Lord Rosebery's third apprehension was connected with the Irish policy
of the Government. He did not expect that their Bill would be either violent or extreme; it would very likely deal chiefly with administration on lines which the Liberal League could fully support ; while as for the University question. he doubted whether they would hear any more of Mr. Bryce's valedictory appeal But every Bill relating to government in Ireland must be read in the light of the, Premier's Stirling speech delivered in November of last year, the views expressed in which had not been toned down but accentuated in the interval by the assertion of Ireland's claim to the rights of a self-governing Colony,—a claim which went beyond anything to be found in either of lir. Glad- 'Ovine's Bills, and practically meant an independent
ment for Ireland. Where,, he asked, was a Liberal to go who viewed these schemes with apprehension ? There was no refuge for him anywhere. He was kept either to Liberalism or to neutrality by the negative force of circumstancee. In conclusion, Lord Rosebery declared his conviction that Great Britain would never tolerate a tax on food-stuffs or a separate Parliament' in Ireland. Yet the Tory Party were almoit entirely identified with the one, and the Liberal Party much toe largely identified with the other.
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