The action of the Government on the whole question has
been called a mystery, but, like most mysteries, the explana- tion is quite simple. It is all very well for Mr. Balfour to talk about unworthy suspicions, and of people accusing him and Mr. Wyndham of having contemplated treason to the Union. Of course they contemplated nothing of the kind, and no sane Unionist, in England or Scotland at any rate, has ever suggested that their action was anti-Unionist. What they did do was perfectly right and proper,—na,mely, to endeavour as far as possible to administer Irish affairs in a sympathetic spirit and in the best interests of Ireland, and, wherever possible, to govern Ireland according to Irish ideas. Out of this laudable policy they were, however, frightened by the threats of Sir Edward Carson and the' Ulster extremists. But though the dread of the Ulstermen forced
Mr. Balfour to sacrifice Mr. Wyndham, it did not go so far as to induce him to throw over Sir Antony MacDonnell because a major terror—the fear of losing Lord Lansdowne— intervened to protect the Under-Secretary. This plan of yielding to the biggest threat of the moment, from whatever side it may come, accounts for the extraordinary zigzag course pursued by the Government, and when it is once realised makes their actions intelligible.
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