AMERICA AND IRELAND.
(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") Sus,—It is quite impossible for the plain man to understand why our Government should not pass a ten-line Bill empowering Nationalist Ireland to adopt a Constitution identical with the Constitution of any one of the States of the Union. The Bill would . be permissive, not mandatory. We all know that Nationalist Ireland would decline the proffered permission; but what does that matter ? Such a Bill on our Statute Book would for ever estop Irish-Americans of any and every State from pretending to their fellow-citizens that Ireland was being abused when the Constitution of their commen State was to be had by Nationalist Ireland, not for the asking, but for
the taking. It is not understood in the States that it is the power to govern Ulster that the Nationalists want, and not the power to govern themselves. A Bill actually conferring this litter right, and the right remaining unused, must make the thing clear.—I am, Sir, &c., R. H. H.
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