One curious result of the last phase in the Government
tactics is worth noticing. If it is successful, the people who will be most severely squeezed by it will be the Irish Nationalists, not the Opposition. If as the Government calculate, the dread, of taking office without the power of obtaining supplies prevents the Opposition putting the Government oat over the Budget, the Budget may no doubt be passed although the Nationalists abstain or even vote against it. The Government, that is, after having been kept in for the first two months by the Nationalists on condition that they do not pass the Budget, will be able to turn round to their allies and say :—" Thank you. We can manage now quite nicely without you, and your threats do not alarm us, for we have chained the Tories to our car." How this result will be viewed in Ireland, and how Mr. Redmond and his followers will be able to explain the facts to their constituents, is not for us to discuss. All we can do is to note the facts. We may add that though the Opposition did not like the Budget of 1909-10, they will, from a party point of view, be very glad to have it out of the way. If they come into power in the course of a year or so; it will be quite possible for them to repeal the land clauses. These as soon as they come into operation are certain to cause great ill-feeling, while at the same time doing very little to fill the Treasury.
