Ministers, tried in Ireland, likely to succeed in the hands of a
Government such as I have described, and isolated, as I think few will
deny it to be? It is impossible in the long run to maintain it. The
roots of strength are wanting.

If we turn from Dublin to London, we do not find greater prospects of
success. Twice within fourteen months Lord Salisbury has formed a
Government. In 1885 his Cabinet, on taking office, deliberately decided
to rule Ireland without exceptional laws; after a few months, they
announced that they must ask Parliament for fresh powers. They resigned
before they had defined their measures. But within six months Lord
Salisbury was once more Prime Minister, and again commenced his
administration by governing Ireland under the ordinary law. This attempt
did not continue longer than the first, for when Parliament met in 1887,
preparations were at once made to carry the Criminal Law Amendment Act,
which occupied so large a portion of the late Session.

This is not the action of men who have strong faith in their principles.
Nor can it be shown that the continuous support so necessary for success
will be given to this policy. No doubt it may be urged that the
operation of the Act is not limited in duration; but, notwithstanding
that, few politicians believe that the constituencies of Great Britain
will long support the application of exceptional criminal laws to any
part of the United Kingdom.

This would be wholly inconsistent with past experience In relation to
these measures, which points entirely the other way; and the publication
in English newspapers and constant discussion on English platforms of
the painful incidents which seem, unfortunately, inseparable from a
rigid administration of the law in Ireland, together with the prolonged