In November 1880 he died, and, normally, his son, whose qualifications and ambitions were known, would have succeeded him.

But collision between Government and the Parnellite party was already beginning.

Mr.T.M.
Healy, then Parnell's secretary, had been arrested for a speech in denunciation of some eviction proceedings.

This was the first arrest of a prominent man under Mr.Forster's rule as Chief Secretary, and Parnell, with whom in those days the decision rested, decided that Mr.
Healy should immediately be put forward for the vacant seat.

In later days he was to remind Mr.Healy how he had done this, "rebuking and restraining the prior right of my friend, Jack Redmond." Redmond had not long to wait, however.