We record elsewhere the actual events of tho seven days'
street battle, but two matters call for special notice. The first is the resig- nation of Mr. Birrell, which was announced by himself in the House of Commons on Wednesday. Nothing in his whole career became him better than the frank and manly avowal that he had taken the wrong path in regard to the Sinn Feiners, and in his desire to main- tain Irish unity blundered into a hopeless position. We are dis- armed by Mr. Birrell's honourable candour, and shall make no criticism whatever on the past. We must add that if he acquitted himself well, the same may be said for Mr. Redmond ; but our highest praise in this respect must be reserved for Sir Edward Carson. No one could have blamed him if he had said plain things about Mr. Birrell's action. Instead, he spoke with the utmost generosity and good feeling. The whole incident was worthy of the very best traditions of the House of Commons. If cynics tell us that it was "a put-up job by a body of play-acting politicians," se can only say that cynicism is a very poor guide in the judgment of human affairs.
