Public opinion in favour of the new proposals grew rapidly.  Before the end of the year (1896) a deputation, representing all the leading agricultural and industrial interests of the country, waited upon the Irish Government, in order to press upon them the urgent need for the new department.  The Lord Lieutenant, after describing the gathering as ’one of the most notable deputations which had ever come to lay its case before the Irish Government,’ and noting the ’remarkable growth of public opinion’ in favour of the policy they were advocating, expressed his heartfelt sympathy with the case which had been presented, and his earnest desire—­which was well known—­to proceed with legislation for the agricultural and industrial development of the country at the earliest moment.  The demand made upon the Government was, argumentatively, already irresistible.  But economic agitation of this kind takes time to acquire dynamic force.  Mr. Gerald Balfour introduced a Bill the following year, but it had to be withdrawn to leave the way clear for the other great Irish measure which revolutionised local government.  The unconventional agitation went on upon the original lines, appealing to that latent public opinion which we were striving to develop.  In 1899 another Bill was introduced, and, owing to its masterly handling by the Chief Secretary in the House of Commons, ably seconded by the strong support given by Lord Cadogan, who was in the Cabinet, it became law.

I cannot conclude this chapter without a word upon the extraordinary misunderstanding of Mr. Gerald Balfour’s policy to which the obscuring atmosphere surrounding all Irish questions gave rise.  In one respect that policy was a new departure of the utmost importance.  He proved himself ready to take a measure from Ireland and carry it through, instead of insisting upon a purely English scheme which he could call his own.  These pre-digested foods had already done much to destroy our political digestion, and it was time we were given something to grow, to cook, and to assimilate for ourselves.  It will be seen, too, in the next chapter, that he had realised the potentiality for good of the new forces in Irish life to which he gave play in his two great linked Acts—­one of them popularising local government, and the other creating a new Department which was to bring the government and the people together in an attempt to develop the resources of the country.  Yet his eminently sane and far-seeing policy was regarded in many quarters as a sacrifice of Unionist interests in Ireland.  Its real effect was to endow Unionism with a positive as well as a negative policy.  But all reformers know that the further ahead they look, the longer they have to wait for their justification.  Meanwhile, we may leave out of consideration the division of honour or of blame for what has been done.  The only matter of historic interest is to arrive at a correct measure of the progress made.