The Nationalist candidate was returned for Limerick yester- day week
by a crushing majority over the Conservative. The poll was,—Mr. M'Mahon (Nationalist), 922; Mr. Spaight (Con- servative), 473; majority, 449, or very nearly a majority of two to one. It seems clear enough that Mr. Parnell can beat the Conservatives in almost any part of the three Southern Provinces of Ireland, and very probable that in most parts of those Provinces he could beat the Conservatives and Liberals combined. But it is not in many places that Conservatives and Liberals will combine. Why should a steady supporter of the present Government vote for a Member who would try to turn the present Government out, and to enforce a Tory policy in Ireland ? And how could a supporter of Lord Salisbury's polic.y for Ireland honestly vote for the Government which has passed the Irish Land Act ? 'The only reasonable hope for Ireland is that the Nationalist party will gradually give up its dreams, and accept defeat on that policy of dismemberment on which it can never prevail against the unanimous feeling of Great Britain.
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