The Irish Members, though not always the most temperate of
critics, are very sensitive to criticism. The Times of Tues- day happened to say that in the debates on the Rules of Procedure, the Irish Home-rulers watched with "malign. intent," and when the independent Opposition had ceased,. "rose from their ambush" to put in operation their "policy of exasperation." That is rather bitter, but it hardly passes the- limits of political comment. Mr. Mitchell Henry, however, lieutenant for Mr. Butt, while that leader is ill, thought it necessary not only to answer the statement, which he did satisfactorily, by showing that the resistance came from English as well as Irish Members, but to have the article declared "a breach of the Privileges of the House." The Chan- cellor of the Exchequer, in his gentlest manner, suggested that the privilege defended was a little obsolete; that the House could not well bring the publisher to the Bar, and that the motion had better be withdrawn. Lord Ilartington concurred, and though Mr. Parnell tried to make newspaper articles important, the matter dropped, leaving on the minds of most journalists an impression that the Home-rule Members are not altogether friendly to freedom of the Press. If the papers are to be attacked on such grounds, their only safe course will be not to allude to the Home-rulers, or report their speeches.
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