We do not think that foreign opinion will much affect
the fate of the Home-rule Bill; but it is interesting to see how the new plan strikes foreigners at first sight. The Americans are favourable, conceiving that the rights granted to Ireland are like those granted to Massachusetts, and not seeing that the Union is not one between equal States, but between one- small State and one great one. The French admire the Billy apparently ',bemuse they like Ireland, and do not see that it is exactly contrary to every principle on which they act themselves. They would shriek- with horror at the idea of Home-ruleLfor Brittany. The Germans are doubtful, fear- ing for unity; but the democrats are favourable, and only in Austria is there general condemnation. The Austrians have an object-lesson before them in Bohemia. All the papers regard the Home-rule granted as sufficient for Ireland, and the doubts expressed generally refer to the retention of the Irish Members. That is said in Austria to be borrowed from Croatia, where, though the province is autonomous, its Leg.
lature, not its electorate, sends up a certain number of representatives to the Hungarian Diet to vote on affairs com- mon to the whole Monarchy. If we are rightly informed, the Croats are not contented at all, but are eternally striving to increase their independence of Hungary, though, fortunately for both, they are loyal to the Hapsburgs.
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