liament did not number more than forty; to-day we hold
five-sixths of the Irish seats, and speak in the name of
five-sixths of the Irish people in Ireland. Two years ago we had
arrayed against us all English political parties and every English
statesman; to-day we have on our side one of the great English
political parties, which, though its past traditions in Ireland
have been evil, still represents the party of progress in England,
and the greatest statesman of the day, who has staked his all upon
winning for Ireland her national rights. Two years ago England had
in truth, in Mitchel's phrase, the ear of the world. To-day, at
last, that ear, so long poisoned with calumnies of our people, is
now open to the voice of Ireland. Two years ago the public opinion
of the world--aye, and even of this free land of America--was
doubtful as to the justice of our movement; to-day the opinion of
the civilized world, and of America in particular, is clearly and
distinctly on our side."

On the other hand, in England the forces of reaction had succeeded. The
Home Rule Bill had been defeated and the Liberal party broken up. A
Government was in power whose programme was one of coercion. But
Ireland, Redmond said, was ready for the fight and confident that with
the weapons at command the enemy could be defeated.

Who were the enemy, and what the weapon? His speech made this plain.

"Once more Irish landlords have behaved themselves with
unaccountable folly and stupidity. They have once more stood
between Ireland and her freedom, and have refused even an
extravagant price for the land because the offer was coupled with
the concession of an Irish Parliament. So be it. I believe the last
offer has been made to Irish landlordism. The ultimate settlement
of this question must now be reserved for the Parliament of
Ireland, and meantime the people must take care to protect
themselves and their children. In many parts of Ireland, I assert,
rent is to-day an impossibility, and in every part of Ireland the
rents demanded are exorbitant, and will not, and cannot, be paid."

He was wrong. The settlement of this vast question was to be
accomplished through the Imperial Parliament, not the Irish. Yet it was
accomplished in essence by an agreement between Irishmen for which
Redmond himself was largely responsible.

Tha