LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE HOME-RULE CRISIS.
[TO TEM EDITOR OF THE SPECTITJR..9
Sin,—The danger of the situation for Great Britain an Ireland can hardly be exaggerated. This crisis has been created by a statesman who pretends to solve a problem which admits of no immediate solution ; and a public who be- lieve that political truth is discoverable not by weighing facts, but by counting heads. The unreliability of Mr. Gladstone's judgment was demonstrated when the Alabama surrender disproved his specious argument for the Southern States ; when the exposure of his shallow scheme for University education in Ireland removed him from power ; when events refuted his assurance that judicial rents would satisfy Irish tenants, and secure Irish landlords. A conviction of failure as re- gards the "Irish Government Bill, 1893 "—its inadequacy,. self-contradiction, and want of finality—gains ground daily, in Great Britain and Ireland, among the masses and the classes, irrespective of creed and race. To maintain and strengthen this movement is the rational and pacific policy a Unionists on both sides of the Channel. The present Parlia- ment cannot decide the most difficult problem in domestic politics that has arisen since the first Reform Bill. At the last General Election, it was only presented vaguely, and mixed up with other questions, rather social than political. Even under such favourable conditions, Mr. Gladstone failed to obtain, as anticipated by him at Newcastle in October, 1891, an overwhelming majority. Moreover, a large proportion of Gladstonian seats were gained by small majorities. In Great Britain, sixty-four supporters of Mr. Gladstone were returned by majorities of less than three hundred. In view, therefore, of future eventualities, Unionists should, by every constitu- tional means, mould public opinion. I believe the following facts specially need to be brought home to voters in England, Scotland, and Wales :—Firet, Irish Unionists repudiate as- cendency, religious and political. Secondly, Irish Unionists have full confidence of effecting, under the Imperial Parlia- ment, organic reforms, political and social, as regards local government, land-tenure, the material condition of all classes, but especially of the agricultural and industrial labourers. The strongest guarantee for these practical aims Iles in the growing cordiality and increasing co-operation of Belfast with Dublin. Ulster does not fight for her own hand, but "makes common cause" with Leinster, Munster, and Connaught in resisting the attempt to impose a Home- 'rule Parliament upon our country." This alliance, and its oonsequent intercourse, must, on the one hand, increase among Unionists the confidence of ultimate and pacific victory; while, on the other hand, it tempers and restrains the bitter- acmes of religious and political traditions.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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