Of the articles contained in this volume, those by Mr. Gladstone, Mr. E.L. Godkin on "A Lawyer's Objections to Home Rule," and Mr. Barry O'Brien appear for the first time. The others are reprinted from the _Contemporary Review_, the _Nineteenth Century_, and the _New Princeton Review_, to the proprietors and editors of which periodicals respectively the thanks of the several writers and of the editor are tendered. In most of these reprints some passages of transitory interest have been omitted, and some few additions have been made. The object of the writers has been to treat the difficult questions connected with the Government of Ireland in a dispassionate spirit; and the volume is offered to the public in the hope that it may, at a time of warm controversy over passing events, help to lead thoughtful men back to the consideration of the principles which underlie those questions, and which it seeks to elucidate by calm discussion and by references to history. _October_, 1887. CONTENTS. PREFACE. BY THE RIGHT HON. EARL SPENCER, K.G. AMERICAN HOME RULE. BY E.L. GODKIN HOW WE BECAME HOME RULERS. BY JAMES BRYCE, M.P. HOME RULE AND IMPERIAL UNITY. BY LORD THRING THE IRISH GOVERNMENT BILL AND THE IRISH LAND BILL. BY LORD THRING THE "UNIONIST" POSITION. BY CANON MACCOLL A LAWYER'S OBJECTIONS TO HOME RULE. BY E.L. GODKIN THE "UNIONIST" CASE FOR HOME RULE. BY R. BARRY O'BRIEN IRELAND'S ALTERNATIVES. BY LORD THRING THE PAST AND FUTURE OF THE IRISH QUESTION. BY JAMES BRYCE, M.P. SOME ARGUMENTS CONSIDERED. BY THE RIGHT HON. JOHN MORLEY, M.P. LESSONS OF IRISH HISTORY IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. BY THE RIGHT HON. W.E. GLADSTONE, M.P. PREFACE. The present seems an excellent moment for bringing forward the arguments in favour of a new policy for Ireland, which are to be found in the articles contained in this volume. We are realizing the first results of the verdict given at the election of 1886. And this I interpret as saying that the constituencies were not then ready to depart from the lines of policy which, up to last year, nearly all politicians of both parties in Parliament had laid down for their guidance in Irish affairs. We have had the Session occupied almost wholly with Lord Salisbury's proposals for strengthening the power of the central Government to maintain law and order in Ireland, and for dealing with the most pressing necessities of the Land question in that country. It is well, before the policy of the Government is practically tested, that the views of thoughtful men holding different opinions should be clearly set forth, not in the shape of polemical speeches, but in measured articles which specially appeal to those who have not hitherto joined the fighting ranks of either side, and who are sure to intervene with great force at the next election, when the Irish question is again submitted to the constituencies. I feel that I can add little or nothing to the weight of the arguments contained in these papers, but I should like to give some reasons why I earnestly hope that they will receive careful consideration. The writers have endeavoured to approach their work with impartiality, and to free themselves from those prejudices which make it difficult for Englishmen to discuss Irish questions in a fresh and independent train of thought, and realize how widely Irish customs, laws, traditions, and sentiments differ from our own. We are apt to think that what has worked well here will work well in Ireland; that Irishmen who differ from us are unreasonable; and that their proposals for change must be...