THE OVER-REPRESENTATION OF HOME-RULE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR-1 your correspondent "R. W. J." in the Spectator of February 20th ask himself what chance there is of our easy- going Premier undertaking such a task- as a Redistribution Bill for the United Kingdom before the next General Election? Mr. Balfour is not a statesman who will grapple with a danger which is in the future, his attitude being rather Lord Melbourne's : " Can't you let it alone P " Indeed, he has distinctly denied the appeals of Mr. Kimber, charm he never so wisely ; which being so, would it not be more practical to begin by dealing with the danger which is imminent, and which Mr. Gladstone foresaw long ago ? That danger is very near, and very great, and very easily dealt with. As to this course being invidious, how would it be invidious to reduce the Home-rule vote to its just limit? If not, it is clear that Mr. Redmond will command -the situation in the next Parliament ; and then once more the House of Lords will be placed in the dangerous position of ,either saving the Country from itself, or of being mended or
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