Mr. Agar-Robartes also objected in the interests of his constituents
to forty-two pistols in the, House of Commons being held at the head of any British Government with the cry of " Your money or your life ! " At the same time he admitted that the government of Ireland was to-day unsatis- factory, and was alien to the wishes of the vast majority of the people. For that reason, and for that reason alone, he would give his vote for the Second Reading of the Bill. Unless, however, they could reconcile Ireland, and unless they could emancipate that House from the pernicious influence of forty- two votes always for sale to the highest bidder, he should reconsider his position on the final stages of the Bill. We venture to say that Mr. Robartes represents the opinion of the great majority of English Home Rulers far better than does the Government. They would like in the abstract to grant the Irish demands, but they realize that they cannot do so without grave injustice and confusion. They are, in fact, beginning to realize that the Union, though not perfect, is, as we have always said, a necessity—the form of government which divides Ireland least, and which does the minimum of injury to the general welfare of the United Kingdom.
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