Then the winds broke loose. Sir S. Northcote was moderate ,
making it his chief point that, while persons accused of "crime" were left in prison, persons "reasonably suspected of treason- able practices," like two of the arrested Members, were let out. The Government talked of its principles, but its principles were those of a pendulum. He implored it to be firm, to explain its policy as a whole, and not piece-meal, and not to postpone measures for Ireland to the carrying of the Closure, Mr. Chaplin was naturally more furious, quoted Mr. Gladstone's
announcement in the Guildhall of Mr. Parnell's arrest, and even compared delay for the sake of rules of procedure to Nero fiddling while Rome was burning ; and, after Nero's example, actually produced a couplet, which in Ireland has had a great success :-
"Sound the loud timbrel o'er Ireland's blue sea,
The Land League has triumphed, the suspects are free."
Mr. Lowther did not make any verses, but said the Government de jure had abdicated in favour of the Government de facto ; Mr. Plunket declared that " the great Irish hierarchy," the magistrates and constabulary, were threatened ; Mr. Goschen intimated doubts whether fear had not something to do with the new policy ; and Mr. Gibson denied that a word had been said calculated to assure the friends of order in Ireland and the magistrates that they would be protected. To all this, Lord Hartington replied that it was unnecessary to make any such statement, that the Opposition could challenge the Government, if they would, and that the loss of the Irish vote ought not to deter them,—a hit at one cause, at least, of the Conservative irritation.
