[2] See _Annual Register_, 1893 (New Series), p. 180. [3] See especially pp. 39, 40, 41-43 _post._ A LEAP IN THE DARK[4] FOOTNOTES: [4] My readers are earnestly recommended to study Mr. Cambray's _Irish Affairs and the Home Rule Question_. It brings the history of the Home Rule movement well up to date, and strengthens almost every argument against Home Rule to be found in _A Leap in the Dark._ The notes in square brackets are new. CHAPTER I OLD AND NEW CONSTITUTION The Home Rule Bill[5] contains a New Constitution for the whole United Kingdom.[6] The Bill bears on its face that its object is 'to amend the provision for the Government of Ireland'; it is entitled 'The Irish Government Act, 1893'; it is in popular language known as the Home Rule Bill. But all these descriptions are misleading. It is in truth a measure which affects the government alike of England, of Scotland, and of Ireland. It changes, to some extent the form, but to a far greater extent the working, and the spirit of all our institutions. It is a bold attempt to form a new constitution for the whole United Kingdom; it subverts the very bases of the existing constitution of England. The present constitution of the United Kingdom is marked and has long been marked by two essential characteristics, the one positive and the other negative. The positive characteristic is the absolute and effective authority of the Imperial Parliament throughout the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. To this characteristic Englishmen are so accustomed that they hardly recognise its full importance. A government may make its power felt in three different ways--by the action of the Executive, including under that head all the agents of the Executive, such as the judiciary and the armed forces--by legislation--and by the levying of taxes. Take any of these tests of authority, and it will be found that the British Parliament is not only theoretically, but actually and effectively, supreme throughout the whole of Great Britain and Ireland. The Cabinet is virtually appointed by the Houses of Parliament; the army, the judges, the magistracy, all officials who throughout the country exercise executive power in any form whatever are directly or indirectly appointed by Parliament, and hold office subject to the will of Parliament Of the legislative authority of Parliament as regards the United Kingdom it is scarcely necessary to speak. Any law affecting the United Kingdom not only lawfully may, but can in fact, be changed by the Imperial Parliament. Of the unlimited legislative authority ascribed to, and exercised by, Parliament in the United Kingdom the Home Rule Bill itself is sufficient evidence; and the Gladstonian Ministry, at any rate, see no reason why Parliament should not within the course of a few weeks remodel the fundamental laws of the realm. The right to impose taxes is historically the source of Parliamentary power, and in all