The Chief Secretary accepts his role.

He is, no doubt, consoled to discover that in one sphere, namely in that of patronage, his supremacy is effective.
He discovers further that he can hamstring certain obnoxious Acts, as Mr Walter Long hamstrung the Land Act, by the issue of Regulations.

The rest of his official career depends on his politics.

If a Tory, he learns that the Irish Civil Service is a whispering gallery along which his lightest word is carried to approving ears, and loyally acted upon.
Further "Ulster" expects law and order to be vindicated by the occasional proclamation of Nationalist meetings, and batoning of Nationalist skulls.

And he absolutely must say from time to time in public that the Irish Question in essence is not political but economic.
This is the whole duty of a Tory Chief Secretary.