PROBLEMS OF EMPIRE.
for Ireland, I did so on other grounds. They were these, and I place them in order of their importance.
My opinions on the Home Rule question are the same as they were when I first became a Candidate for Parliament, now over eight years ago. I condemned then, as I would condemn now, the exclusion of Irishmen from a voice in the control of Imperial questions. That was my objection to the Home Rule Bill of 1886. I condemned then, as I would condemn now, the provision giving Irishmen a voice in the decision of purely English questions, while leaving them free to manage their own affairs independently of us. That was my objection to the Home Rule Bill of 1893, as sent up to and as rejected by the House of Lords. No satisfactory solution of the Home Rule question has yet been put beforeI.-The passing of the Local Government Act during last session. This Act gives the Irish people a power in local government which they have never previously possessed. Before proceeding further in the same direction, time must be given to see how the Act works. It is to be hoped that it will have the effect of training up a class of men able to serve their country honourably and efficiently in a larger sphere. The character of the Irish representation is often condemned by those who forget that Irishmen have been largely excluded from the management even of local affairs, and have therefore not had the same opportunities of training as are open to us Englishmen.
II.-The dissensions amongst the Irish Members.
III.-The absolute repudiation by the Irish Leaders of alliance with any English party.
50
