Lord Derby, contrasting " the Paper-Union " with " the
Union of Hearts," said that the former is at least a substantial fact, while the latter is at best problematical. There is no use in counting on gratitude, because political gratitude hardly ever effects much, even when there is something to be grate- ful for ; and the Irish would have nothing to be grateful for in the reluctant concession of Home-rule at the last moment, by statesmen who look upon it as the last hope of peace. More- over, the whole history of nations is a record of wars against recent allies and alliances with recent enemies ; so that it would be absurd to hope that the Parnellites would not make war on the Gladstonians so soon as they had attained their common end by a victory over the Unionists. The speech was one of perspicuous and consummate sagacity.
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