Mr. Butt, M.P., is now in full controversy with the
more virulent Home-rulers, and a pretty quarrel it seems likely to be. Mr. Butt thinks that Mr. Parnell and his friends wish to exclude him from Parliament, which Mr. Parnell and his friends deny, but declare openly enough that Mr. Butt is sacrificing the movement to his own political caprice. The livelier the con- troversy becomes, the better it will be for Great Britain and Ireland, and the more chance there will be for the success of Mr. Butt and the moderate party. It is said that when thieves fall out, honest men come by their own, which is extremely doubtful. But it is really very often true that when fanatics fall out, moderate men come by their own. And clearly, the Irish fanatics are falling out now, not only with Mr. Butt, but about Mr. Butt.
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