is speech, spoke of
the cloud which rests at present over Ireland. It is a dark and
heavy cloud, and its darkness extends over the feelings of men
in all parts of the British Empire. But there is a consolation
which we may all take to ourselves. An inspired King and bard
and prophet has left us words which are not only the expression
of a fact, but which we may take as the utterance of a
prophecy. He says, 'To the upright there ariseth light in the
darkness.' Let us try in this matter to be upright. Let us try
to be just. That cloud will be dispelled. The dangers which
surround us will vanish, and we may yet have the happiness of
leaving to our children the heritage of an honourable
citizenship in a united and prosperous Empire."

JOHN BRIGHT (1868)

CHAPTER X.

HOME RULE FINANCE

Home Rule finance is already the subject of a whole library of books
and pamphlets, and there is some danger that the money question may
occupy a place out of all perspective and proportion in the coming
controversy. Men quarrel over money very easily, and some of the
fiercest opponents of Home Rule still imagine that they can silence the
Home Rulers by talking "money" at the top of their voices. But the Home
Rulers must not be drawn into that net. They must refuse to view this
matter as a question merely of book-keeping and accounts. They must
remember always that the financial difficulty is simply another
statement of the fact of Irish poverty, and that Irish poverty is due
to the Act of Union. It is not any financial arrangement, but Home Rule
itself, that will cure the difficulties of Irish finance.

On the one side, the English are being told that they are going to be
bled white in order to please Ireland. On the other side, the Irish are
being warned by their extremists that England hopes to undo the effects
of Home Rule by a dowry of impoverishment. On both sides of the Channel
the enemies of Home Rule hope to use this as a weapon to defeat the
cause. Let us, therefore, keep our heads, and look at the problem
calmly and sanely.

What is the present position in regard to Irish finance? It has totally
changed since 1893. It follows, therefore, that the financial proposals
of the 1886 and the 1893 Bills are of little value to us as a guide to
the policy of 1912.[72] In those days the British Government could
cheerfully propose a fixed contr