nment to grapple with
arrears of rent. The policy known as the plan of campaign was launched.
The plan of campaign was this. The tenants of a given estate agreed with
one another what abatement they thought just in the current half-year's
rent. This in a body they proffered to landlord or agent. If it was
refused as payment in full, they handed the money to a managing committee,
and the committee deposited it with some person in whom they had
confidence, to be used for the purpose of the struggle.(225) That such
proceeding constituted an unlawful conspiracy nobody doubts, any more than
it can be doubted that before the Act of 1875 every trade combination of a
like kind in this island was a conspiracy.

At an early stage the Irish leader gave his opinion to the present
writer:--

_Dec. 7, 1886._--Mr. Parnell called, looking very ill and worn. He
wished to know what I thought of the effect of the plan of
campaign upon public opinion. "If you mean in Ireland," I said,
"of course I have no view, and it would be worth nothing if I had.
In England, the effect is wholly bad; it offends almost more even
than outrages." He said he had been very ill and had taken no
part, so that he stands free and uncommitted. He was anxious to
have it fully understood that the fixed point in his tactics is to
maintain the alliance with the English liberals. He referred with
much bitterness, and very justifiable too, to the fact that when
Ireland seemed to be quiet some short time back, the government
had at once begun to draw away from all their promises of remedial
legislation. If now rents were paid, meetings abandoned, and
newspapers moderated, the same thing would happen over again as
usual. However, he would send for a certain one of his
lieutenants, and would press for an immediate cessation of the
violent speeches.

_December 12._--Mr. Parnell came, and we had a prolonged
conversation. The lieutenant had come over, and had defended the
plan of campaign. Mr. Parnell persevered in his dissent and
disapproval, and they parted with the understanding that the
meetings should be dropped, and the movement calmed as much as
could be. I told him that I had heard from Mr. Gladstone, and that
he could not possibly show any tolerance for illegalities.

That his opponents should call upon Mr. Gladstone to denounce the plan of
campaign and cut hims