Deep in his heart there was a vision which compelled him.

It was the vision of Ireland united as a whole.
All this, however, lay far in the future when he was elected to the chair; for the moment his task was to reunite Irish Nationalists, and it began prosperously.

From the first his position was one of growing strength.

Irishmen all the world over were heartsick of faction and rejoiced in even the name of unity.

Redmond made it a reality.