ITO THE BETTOR OF TUE ° SPECTATOR:]
SIE,—Your article upon "Desolation and Home-Hale" in the Spectator of January 19th should be the means of enlightening your English readers upon the present situation in Ireland, and of removing their Prejudices against a forward movement. Might you not, however, have carried your argument a little further ? We as Devolutionists support the Government policy because we believe that it will go a long way towards meeting the national demand, and be productive of peace, economy, and contentment, without hampering any future national development. Nationalists will support it because they know they cannot get anything better, and that if sym- pathetically worked it is the shortest road to the "larger policy" they desire. But should it not also receive the support of the Irish Unionists? Their objection to Devolution now is that it, will be a step towards Home-rule. It will only beau if the policy is justified by results ; should it be a failure, it will be an unanswerable argument against any extension of self-- government; and when the appeal is made to the country which must admittedly precede the introduction of a Home-rule measure, there can be no question as to the answer the British electorate would make if the prognostications of evil are fulfilled. If the Irish Unionists believe what they say, they should welcome the opportunity of being able to present facts, instead of prophecies, when the decisive moment arrives. Is it not also possible that a well-considered scheme of Devolu- tion, maintaining unimpaired the supremacy of the Imperial ,Parliament and safeguarding the rights of minorities • in Ireland, may commend itself to the great majority of British Members on both sides of the House ? It would at all events relieve the present Parliament from the Irish incubus, and set it free for concentration on. much-needed domestic legislation. In Irish affairs it is always the unexpected which happens, and Mr. Bryce's appeal to treat the Government proposals as outside party politics may not be without effect ; so that next Session may see the experience of 1903 with the Land Act repeated once more. In this case the House of Lords may be trusted not to deal with an Irish measure as they did with the Education Bill.—I am, Sir, &c.,
LINDSEY TALBOT-CROSBIE.
Ardfert Abbey, Co. Kerry.
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