The debate was continued on Wednesday. Mr. Rathbone wept over
a spoilt Bill, and Mr. J. Wilson blurted out that the Irish Members must be kept in order to force Radical legislation on Great Britain. Mr. Chamberlain's speech was an extraordinarily powerful attack upon Mr. Gladstone's posi- tion, and literally left the Prime Minister without a leg to stand on. The plan of exclusion, in the opinion of Mr. Glad- ston 3 and of most of his colleagues, wan the best plan. Mr. Gladstone himself had said at Manchester in 1886 :—" I will not be a party to giving to Ireland a legislative body to manage Irish concerns, and at the same time to having Irish Members in London acting and voting on English and Scotch business." After this, Mr. Gladstone might at least have made an effort to pass his " in-and-out " scheme. Instead, he waited to change his plan till the eve of the day when the guillotine was to descend. Mr. Gladstone was unable to endure Mr. Chamberlain's home-thrusts, and showed his un- easiness by needless interruptions and wranglings over dates which were altogether unimportant. The spectacle was not a pleasant one for those who respect the Prime Minister. Mr. Balfour closed the debate in a speech of profound states- manship. Unfortunately, we have not space to quote the passage in which he dealt with "Home-rule all-round," and showed what would be the position of a country the size of the United Kingdom, with four Legislatures and four Executives, and the Imperial House of Commons sitting under the shadow of the English Legislature. On a division, the new clause was negatived by 40 (221 to 181).
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