THE HOME RULE BILL.
[To THE EDITOR 01 THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—It seems to me there are three obvious reasons against an appeal to the country on the Home Rule Bill. (1) It would not be keeping the so-called compact between the Government and the Irish leaders. If such a bargain was made, as the Unionist Party have so often complained, its object was to secure the support of the Irish Party by the passing of the Home Rule Bill, and to appeal to the country, after enjoying Irish support, because the Unionists do not like the Bill, would be distinctly breaking faith with the Irish. (2) It would be a case of "Heads I lose, tails you win." We are told that the Government would gain by such an appeal, but I think the opposite is the case. At present they have the power to press through their Bill. If the verdict of an appeal were against them their measure would be lost, while if it were in their favour they would not be in any stronger position than they are at present; and (3) it would not be a fair test of the wish of the country. Unionists say that the first duty of the Opposition is to get rid of the present Ministry. There may be Unionists in favour of a form of self-government to remove Irish grievances, but who are strongly opposed to other Radical measures ; and party feeling unfortunately runs so high that such an appeal as you ask for would naturally be welcomed as an opportunity of turning out this Government. There may be sufficient answers to these objections, but in face of them I do not think you can expect the Government to give themselves away.— [The long and short of all these objections is the fact so candidly admitted by our correspondent, that the country would refuse its assent to the Home Rule Bill. " The answer would be sure to be No; therefore we won't ask the question." That is, of course, perfectly true, but as a rule Liberals do not put it so crudely. As to the objections to a general election, we would ask, " Why not, then, a Referendum ?" Unionists would be perfectly content to see the Home Rule Bill put to the country as a single issue.—En. Spectator.]
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