerness of the Parnellites to discomfort the Anti-Parnellites were fading away.
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