After giving a positive denial to the rumour that on
accept- ing the office of Irish Secretary he had abstained from making certain changes in the personnel at Mr. Balfour's request, because of certain letters said to be in the possession of certain people, Mr. Long strongly condemned the attitude of some of his former colleagues. There was, he said, "abundant reason for many Irish Unionists to ask in tones of bitter indignation, Why were these things done in the name of the Unionist cause ? Why were they done by men sent over to govern Ireland according to Unionist ideas P" Mr. Long, however, admitted that no practical purpose was served at the present juncture by asking these awkward questions, and concluded by appealing to all Unionists in Ireland to join hands in defence of their cause. He omitted to state why, if the advent of the present Administration was fraught with such imminent danger to the Union, the late Cabinet failed before theyleft office to reduce the over-representation of Ireland. They had it in their power, as we again and again pointed out, to make the Union absolutely safe by reducing that over-repre- sentation. Yet they tell us now that the Union is in deadly peril. Either they failed in a plain but most important duty, or else they are now for party purposes grossly exaggerating.
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