[10] Mr. Labouchere quotes the greater part of a letter from Mr. Herbert Gladstone, dated Dec. 7, in which Mr. Herbert Gladstone urges the all importance of the Irish question, and the necessity of ascertaining the plans of the Irish leaders. [11] The term "hard cash" is quoted from the letter of Dec. 7, from Mr. Herbert Gladstone to Mr. Labouchere, already referred to (see note page 273). [12] Statement as to Mr. Gladstone's Home Rule Scheme was published in the _Leeds Mercury_ and the _Standard_ on December 17, and in the _Times_ and other London papers of December 18. [13] Winston Spencer Churchill, _Lord Randolph Churchill_, vol. ii. [14] In _Truth_ of December 24, Mr. Labouchere commented on his own assertion that a letter Mr. Gladstone had written to the Queen was communicated by her to Lord Salisbury, who, in his turn, communicated some of its contents to the _Standard_. [15] Editor of the _Daily News_ from 1868 till 1886. [16] _Times_, Dec. 28, 1885. [17] An old Radical M. P. writes criticising this letter: "Mr. Labouchere has never been regarded by us as a Radical at all, but as a Separatist, and we have always profoundly distrusted his advice upon the few occasions on which it was possible to regard it as serious."--_Times_, Jan. 4, 1886. [18] Mr. Labouchere here quotes a letter he had received from Mr. Herbert Gladstone, stating Mr. Gladstone's determination not to formulate any scheme which might be taken as a bribe for Irish support, nor to shift from his position, before the Government had spoken, or the Irish party had, in public, terminated their alliance and put the Tories in a minority of 250 to 330. [19] Mr. Gladstone's idea of a veto was that it might be exercised by the Crown on ordinary matters on the advice of an Irish Minister, but, on certain questions, _e.g._ religion or commerce, perhaps taxation, by the Imperial Ministry. [20] Mr. Labouchere here quotes in full a letter from Mr. Herbert Gladstone to himself, stating that, if communications have to take place with the Irish party, only one channel will be recognized, viz. Parnell. But he adds he does not think there is any chance of bringing their party to the scratch before Parliament meets, because of the insufficiency of the knowledge they possess to enable them to decide on any action, before the Address debate is actually in progress. He also points out how impossible it would be for Mr. Gladstone to adopt Mr. Chamberlain's policy of waiting, and adds that if the Liberal Party chooses to break up over an Irish Parliament it cannot be helped. {304} CHAPTER XII THE SPLIT IN THE LIBERAL PARTY _Mr. Labouchere to Mr. Chamberlain_ 10 QUEEN ANNE'S GATE, Jan. 1, 1886.