He stressed the point that to accept a scheme which by reason of its partial nature would break down in its working would be ruinous, because failure would be attributed to natural incapacity in the Irish people.

Acceptance, therefore, he said, could not be unconditional and undoubtedly to his mind it was conditioned by his hope of securing certain important amendments, which he outlined.

None the less, the tone of his speech was one of acceptance, and he concluded: "I have never in all the long years that I have been in this House spoken under such a heavy sense of responsibility as I am speaking on this measure this afternoon.

Ever since Mr.Gladstone's Bill of 1886 Ireland has been waiting for some scheme to settle the problem--waiting sometimes in hope, sometimes almost in despair; but the horrible thing is this, that all the time that Ireland has been so waiting there has been a gaping wound in her side, and her sons have had to stand by helpless while they saw her very life-blood flowing out.

Who can say that is an exaggeration?
Twenty years of resolute government by the party above the gangway have diminished the population of Ireland by a million.