Mr. Plunket, M.P. for the University of Dublin, opened on
Wednesday a Beaconsfield Club at Shrewsbury, and in doing so made a very elaborate speech on the Irish policy of the Government, bitterly condemning it for the past, indeed, calling it a policy of "high hopes, reckless optimism, and wild adventure," and still more bitterly condemning it for the future, that is, for the proposal, which it seems likely to make, that household franchise shall be given in Ireland
as well as in England. He declared his belief that, with the present distribution of seats, this would swell Mr. Parnell's party, in case of a dissolution before any redistribution of seats had taken place, to a phalanx of ninety to ninety-five Members ; and that, with such a party, Mr. Parnell could prevent any redistribution of seats in Ireland which could in any degree redress the balance by increasing the weight of the soberer and wealthier North. What Mr. Plunket really argued for is to hide from ourselves, so far as we can, the real condition of popular opinion in Ireland, and to keep Ireland misrepresented or unrepresented, while we accord a full and fair representation to England and Scotland. Could there be a stronger plea for separation than the serious wish of British statesmen to falsify the Parliamentary representation of Ireland, though they do not dare to ask straightforwardly for its suspension or abolition?
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