The Irish debate was concluded on Thursday, when Sir William
Harcourt professed his belief in the principle of Home-rule for Ireland, but did not contrive, perhaps did not intend, to convey that he felt any great amount of active zeal for the cause. Mr. Balfour took note of this apparent languor, and remarked that Irish Home-rale was a sleeping beauty, and that he very much doubted whether the right honourable gentleman was the fairy-prince who was at all disposed to awaken her in the orthodox fashion. Mr. Balfour pointed out that the United States do not in any case found State rights on the principle of a separate nationality, and said that if they had done so, they would have had all the difficulties which beset Austria in keeping together a com- posite Austrian Empire. Subsequently, Mr. Healy made a furious attack on the Tory Administration, and pledged him- self to support the Liberals in return for their support of Irish Home-rule, even in matters on which he might not absolutely desire to give them support. Did he refer to the Education question ? He treated Ireland as a separate Celtic nationality, though some parts of it are Scotch, and some are more or less Saxon. The amendment of Mr. Dillon was rejected by a majority of 116 (276 to 160).
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