imate
Liberal leader, held out to Ireland on the eve of the General Election
of 1885. It was a policy to be begun "in the next session," though not
likely to be completed "in a day, or a session, or probably in a
Parliament."

Next to Mr. Gladstone and Lord Hartington the most important member of
the Liberal party at that time was undoubtedly Mr. Chamberlain, and Mr.
Chamberlain's Irish policy was proclaimed in the _Radical Programme,
which was published before the General Election as the Radical leader's
manifesto to the constituencies. This scheme, which Mr. Chamberlain had
submitted as a responsible minister to the Cabinet of Mr. Gladstone in
June, 1885, culminated in a National Council which was to control a
series of local bodies and govern the whole of Ireland. "His National
Council was to consist of two orders; one-third of its members were to
be elected by the owners of property, and two-thirds by ratepayers. The
National Council also was to be a single one, and Ulster was not to have
a separate Council. As the Council was to be charged with the
supervision and legislation about education, which is the burning
question between Catholics and Protestants, it is clear that Mr.
Chamberlain at that time contemplated no special protection for
Ulster."[15] Moreover, in a letter dated April 23rd, 1886, and published
in the _Daily News_ of May 17th, 1886, Mr. Chamberlain declared that he
"had not changed his opinion in the least" since his first public
declaration on Irish policy in 1874. "I then said that I was in favour
of the principles of Home Rule, as defined by Mr. Butt, but that I would
do nothing which would weaken in any way Imperial unity, and that I did
not agree with all the details of his plan.... Mr. Butt's proposals were
in the nature of a federal scheme, and differ entirely from Mr.
Gladstone's, which are on the lines of Colonial independence. Mr. Butt
did not propose to give up Irish representation at Westminster." It is
true that Mr. Butt did not propose to give up Irish representation at
Westminster; but it is also true that he proposed to give it up in the
sense in which Mr. Chamberlain wishes to retain it. Mr. Butt's words, in
the debate to which Mr. Chamberlain refers, are, "that the House should
meet _without Irish members_ for the discussion of English and Scotch
business; and when there was any question affecting the Empire at large,
Irish members might be summoned to attend. He saw no difficulty