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 whom take only an indirect interest in the subject. The same may be said of Wales.

The consideration of how our system of Imperial Government affects us Englishmen is the most important to all of you in this hall. At present we find that a large proportion of the time of our representatives in Parliament is taken up in dealing with Irish, Scotch, or Welsh business, with matters which only indirectly concern ourselves. We, as Liberals, maintain that purely Irish questions should be decided according to the wishes of Irish people. As a Liberal, again, I have pledged myself to vote on the question of disestablishment in Wales, according to the clearly expressed views of the Welsh people; and I have given a similar pledge with regard to disestablishment in Scotland, when the opinion of Scotchmen on that question is equally clearly expressed. But has it never struck you that these Liberal principles we profess, might be applied even nearer home. If the Irish have a right to manage their own affairs, have not we Englishmen a right to manage our own affairs ? Do we want Irishmen and Scotchmen to help us to decide what form free education is to take in our English elementary schools. Should the question of the disestablishment of the Church in England come up for decision, is that question to be in great part decided by the votes of Irish Roman Catholics, Scotch Presbyterians, and Welsh Dissenters? In my opinion, emphatically No! Questions which affect England alone, should be decided according to the views of the English people. Therefore, I advocate Home Rule for England as well as for Ireland, for Scotland, and for Wales, and in doing so, I no more than follow an accepted principle of the Liberal party.