All must mix equally in the ranks.

The second was the fear of most Nationalists that by joining an organization with which the national leader was not identified they might weaken his hand.

This operated, although the declared intention of the organization was to strengthen Redmond's position.

At Limerick in January Pearse said: "In the Volunteer movement we are going to give Mr.Redmond a weapon which will enable him to enforce the demand for Home Rule." Briefly, for several months the numbers of the new force did not show that the whole of Nationalist Ireland was in support of it.

Ireland was waiting for a sign from Redmond, and it did not come.