As for the risk to Great Britain, I have only this last word to say: Let her people, not for the first time, show that they can rise superior to the philosophy, as fallacious in effect as it is base and cowardly in purpose, which sets the safety of a great nation above the happiness and prosperity of a small one. Within the last few weeks the wheel has turned full circle, and the almost inexplicable contradiction which has existed for so long between Unionism and Imperialism has been illuminated with a frank cynicism rare in our public life. It is being said that the freedom given to Canada cannot be given to Ireland, because the separation from the Empire theoretically rendered possible by such a step would be immaterial in the case of Canada, which is distant, but perilous in the case of Ireland, which is near. If this be Imperialism, it should stink in the nostrils of every decent citizen at home and abroad.

It is true, to our shame, that, by little more than an accident, Canada obtained the freedom which gave her people harmony, energy, and wealth in the teeth of this mean and selfish doctrine. But Lord Durham took a higher view. Let me recall the memorable words which he added to his long and brilliant argument for liberty as a source, not only of domestic regeneration, but of affection and loyalty to the Motherland: "But at any rate our first duty is to secure the well-being of our colonial countrymen; and if, in the hidden decrees of that wisdom by which this world is ruled, it is written that these countries are not for ever to remain portions of the Empire, we owe it to our honour to take good care that, when they separate from us, they should not be the only countries on the American continent in which the Anglo-Saxon race shall be found unfit to govern itself."

Lord Durham was doubly right; in his prophecy of the closer union liberty would promote, and in elementary law which he laid down, of moral obligation which, whatever the result, he held superior to dynastic calculations. It is a fact of ominous significance that the intellectual successors of the men who most hotly repudiated both these doctrines in 1838 are being driven by pressure of their Irish views to revive that repudiation in 1911, and to revive it in the midst of the most effusive protestations of the need for still closer union with a Colony which would either have undergone the fate of Ireland or have ceased to be a member of the Empire if their philosophy had triumphed. I do not believe there is any conscious cant in that flagrant contradiction, but I do firmly believe that so long as their error about Ireland poisons in them the springs of Imperial thought, some element of fallacy lies in any Imperial policy they undertake. In common prudence, at any rate, they should avoid telling Canada, while beckoning her nearer to the heart of the Empire, that they only gave her freedom because she was so far.

But I rely still on an awakening, on a fundamental change of spirit. The Empire owes everything to those who have disputed, sometimes at the cost of their lives, illegitimate authority. Some day the politicians who now spend sleepless nights with paste and scissors in ransacking the ancient files of the world's Press for proofs that Mr. Redmond once used words signifying that he aimed at "separation"—whatever that phrase may mean—will regret that they ever demeaned themselves by such petty labour, and will place Mr. Redmond among the number of those who have saved the Empire from the consequences of its own errors.

APPENDIX

COMPARATIVE TABLE, SHOWING THE PRINCIPAL PROVISIONS OF THE HOME RULE BILLS OF 1886 AND 1893

HOME RULE BILL OF 1886. HOME RULE BILL OF 1893.
THE IRISH LEGISLATURE.
To consist of the Crown and Two Orders, sitting together, and unlesseither Order demands a separate vote, voting together.To consist of the Crown and Two Houses, sitting separately.
1. First Order, to consist of (a) 75 members elected on a £25franchise from a new set of constituencies. Term of office, ten years.(b) 28 Peerage members, to give place by degrees to elective membersas in (a).1. Council, of 48 Councillors elected on a £20 franchise from a newset of constituencies. Term of office, eight years.
2. Second Order, 204 members elected as at present. Two from eachconstituency (with an alteration in the case of Cork).2. Assembly of 103 members elected as at present.
Dissolution at least every five years.Dissolution at least every five years.
Money Bills and votes to originate in the Assembly.
DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN ORDERS OR HOUSES.
After three years or a dissolution question to be decided by joint vote.After two years or a dissolution question to be decided by joint vote injoint session.
RESTRICTIONS ON IRISH LEGISLATURE.
1. Imperial Matters.
No power to make laws about—
The Crown, War or Peace, Army or Navy, Volunteers or Militia, Prize orBooty of War, Treaties, Titles, Treason, Naturalization, Trade orNavigation, Lighthouses, etc., Coinage, Copyright, Patents, Post Office(except within Ireland).Nor with: the Lord-Lieutenant, conduct as Neutrals, Extradition,Trade-marks, nor (for six years) Post Office in or out of Ireland.
But Trade within Irelandand inland Navigation conceded to Ireland.
2. Irish Matters.
No power to make laws for the purpose of—
(1) Establishing or endowing any religion or imposing disabilities orconferring privileges on account of religion, or affecting theundenominational constitution of National schools, etc.(1) Ditto, ditto, but more explicit and far-reaching.
(2) Impairing rights or property of corporations, without address forboth Orders and consent of Crown.(2) Ditto, ditto, or "without due process of law" and compensation.
(3) Depriving anyone of life, liberty, or property without due processof law in accordance with settled precedents, or denying equalprotection of laws, or taking property without just compensation.
(4) Imposing disabilities or conferring privileges on account of birth,parentage, or place of business.
(5) (For three years) respecting relations of landlord and tenant orthe purchase and letting of land generally.
IRISH REPRESENTATION IN IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
To cease altogether (except in the case of a proposed alteration of theHome Rule Act).Ireland to send 80 members to Westminster (instead of 103). Peers asbefore.
EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY.
The Crown, as represented by the Lord-Lieutenant, acting in Irishaffairs with the advice of an Irish Cabinet responsible to the IrishLegislature.
POWER OF VETO ON IRISH LEGISLATION.
To be held by Lord-Lieutenant (acting normally on the advice of IrishCabinet?), but subject to instructions from Imperial Government.To be held by Lord-Lieutenant, acting on advice of Irish Cabinet, butsubject to instructions from Imperial Government.
FINANCE.
1. Taxation.
Customs and Excise still to be levied by Imperial Parliament andcollected by Imperial officers. All other taxes to be under Irishcontrol.(1) For six years all existing taxes to continue to be imposed byImperial Parliament and collected by Imperial officers.
Ireland to have power to impose additional taxes of her own.
(2) After six years, Customs and Excise to remain Imperial taxes; allothers to be under Irish control. But Excise to be collected, though notlevied, by Ireland.
2. Ireland's Revenue.
Gross revenue collected in Ireland from Imperial and Irish taxes andCrown Lands, etc.; plus an Imperial grant towards the cost of IrishPolice. (Total cost at that time £1,500,000: Ireland to pay £1,000,000,Treasury any surplus over £1,000,000, until cost reduced to that point.)(1) True Irish revenue from Imperial taxes (i.e., with allowancemade for duties collected in Ireland on articles consumed in GreatBritain, and vice versa).
(2) Revenue from Irish taxes and Crown Lands.
(3) Imperial grant of one-third of annual cost of Irish Police (equal infirst year to £486,000).
3. Ireland's Contribution to Imperial Exchequer.
(1) For thirty years Ireland to pay fixed annual maximum sums,representing Ireland's share of (a) Army, Navy, Civil List, etc.; (b)National Debt. Payments not to be increased, but might be diminished.Share for Army, Navy, etc., never to exceed one-fifteenth of total cost.Total payments under these heads for first year, £3,242,000.(1) For six years Ireland to pay one-third of the "true" revenueraised in Ireland from Imperial taxes and Crown Lands. (Estimated sharefor first year, £2,276,000, or about one-twenty-eighth of total Imperialexpenditure.)
(2) After thirty years, contribution to be revisable.(2) After six years, both method and amount of Ireland's contributionto be revised and settled afresh.
4. Contribution to Special War Taxes.
Optional to Ireland.For six years compulsory on Ireland to pay her proportional share of anysuch tax levied.
5. Post Office.
To be taken over by Ireland under Irish Act.For six years to remain under Imperial control. Profit or loss on Irishposts to be credited to or debited against Ireland.
POLICE.
Dublin Police to be under Imperial control for two years. Constabulary,"while that force subsists," to be under Imperial control, but Irelandto have power to create a new force under control of local authorities.Both Dublin Police and Constabulary, as long as they should exist, to beunder Imperial control.
Meanwhile an ordinary locally controlled civil police to be graduallyestablished by Irish Government, and to take the place of the oldforces.
But for six years, Imperial Government to have the power to maintainin existence the old forces, if considered expedient.
JUDGES.
Present Irish Judges to Remain.
All future Irish Judges to be appointed by Irish Government.For six years future Irish Supreme Court Judges (not County CourtJudges, etc.) to be appointed by Imperial Government. After six years byIrish Government.
LAW COURTS.
Constitution to Remain the Same.
But appeals to the House of Lords to cease; instead, to the JudicialCommittee of the Privy Council.
CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS.
(As to Validity of Irish Laws, etc.).
To be decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (includingone or more Irish Judges).
EXCHEQUER JUDGES.
Legal proceedings in Ireland or against Imperial revenue landauthorities to be referred, if either party wishes, to the ExchequerDivision Judges of the United Kingdom.All legal proceedings in Ireland which touch any matter (financial orotherwise) not within the power of the Irish Legislature to bereferred, if either party wishes, to two Exchequer Judges appointed andpaid by the Imperial Government. Appeal to be to the Judicial Committeeof the Privy Council.
LORD-LIEUTENANT.
Might be of any Religion.
Term of office indefinite.Term of office six years.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
After the first dissolution, Legislature to have power reconstituteSecond Order.After six years, Legislature to have power to reconstitute Assembly.

REMARKS ON THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS.

The arrangements differed widely in the two Bills.