The Northern Guardian. — 1891-10-24 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

THE POLICY OF DESPAIR.  He believed that their opponents were not now calling it Home Rule, hut an Irish Parliament; but with the experience they had of Committee Room No. 15 they could now gauge pretty well what the Irish Parliament would be. (Hear, hear.) When Unionists a lopted the course they took in 1886 they adopted it because they thought it AVM for the stability of the Empire; and that course was adopted at great persmal sacrifice. They severed from their old allegiance, from their old friends, preferring consistency to the Trish vote. (Cheers.) This was no passing fancy, as they could well realise by the sacrifice they had made in that behalf. It was one of those crises in which the country depended upon the strength and integrity of its manhood. The English constituencies rose equal to the occasion in 1886, and when the General Election came again he was quite sure they would rise still more nobly to the occasion. (Cheers.) They would remember how Mr. Gladstone, in appealing for a majority to govern this country independently of the Irish, without consulting his colleagues in any way. suddenly switched off into a line of policy which had always up to that time been opposed by the Liberal party. This policy was not only a new one, but they regarded it as a dangerous one—and very rightly. (Hear, hear.) They felt they could not follow even a leader op eminent as Mr. Gladstone, and so they took the course which had been followed by RESULTS BENEFICIAL TO EVERY SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY  in this land. (Cheers.) It was a very pleasant reflection for the Unionists--whether Liberal or Conservative Unionists—when they looked back upon the past five years and saw that events had proved their action to be the right one. Ireland had blocked the way. Everything previous to 1886 had to give way to Ireland. Irishmen took possession of the House of Commons, and he thought Mr Finlay would bear him out that Ireland was in the programme every night— (laughter)—and they could not get on for Ireland. When the Unionist Government came into power all this was changed. Whilst the grievances of the Irish were not neglected they taught them that law must be respected as in England, and this firm but liberal policy prevailed. (Applause.) Well, law and order were restored, and Ireland now enjoyed such peace and prosperity as had not been known for the put fifty years. (Cheers.) It was something to think of with pride that now men and women might go to rest without the fear that some masked ruffian would break in and mutilate and murder them. And what for? Because they happened to hold a different political opinion, or because they happened to pay the rent which they conscientiously felt they ought to pay. (Cheers.) They had also the privilege of driving out in the lanes without being shot down and without fear of seeing their crops destroyed and their acres devastated. But this had not been done by granting Home Rule. What was it owing to? (“Balf our,' and applause.) Quite right. Mr Balfour was the head of the Unionist Government, and right well he had led them in Ireland. (Cheers.) And PO Ireland had been placed in a satisfactory condition. But something else had followed. There was a fine record to place before the country when the general election came, and they would be able to appeal to the country confidently. When Liberal Unionists were accused of leaving the Liberal fold, he would ask their opponents to judge of them as Mr Chamberlain had asked them to do—to JUDGeOF