lasted out two years; to a jurist it may appear conceivable, though hardly probable, that by the vigorous aid of the British Parliament the new Constitution for the United Kingdom might have lasted for as long a period. FOOTNOTES: [29] Compare Mr. Gladstone's speech of 8th April, 1886, '_The Times_ Parliamentary Debates,' pp. 130, 131; and Mr. Gladstone's speech of 13th April, _ibid._, pp. 255, 256. [30] Compare _ibid._, pp. 130, 132. [31] Compare the following expressions in Mr. Gladstone's speeches:--"The essential conditions of any plan that Parliament can be asked or could be expected to entertain are, in my opinion, these:--The unity of the Empire must not be placed in jeopardy; the safety and welfare of the whole--if there is an unfortunate conflict, which I do not believe--the welfare and security of the whole must be preferred to the security and advantage of the part. The political equality of the three countries must be maintained. They stand by statute on a footing of absolute equality, and that footing ought not to be altered or brought into question. There should be what I will at present term an equitable distribution of Imperial burdens. Next I introduce a provision which may seem to be exceptional, but which in the peculiar circumstances of Ireland, whose history unhappily has been one long chain of internal controversies as well as of difficulties external, is necessary in order that there may be reasonable safeguards for the minority. I am asked why there should be safeguards for the minority. * * * * * "I have spoken now of the essential conditions of a good plan for Ireland, and I add only this--that in order to be a good plan it must be a plan promising to be a real settlement of Ireland. (Speech of Mr. Gladstone, 8th April, 1886, '_The Times_ Parliamentary Debates,' pp. 130, 131.)