Men who are placed above corruption must interest themselves in the laborious but important details of local administration; men who might be corrupted themselves, must desire to place power in the hands of leaders who are as a class incorruptible.

High public spirit, a detestation of jobbery, trust and goodwill between rich and poor, are the feelings which make good local or municipal government possible.

There are certain parts of England, there are larger parts of the United States, where these admirable and rare conditions exist.

Do they exist in Ireland?
I need not answer the question, for if they existed our difficulties in Ireland would be at an end.

If, indeed, there were a genuine desire for Local Self-Government, expressed by Irishmen themselves, every sensible man would at once surrender _a priori_ theories in favour of the conclusions drawn by practical experience.