At the same time, Liberals who want to avoid civil
war must remember that the Unionist leaders have also a most difficult task before them. Many of their supporters will not quite understand what is being done, and will talk about " betrayal," while others, in whom partisanship is stronger than patriotism, will feel very bitterly that the Government is being allowed to escape. They would have much preferred to see their opponents thrown into the bottom- less bog of civil war, no matter what the consequences. Finally, there will be Unionists who have other questions more at heart than Ireland, and even than the avoidance of civil war. These will think that their . special causes may be pre- judiced by the avoidance of civil war by consent and the consequent strengthening of the position of the Ministry. That the Ministry will be strengthened by exclusion by consent it is useless to deny. Unionists are called upon to make great sacrifices, but those sacrifices they must make, and we believe will be perfectly willing to make when once they recognize that they are thereby avoiding civil war.
