The most important Unionist speeches delivered for a long time
were those of the Duke of Argyll and Lord Hartington, at the Manchester Conference on Tuesday. The Duke devoted himself to anticipating the form which must be taken by Mr. Gladstone's next proposal for Irish Home-rule, though he held that it would not be announced till after the General Election. He showed that Mr. Gladstone had committed himself to giving a much larger measure of self-government next time, and that in all probability the Irish Parliament would have complete command of its own tariff ; that very inflated language had been and would be used as to the inde- pendent nationality of Ireland, but that no coherent principle would be adopted, and that Ireland could not be spared the humiliation of a garrison by an army which, though it would be British, Mr. Gladstone always calls an army of " foreigners ;" that the next proposal would give the Irish Legislature all the powers not expressly denied it, instead of reserving all to the Supreme Legislature that are not specially given ; that no constitutional principle of division could be clearly laid down between Irish and Imperial affairs, and that no Supreme Court would be established for settling disputes between the two Legislatures ; that Irish delegates would be sent to the Supreme Legislature, but that Great Britain would be shut out from any interference with Irish affairs; that Ireland would be allowed to refuse supplies for Imperial wars ; that the pro- tection of the life, liberty, and property of Irishmen would be dealt with as merely " Irish affairs," of no moment to the people of Great Britain ; and that no condition would be made for any Irish plebiscite or referendum to endorse the accept- ance of the new Constitution by the Irish Members of Parliament.
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