The Irish Nationalists are assuredly not happy in the methods which they adopt for the achievement of their ulti mate success. Nothing could be more obvious than the advisabdity of the popular party in Ireland conducting it self with patience and self-control dur ing the present recess. Rome was not built in a day, and looking at things as they really are it would be unreason able for the Home Rulers to be much dissatisfied with the progress their cause has made during the last 12 months. After being adopted by the greatest living statesman and the principal section of the most important party in the State, it has fallen short— and only just fallen short—of an im mediate and unprecedented triumph. S.rongly favouring the project though we do, it is yet impossible to deny that it was put before the English constituencies with very great suddenness, and that the very large support accorded to it was fully equal to reasonable expectations. It is not the first important measure which has had to wait. All great re forms are fated to march through, defeat to victory, but violent measures in the hour of defeat only retard the final victory. We believe that the normal progress of political thought will work irresistibly for Home Rule, but we are quite sure that abnormal schemes of agitation and disorder will work against it. The English people lute injustice when they clearly see it, but they hate anarchy far more, and anarchy is easily seen. A course of disorder in Ireland can only have tho effect of alienating—first, the more un-

certain supporters of the Home Rule scheme, and secondly, the bulk of the Liberal party, not excluding Mr Gladstone himself. Signs of this are already manifest in the cablegrams which we have published this week. Moreover, as we have remarked upon previous occasions, the plan of the Liberals having been rejected, it is in accordance with all the traditions of English political life that the Conserva tives should have a fair opportunity of producing their plan and receiving for it full and disinterested consideration. In fact everything points to the sui cidal folly of lawlessness on the part of the Nationalist party in Ireland this winter. They have everything to lose, nothing to gain by it. 