d he is jeopardizing the future of
the Volunteers.

"I do not say, and I cannot say, under what precise form of
organization it will be, but I trust and I believe--indeed, I am
sure--that the Volunteers will become a permanent, an integral and
characteristic part of the defensive forces of the Crown.

"I have only one more word to say. Though our need is great, your
opportunity is also great. The call which I am making is backed by
the sympathy of your fellow-Irishmen in all parts of the Empire and
of the world.... There is no question of compulsion or bribery.
What we want, what we ask, what we believe you are ready and eager
to give, is the freewill offering of a free people."

This was a double pledge as to Redmond's two objects. It promised,
first, that every inducement should be given to join a corps
distinctively Irish and having national cohesion and character;
secondly, that the Volunteers should obtain recognition as part of
the defensive forces of the Crown. Over and above this was an
assurance of enormous importance. There was to be no question of
compulsion. Nothing was asked, nothing would be asked, but "the
freewill offering of a free people."

Lord Meath followed, a representative figure of Unionist Ireland and a
most zealous promoter of recruiting. Then Redmond spoke, and as usual
dwelt on Ireland's contribution to the forces of the Regular Army so far
actually engaged, which was fully adequate in numbers. "As to quality,
let Sir John French answer for that, and let my friend and
fellow-countryman Admiral Beatty from Wexford speak from
Heligoland."--Nothing gave him more pleasure at all times than to dwell
on the personal achievement of Irishmen; his voice kindled when he named
such names.--He went on to give confident assurance, having in it the
note of defiant answer to the revolt which had been raised:

"I tell the Prime Minister he will get here plenty of recruits and of
the best material. We will maintain here in Ireland intact and inviolate
our Irish National Volunteers, and in my judgment that body of
Volunteers will prove to be an inexhaustible source of strength to the
new army corps and the new army that is being created."

Then, with disdainful reference to the "little handful of pro-Germans"
who had "raised their voices in Ireland," he declared that it would be
no less absurd to consider them