In the House of Commons on Thursday Mr. John Redmond,
as leader of the Irish party, made a speech in regard to the wearing of the shamrock and the Queen's visit to Ireland which, given his point of view, must be pronounced to have been in excellent taste. "The Irish people," be declared, "will wel- come this gracefulrecognition of the valour of their race—what- ever the field upon which that valour has lately been exhibited —and our people will, moreover, treat with respect the visit which the venerable Sovereign proposes to make to their shores, well knowing that on this occasion no attempt will be made to give that visit a party significance, and that their chivalrous hospitality will be taken in no quarter to mean any abatement of their demand for their national rights, which they will continue to press until they are conceded." That is perfectly satisfactory, and no reasonable man could have expected Mr. Redmond to say more. M. Deschanel, the President of the French Chamber, and a possible future President of the Republic, addressed his con- stituents on Sunday at Nogent le Rotrou, and warned them not to be so abusive of Great Britain. We shall soon, he said, have the best artillery in the world, the best rifle, and the strongest alliance, but the democracy is jealous of all who rise, and Ministries, therefore, are far too ephemeral. "The politicians who represent the country should be protected as well as the flag." When "the weak are not assisted, even if their conduct is admirable and heroic, it is both childish and imprudent to harass the strong, and above all, to insult them." M. Deschanel is obviously not contented with the Republic as it is, but his words will nevertheless sink deep, for the mass of Republicans are not seeking war, which they know would end either in revolution or a military dictatorship. No slight portion of the present effervescence in France against Great Britain proceeds from a fixed belief that if the English prosper in this war they will proceed to attack France. It is, we believe, positively true that Diego Suarez, the military port of Madagascar, is being fortified against a British descent! Why we should menace France nobody appears to know, but in Paris grave statesmen and experienced soldiers are satisfied that we shall,—perhaps to avenge the loss of Calais.
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