Sir William Harcourt publishes in the Times of Thursday a
long-winded but most artful letter, intended to trip up the Government when it proposes to strengthen the law in Ireland. He tells the public that Lord Salisbury assented to the inquiry into the fall of prices in Ireland, that Earl Cowper's Com- mission has reported that such fall has occurred, and that con- sequently the judicial rents must be reduced. He therefore urges that a measure sanctioning such reduction should take 'precedence of any Coercion Bill. The object of this argument is to enable Members to resist that Bill without appearing to their constituents to defend anarchy. We admit fully the fall in prices, and, indeed, claimed a fair hearing for Mr. Parnell's Bill; but in the existing state of Ireland, obedience to the law must precede remedial measures. Suppose Sir W. Harcourt had a tenant who was unjustly rented, and therefore shot his land-bailiff. Would he arrest that tenant and try him, or 'would he, as a preliminary, calmly discuss with him the character of his land, the average of prices, and the terms of his holding ? The truth is, Sir W. Harcourt thinks continued disorder in Ireland favourable to the Home-rule policy, and would hear of disturbance there as a patriotic Parisian hears of little inmates in Alsace-Lorraine. They are 'contrary to civilisation, no doubt ; but then, how very gratifying !
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