Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, an older and better Nationalist than
any of those who at present represent Ireland, has given his opinion of the Home-rule Bill. He likes it, with large. amendments, holding, as any genuine Nationalist would, that to make a nation, all classes must be represented, and that under the Bill the minority will not have sufficient power. They would be conciliated if offered careers ; but these are refused, for in the Assembly which will govern they will have only a dozen representatives out of 103. There will be no second party ready to take office, and that means party despotism followed by corruption, as in France. Sir Charles would have all constituencies three-cornered, or introduce- proportional representation. He dislikes the franchise for the Council, as it will not create a good revising body, and would rather see the second House a nominee Chamber, though in the end it should be elected by the Municipalities of the future. Re. would inquire into the financial question through a joint com- mittee of experts before he settled it, and would suspend Iiish representation at Westminster for thirty years. At least, he sees no objection to that course. The Irish would not bear the delay to be caused by another Commission of Inquiry ; but we suspect that on the remaining points most of them agree with Sir Charles Duffy, though a section would dispense with a second Chamber altogether.
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