Mr. Ritchie was a little too much disposed to taunt
the 'Opposition with following Mr. Gladstone blindly, especially as he distinguished Mr. Stansfeld amongst those blind admirers, whereas it is probable that Mr. Stansfeld was a Home-ruler before Mr. Gladstone; but Mr. Ritchie was quite within the mark when lie taunted Sir William Harcourt with such a change of opinion. Mr. Whitbread's speech was interesting, as his speeches always ere ; but we must say that when he expressed a doubt as to the .• tendency " of Mr. Gladstone's Bill to hand the government of Ireland over to the Parnellites, be did go very far. Why, Mr. Gladstone's Bill actually reseated in the proposed Irish Legisla- ture the Irish representatives returned to Westminster, without even a fresh election, and a more unconstitutional proposal than that we cannot imagine. Mr. Whitbread said that by this Bill the ',Government were preparing an evil future for their Irish sup- porters,—were teaching them not to rely upon themselves, not to take their own part in politics, not to learn to find a mochas vivendi with the rest of their countrymen. Mr. Whitbread said that he believed that the people of this country desire peace with Ireland. Assuredly we do; but we do not want to cry 'Peace " where there is no peace. We would rather have Ireland cut loose altogether than be responsible for all the crimes which fur patriots apologise for, stimulate, and defend.
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