The proposed change of programme came in a questionable shape to a
suspicious time. It was not received with universal favour, and, to
avert dissension, it was represented as a mere _ballon d'essai_ and was
abandoned. O'Connell died, and Repeal and Federation alike were
swallowed up in the Great Famine. But time was to renew its urgency. The
essential facts, and the logic of the facts, remained unaltered. When
Isaac Butt came to formulate his scheme at the Home Rule Conference in
1873 he renewed the Federal proposal in terms almost verbally the same.
The Conference resolved:

"That, in claiming these rights and privileges for our country, we
adopt the principle of a Federal arrangement, which would secure to
the Irish Parliament the right of legislating for and regulating
all matters relating to the internal affairs of Ireland, while
_leaving to the Imperial Parliament the power of dealing with all
questions affecting the Imperial and Government, legislation
regarding the colonies and other dependencies of the Crown, the
relations of the Empire with Foreign States, and all matters
appertaining to the defence and stability of the Empire at large;
as well as the power of granting and providing the supplies
necessary for Imperial purposes_."

Parnell, who was a supreme master of the art of doing one thing at a
time, naturally laid the emphasis on Ireland. But when he was asked by
Mr Cecil Rhodes to agree to the retention of Irish representatives at
Westminster in the interests of Imperial Federation, he declared himself
in very definite terms:

"It does not come so much within my province to express a full
opinion upon the larger question of Imperial federation, but I