CHAPTER VII.
"WHAT ANSWER FROM THE NORTH ?" Public curiosity as to the proposals that the coming Home Rule Bill might contain was not set at rest by Mr.Churchill's oration in Belfast.
The constitution-mongers were hard at work with suggestions.

Attempts were made to conciliate hesitating opinion by representing Irish Home Rule as a step in the direction of a general federal system for the United Kingdom, and by tracing an analogy with the constitutions already granted to the self-governing Dominions.

Closely connected with the federal idea was the question of finance.

There was lively speculation as to what measure of control over taxation the Bill would confer on the Irish Parliament, and especially whether it would be given the power to impose duties of Customs and Excise.

Home Rulers themselves were sharply divided on the question.