On the subject of reform in Ireland, Mr. Forster declared
for applying precisely the same principles to Ireland as are applied to England ; and rather for delaying an Irish Reform Bill, in case Ireland should seem to be still in a state of political fermenta- tion at the time when it becomes necessary to pass the Bill for Great Britain, than for giving to Ireland anything less than we give to England and Scotland. As regards County Govern- ment, if we understand Mr. Forster rightly, he thinks Lord liartington wrong in proposing to delay bestowing on Ireland any municipal developments that we may give to this island,—any local institutions which would decentralise the Government,— a change much more needful in Ireland than it is even in England. Only, he would not hand over to municipal bodies in Ireland the control of the police, which he evidently doubts the wisdom of handing over to local bodies, either in this country, or anywhere else.
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