CHAPTER XIII.
THE SEXTON INCIDENT.
[Sidenote: Mr.Sexton.] The resignation of Mr.Sexton, early in June, seemed to point to one of those disastrous splits in the Irish ranks which have always come at the wrong moment to spoil the chances of the Irish cause.

There were many whose memories were brought back by the event to that trying and strange time when Mr.Parnell fought his desperate battle for the continuance of his leadership.

But then there were many modifications of the position, and the chief of these was the much greater tranquillity with which the affair was regarded; and the general faith that the Irish members would be wise enough to settle their differences satisfactorily.

Still there were some very ugly moments.
[Sidenote: A Conservative opportunity.] Nothing could be more galling, for instance, to those who had charge of the Home Rule Bill, than to look across at the Irish Benches and see a vast and aching void in the places where the representatives of the people mainly concerned are accustomed to sit.

The Tories were not slow to utilise the moment; and if things had been different--if the Home Rule cause had not got so far--they would probably have been able to stop progress with the measure altogether.