Some time later, when I heard Messrs. Chamberlain and Trevelyan were so disgusted with the Home Rule Bill that they were leaving the Government, says I to myself, 'I wonder if Mr. Gladstone in his own heart thinks if he had gratified their wishes about office he could have retained them.'
But as a matter of fact both are patriots far above such demeaning insinuations.
Mr. John Morley was a very well-meaning Chief Secretary, but a very misguided man.
In a conversation with me, Mr. Morley observed that, owing to the agitation, he saw no alternative but to make Parnell Chief Secretary.
I said that would be no use, for if he attempted to do his duty he would be shot, even more readily than I should.
Mr. Morley retorted:—
'He is the leader of the Irish nation.'
'I admit it,' I replied, 'and he is the only man you can make terms with.'
'How?' says he.
'You had better ask him,' says I, 'to nominate some foreign potentate to appoint commissioners who will say to Mr. Parnell, "Let Ireland pay her share of the national debt and buy out every loyal person who wishes to leave the country," and then, if Mr. Parnell says, "We are not able to do that," let them retort, "We will then disfranchise you, for this humbug has been going on long enough."'