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 To consist of the Crown and
Orders_, sitting together, and _Two Houses_, sitting separately.
unless either Order demands a
separate vote, voting together.

1. _First Order_, to consist of 1. _Council_, of 48 Councillors
_(a)_ 75 members elected on a L25 elected on a L20 franchise from
franchise from a new set of a new set of constituencies.
constituencies. Term of office, Term of office, eight years.
ten years. _(b)_ 28 Peerage
members, to give place by
degrees to elective members as in
_(a)_.

_2. Second Order_, 204 members 2. _Assembly_ of 103 members
elected as at present. Two from each elected as at present.
constituency (with an alteration
in the case of Cork).

Dissolution at least every five Dissolution at least every five
years. years.

_Money Bills_ and votes to
originate in the Assembly.

DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN ORDERS