In Parliamentary elections we also find clear evidence of the strength of the Nationalists, and the extreme weakness of their opponents.  This is a test which those who accept popular representative government cannot disregard, particularly at an election when for the first time the new constituencies were called upon to exercise the privileges entrusted to them by Parliament.  Such was the election of 1885, followed in 1886 by another General Election.  In 1885 contests took place in most of the Irish constituencies.  They were between Liberals allied with Conservatives, and Parnellites.  In 1886 the contests were between those who called themselves Unionists and Parnellites, and the Irish policy of Mr. Gladstone was specially referred to the electors.

In regard to the number of members returned on the two sides, the result of each election was almost identical, but in 1886 there were fewer contests.  We may, then, assume that the relative forces of Parnellites and Unionists were accurately represented at the election of 1885.  If we take the votes at the election of 1885 for candidates standing as Nationalists, we shall find, roughly speaking, that they obtained in round numbers about 300,000 votes, and candidates who stood either as Liberals or Conservatives about 143,000.  But the case is really stronger than these figures represent it, because in some constituencies the contests were between Liberals and Conservatives, and there can be no doubt that in those constituencies a number of Nationalist votes were given for one or both of such candidates—­votes which, therefore, would have to be deducted from the 143,000, leaving a still heavier majority on the Nationalist side.[1]

If we look at individual constituencies, we find that in South Kerry only 133 persons voted for the “Unionist” candidate, while 2742 voted for the Nationalist.  In six out of seven constituencies in Cork where contests took place 27,692 votes were given for the Nationalists, and only 1703 for their opponents.  In Dublin, in the division which may be considered the West End constituency of the Irish metropolis, the most successful man of commerce in Ireland, a leader of society, whose liberality towards those in his employment is only equalled by his munificence in all public works, was defeated by over 1900 votes.  He did not stand in 1886, but his successor was defeated by a still larger majority.  These elections show the numbers in Ireland on which the Government and those who oppose Mr. Parnell’s policy can count for support.

It is absurd to say that these results are caused by terrorism exercised over the minds of the electors by the agitators in Ireland; the same results occurred in every part of three provinces, and in part of Ulster, and the universality of the feeling proves the dominant feeling of the Irish electors.  They show the extreme difficulty, the impossibility, of gaining that support and confidence which a Government needs