t is wanting; and
it would be impossible to leave that out of sight in the extension of
any such local authority to Ireland."

This seems to me a much wiser and more statesmanlike view than a system
of elective boards scattered broadcast over Ireland. A multitude of
local boards all over Ireland, without a recognized central authority to
control them, would inevitably become facile instruments in the hands of
the emissaries of disorder and sedition. And, even apart from any such
sinister influences, they would be almost certain to yield to the
temptation of being oppressive, extravagant, and corrupt, if there were
no executive power to command their confidence and enforce obedience.
Without the previous creation of some authority of that kind it would be
sheer madness to offer Ireland the fatal boon of local self-government.
It would enormously increase without conciliating the power of the
Nationalists, and would make the administration of Ireland by
constitutional means simply impossible. The policy of the Liberal
Unionists is thus much too large or much too small. It is too small to
conciliate, and therefore too large to be given with safety. All these
proposed concessions are liable to one insuperable objection; they would
each and all enable the Irish to extort Home Rule, but under
circumstances which would rob it of its grace and repel gratitude. Mill
has some admirable observations bearing on this subject, and I venture
to quote the following passage: "The greatest imperfection of popular
local institutions, and the chief cause of the failure which so often
attends them, is the low calibre of the men by whom they are almost
always carried on. That these should be of a very miscellaneous
character is, indeed, part of the usefulness of the institution; it is
that circumstance chiefly which renders it a school of political
capacity and general intelligence. But a school supposes teachers as
well as scholars; the utility of the instruction greatly depends on its
bringing inferior minds into contact with superior, a contact which in
the ordinary course of life is altogether exceptional, and the want of
which contributes more than anything else to keep the generality of
mankind on one level of contented ignorance.... It is quite hopeless to
induce persons of a high class, either socially or intellectually, to
take a share of local administration in a corner by piecemeal as members
of a Paving Board or a Drainage Commis