Mr. Martin, the Nationalist member for Meath, has delivered a
speech, in which he lays down a distinct policy for his party. He would have the Irish electors so organize themselves as to send up none but Nationalist members. These members should then attend the meetings of the Imperial Parliament, and should express their views, but should never vote upon Irish Bills, but leave the full responsibility of legislating for the Irish to the British members. In this way their presence in Parliament would be a standing protest in favour of the self-government of Ireland. How little do the two countries understand one another ! That policy might succeed in France or Spain, where people feel ; but in this country a stolid, practical race would just cease to count Irish votes, and go on contentedly as before. Besides, sup- pose some Bill extremely desired in Ireland were lost because the. Irish members declined to vote, how would the electors behave? Yet if members vote for popular bills they must vote against the un- popular. The only true policy for the Federalists is to make up their minds as to what they want, draw out their Bill in black-and- white, get as many of their party elected as they can, and then see what kind of a compromise or new arrangement their strength will enable them to make. Any plan between that and insurrec- tion is child's-play.
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