Mr. Brodrick and Mr. Lewis confessed their dismay with perfect
frankness. Lord Hartington then expressed for himself and Mr. Gladstone the profound confidence which Lord Spencer's administration had inspired in them,—reading a part of Mr. Gladstone's letter, subsequently published in fall,—and pressed home the charge that, in fact, the present Government were abandoning the Judges and Juries of Ireland at Mr. Parnell's dictation. Sir W. Hart Dyke, the new Secretary to the Lord- Lieutenant, followed the lead of Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, and accused the Liberals of trumping up a charge against them "for an electioneering or some miserable purpose." "The great mercy," he said, "that had befallen the country was that the parties now sitting opposite were in their proper places ;" and then Mr. Healy solemnly pronounced the blessing of the Parnellite Party on the Tory Administration. Mr. Parnell's motion was negatived without a division, he having scored a greater victory than even the most sanguine Parnellite had expected from his motion. Thus concluded a memorable debate. How far the full Tory responsibility for their own acts, which Lord Randolph Churchill seemed so eager to accept, will prove a light burden, only the future can prove.
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