But when Gladstone introduced his first Home Rule Bill, in 1886, Lecky opposed it as strongly as Froude himself.

Lecky was quite logical, for the question whether the Union had been wisely or legitimately carried had very little to do with the expedience of repealing it.

Fieri non debuit, factum valet, may be common sense as well as good law.

But Froude was not unnaturally triumphant to find his old antagonist in Irish matters on his side, especially as Freeman was a Home Ruler.
Froude's attitude was never for a moment doubtful.

He had always held that the Irish people were quite unfitted for self-government, and of all English statesmen Gladstone was the one he trusted least.
He had a theory that great orators were always wrong, even when, like Pitt and Fox, they were on opposite sides.