sympathisers, Repealers, Liberals, and Tories--but all of whom had in
view the happiness and prosperity of their common country. There they
established the "Home Government Association of Ireland," the first
resolution passed being:--

This Association is formed for the purpose of attaining for Ireland
the right of self-government by means of a National Parliament.

The fact was that the "intensity of Fenianism" had forced thinking men
of every shade of opinion to realise that government of Ireland by
outsiders was an abject failure. Even Englishmen themselves began to
realise that they were engaged in an impossible task, or, at all events,
one in which they were quite at sea. A humorous story is attributed to
Mr. T.W. Russell on this point. It is that a certain Englishman, who was
appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland, went to an English official of
experience in Dublin, and said--

"You know what I mean to do first of all, is to get at the facts--the
facts--then I shall be on sure ground."

"My dear sir," said the official wearily, "there are no facts in
Ireland."

The conclusion was not a surprising one for a man who had for years
been in touch with the "official sources" of information.

While all honour is due to the men who initiated the new movement, the
names of those who carried on the constitutional struggle during the
years that preceded this date should not be forgotten. Of all the men I
ever came into contact with in the course of my experience of