Parnell fought his desperate battle for the continuance of
his leadership. But then there were many modifications of the position,
and the chief of these was the much greater tranquillity with which the
affair was regarded; and the general faith that the Irish members would
be wise enough to settle their differences satisfactorily. Still there
were some very ugly moments.
[Sidenote: A Conservative opportunity.]
Nothing could be more galling, for instance, to those who had charge of
the Home Rule Bill, than to look across at the Irish Benches and see a
vast and aching void in the places where the representatives of the
people mainly concerned are accustomed to sit. The Tories were not slow
to utilise the moment; and if things had been different--if the Home
Rule cause had not got so far--they would probably have been able to
stop progress with the measure altogether. But fortunately the Home Rule
Bill was in committee--and whether men like it or not, it is impossible
for them to avoid something like business discussion when a Bill is in
committee. There is the clause under discussion; there are the
amendments to it, which stand on the paper; the clause and the
amendments have to be spoken to; and it is impossible, within the limits
of a discussion so defined, to introduce a subject so extraneous as a
domestic difficulty in the Irish ranks.
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