No doubt a group of ten is not a very
large group ; but the importance of the Independent Nationalists is not to be reckoned by mere numbers, but by their power of influencing the bigger group. We venture to say that though no doubt Mr. Redmond and his followers would like very much to carry out loyally the bargain that they have made with the Liberals, they will find the task exceedingly difficult. If they give the Liberals a general and hearty support, they will be held up daily and hourly as the betrayers of Ireland. If the Inde- pendent Nationalists were capable of doing nothing but using hard words, this would not perhaps matter much; but remember that the power of the Independent Nationalists was shown not merely in the ten constituencies which actually preferred them to official Nationalist candidates. In a considerable number of other constituencies the Independent Nationalists, to the astonishment of the Redmondites, showed a great deal of strength.
