Mr. Birrell, replying for the Government, dwelt on the unchanging
demand for Home Rule as the only permanent thing in Ireland during the last one hundred years. He had no difficulty in believing that the people of North-East Ulster were almost a separate nationality ; but was there no other people in Ireland with the same passions, feelings, and the same soul of the people P They must not go away with the feeling that all was right with Ireland. He asserted unhesitatingly that, both administratively and legislatively, all could not be perfectly well until they imposed upon the people the necessity of maintaining a strong administration in Ireland. He quoted Disraeli's saying that the weakness of Ireland was duo to an alien Church, absentee landlords, and the weakest administration in the world. That weakest administration had remained ever since, and would remain weak until it had behind it the full force of the people of the country. He denied that the Nationalists would show religious intolerance. Ulster would fight, and Ulster would be right, whenever her religion was oppressed or her property despoiled, but the minority was not entitled to say," We will boycott and put an end to any alteration which the great majority of the country desired." The closure having been carried by 360 to 266, the House divided, and leave to bring in the Bill was carried by the same majority amid a great demonstration on the part of the Nationalists and Ministerialiets. As the normal Government majority is 120, rejoicing on this score seems a little odd.
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