It is refreshing to find so sound a Radical as
Mr. Lyulph Stanley taking up such solid ground against the Government's policy for Ireland as he took up in his letter to Mr. Bodden, of Oldham, published this day fortnight in the Oldham Chronicle. He uses the Lane-purchase Bill, as all the opponents of Home- rule have used it, as conspicuous evidence that the Government do not regard Ireland as in a state for separate self-government, since they wish to withdraw the settlement of the greatest question of the hour from the purview of the proposed Irish Legislature. It is hardly possible to put the chief issue more pithily than it is put in the following passage :—" The operation of the Bills now before the House of Commons would be to create a National Government over the whole of Ireland, apparently tributary to what would be considered a foreign nation, and with certain vexatious Constitutional restrictions on the free exercise of power by the new National Parliament. This tribute and these restrictions would not long survive,—the one would be repudiated, the other disregarded,— and the only means left for us to enforce them would be war and conquest, with the pro- bable result of holding Ireland by naked force as a mere dependency. Such a course would probably be repugnant to many, perhaps to the majority here, and consequently we
should arrive at SeparationAut after serious friction, and with still further embittered feelings. If we are to have Separation, let us have it frankly and simply. I do not fear it in the interest of Great Britain. I do not believe that an Irish Republic would be a greater danger to us, or more difficult to keep in check, than a disaffected and conspiring Ireland remaining part of the United Kingdom."
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