Mr. Shaw, the old leader of the Home-rulers, has also
issued a manifesto to his electors, in the shape of a letter to the Bishop of Cloyno. It is an outspoken document. In it he declares that the managers of the" Irish party "have soused the weapon of obstruc- tion that the party has been led to "helpless defeat, unable to fight or to retreat with credit." The Leaguers have placed before the people of Ireland an " impossible " scheme of Land reform, and have thus raised obstacles to a good Land Bill, and have ‘‘ rendered it almost impossible to advocate any measure of self- government, in the face of such wide-spread social disorganisa- tion as that to which the people seem drifting away, from the foundations of national life, morality, and religion." They have . afforded the Government plausible reason for placing the country under the scourge of a Coercion Bill, and for narrow- ing the freedom of debate. Mr. Shaw is disappointed with
-the Government, he will steadily oppose it if the Laud Bill is insufficient, and he adheres to Home-rule, but he believes
that the wise and thoughtful in England have a growing con- viction that the largest measure of local self-government com- patible with the unity of the Kingdom should be granted to Ireland. He has decided, therefore, to continue on his course, undisturbed by any desire of the popultrity "which can be gained by empty talk and exaggeration." He respects the revo- lutionist, but not the man who only hints at revolution.
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