THE ALTERNATIVES TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE UNION.
[To THE EDITOR OF TEE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—It must have become clear to most people that the various plans and suggestions which have been called forth by the supposed necessity of revolutionizing the government of Ireland are all open to very serious objections of one kind or another. The attempt to force Ulster under a Dublin Parliament would lead straight to civil war. The exclusion of Ulster from the operation of the Home Rule Bill is vetoed by Mr. Redmond—not unnaturally, as it would be the negation of the doctrine that Ireland is a nation, one and indivisible. Sir Edward Grey's "Home Rule within Home Rule "—wheels within wheels—" could only mean," as has been said, "absurd complexity and miserable friction." The fact is that there is no conceivable scheme which would not be intensely disliked by many of those affected by it. The only possible compromise or "settlement by consent" would be one imposed, by agreement between the two English parties, upon the mutually antagonistic Irish factions. This could hardly be called governing Ireland in accordance with Irish ideas. Sir E. Grey, who seems to indemnify himself for his customary moderation of tone by the occasional use of the language of violent exaggeration, tells us that Home Rule is necessary in order to save the House of Commons from destruction as the Imperial authority. Does this imply that the House of Commons ought to undertake the task of directly administering the affairs of the British Empire ? It is the business of a legislative body to legislate ; and the House of Commons has in the last few years shown itself fully capable, as things are, of legislating on a vast scale for the United Kingdom. There appears to be nothing whatever to prevent it, if necessary, from dealing adequately with legislative proposals affecting the whole Empire, if prepared and introduced in the proper manner. The Government will, of course, not drop their Irish Bill, unless they are compelled to do so ; but it may be surmised that a Parliamentary defeat on some other question early next year would not be wholly unwelcome to them as a means of escape from an impossible situation.—I am, Sir, &c., Cm&
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