Mr. Morley replied by affirming that Mr. Russell had used
"pharisaic language," and had made his motion only because the Unionist Press had taunted Unionists with their inaction. He admitted that the first duty of Government was to maintain law and order; but in spite of that, the previous Government had withdrawn forty-seven policemen from County Clare ! If that Government had not cured the county in six years, could he be expected to do it in six months ? There were no murders in the county, though attempts at murder were, he admitted, too frequent ; but they were not made by men acting under any general conspiracy, but by small gangs of moonlighters acting independently. He knew, he said, of the disease, but he "did not profess to be able to find a remedy," —a most important admission. Any decent Indian Commis- sioner would make Clare as safe as a drawing-room in six weeks. Mr. Balfour replied by showing that the very essence of the difficulty was the inability to change the venue which had been the consequence of Mr. Morley's proclamation sus- pending the Crimes Act. He maintained that the Govern- ment when it suited them were still using exceptional powers in Ireland, while denouncing the late Government for doing the same thing, and he called that hypocrisy. Mr. Redmond declared that the people of Clare were as law-abiding as any in the world, and the House, content apparently that anarchy should continue, voted against the adjournment by 260 to 215, the full party majority. The debate should be carefully studied by all who wish to understand the tone of the new Irish Government, and the chances of security in Ireland when Nationalists rule.
