He had attended the great counter-demonstration in Belfast which followed ours in Dublin and had seen in it "the expression of the soul of a people." "These people look upon their being subject to an executive Government taken out of the Parliament in Dublin with as much horror, I believe with more horror, than the people of Poland ever regarded their being put under subjection by Russia; they say they will not submit except by force to such government.

These people in Ulster are under no illusion.
They know they cannot fight the British Army.

But these men are ready, in what they believe to be the cause of justice and liberty, to lay down their lives." Bloodshed, if bloodshed there was to be, was anticipated in Ulster only, and the resistance indicated at this point was purely passive.

But even after the Bill had been introduced, Tories entertained the hope that a Nationalist Convention might save them trouble and reject what the Government offered.

Even Mr.O'Brien, however, had given the Bill a lukewarm approval, and at this moment Redmond's prestige stood very high.