The Home-rule party held ts grand meeting in Dublin on
Monday, to arrange for the Parliamentary campaign. It was settled that a Committee should be formed to act as a "Cabinet," and direct-the proceedings of the party; and that in the absence of Mr. Parnell, should he be detained in Dublin by his trial, Mr. Justin MacCarthy, M.P. for Longford, should act as President. The choice seems an odd one, to Englishmen accustomed to think of Mr. MacCarthy as a novelist with a trace of cynicism, and a historian with much humorous im- partiality, but it was fully supported by Mr. Parnell. It was also arranged that the party should sit on the Opposition benches, Mr. Dillon being especially anxious that Home-rulers should show how opposed they were to the existing Govern- ment. The decision—which was nearly unanimous, only two members dissenting—will, of course, be most acceptable to Liberals, and though it may conciliate Tories, will hardly attract to the League much of the confidence of Conservatives. Nothing was said publicly about obstruction, nor was any line indicated which the party, as a body, would take about the remedial Bills. Thirty-eight Members of Parliasnent were present, and although some serious differences appeared as to the desirability of strict discipline, they agreed for the present to act together.
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