One of the most telling points of Mr. Goschen's speech
was his parallel between the actual results of Home-rule in Crete and the probable results of Home-rule in Ireland. " Turkey parted with her authority and granted Home-rule to Crete,—Home-rule to an island with a majority belonging to one religion and a minority belonging to another religion,— a majority belonging to one race and a minority belonging to another race. The only tie which bound it to the Empire was the tie of a Governor-General, and the payment of an annual tribute to the Imperial Exchequer. Is not that a description precisely of the relations which were offered to Ireland?" Nobody had asserted that Turkey interfered in Crete, or that it was the oppression of the suzerain power which brought about the disturbances. And yet the two religions and two races which quarrelled so fiercely on other subjects united to demand of the Imperial Government the remission of the tribute which they had promised to pay. Mr. Goschen hoped that the people of England would take to heart the analogy between the case of Crete and the case of Ireland, and profit by the lesson of the Cretan troubles. Mr. Goschen exposed effectively the folly of the assailants of the policy of the Government in trying to get rid of the sugar-bounties, and insisted on the gain to our influence abroad and our maritime prosperity, which had been caused by the large additions to our Navy and the growing respect which the Government had won for the policy and power of England.
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