We desire to add a few words of serious warning
on the whole subject of the situation in Ireland. Our readers will probably bear witness that for many months we have refrained from mentioning Ireland at all. It was understood that the Government desired to create a favourable atmosphere for the Irish Convention. We oar- selves remain of opinion that the Union is the least unjust form of government for Ireland, but, being by nature optimists, we have never excluded the possibility of a welcome miracle. No one would take a more intense pleasure in a political miracle in Ireland than we should. But it is necessary to say that while we are waiting to see whether this miracle can be performed, the expectation of such a result grows lees and less with every distinct omission on the part of the Government to govern. We hope we are not so dull, or so unsrusceptible to a charming argument, as to be indifferent to all that is being continually said about riding the high-spirited Irish people on an easy snaffle. In the abstract we should be disposed to listen to this argument on its merits. But what people who criticize us for not listening to it now forget is that it has been already tried in the most complete manner and for a prolonged period in Ireland, and that it ended in the most disastrous, cruel, and bloody failure.
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