sion."[17]

Mr. Mill goes on to argue that it is essential to the safe working of
any scheme of local self-government that it should be under the control
of a central authority in harmony with public opinion.

When the "Unionists" begin, if they ever do begin, seriously to
deliberate on the question of self-government for Ireland, they will
find that they have only two practicable alternatives--the maintenance
of the present system, or some scheme of Home Rule on the lines of Mr.
Gladstone's much misunderstood Bill. And the ablest men among the
"Unionists" are beginning to perceive this. The _Spectator_ has in a
recent article implored Mr. Chamberlain to desist from any further
proposal in favour of self-government for Ireland, because the
inevitable result would be to split up the Unionist party; and Mr.
Chamberlain, as we have seen, has accepted the advice. Another very able
and very logical opponent of Home Rule has candidly avowed that the
only alternative to Home Rule is the perpetuation of "things as they
are." Ireland, he thinks, "possesses none of the conditions necessary
for local self-government." His own view, therefore, is "that in
Ireland, as in France, an honest, centralized administration of
impartial officials, and not local self-government, would best meet the
real wants of the people."

"The name of 'Self-government' has a natural fascination for Englishmen;
but a policy which cannot satisfy the wishes of Home Rulers, which
may--it is likely enough--be of no benefit to the Irish people, which
will certainly weaken the Government in its contest with lawlessness and
oppression, is not a policy which obviously commends itself to English
good sense."[18]

Well may this distinguished "Supporter of things as they are" declare:
"The maintenance of the Union [on such terms] must necessarily turn out
as severe a task as ever taxed a nation's energies; for to maintain the
Union with any good effect, means that, while refusing to accede to the
wishes of millions of Irishmen, we must sedulously do justice to every
fair demand from Ireland; must strenuously, and without fear or favour,
assert the equal rights of landlords and tenants, of Protestants and
Catholics; and must, at the same time, put down every outrage and reform
every abuse."

What hope is there of this? Our only guide to the probabilities of the
future is our experience of the past And what has that been in Ireland?
In every year since the Legis