Sir Michael also twitted the Home-rulers with their very different
tone when they spoke in the House and when they spoke in Ireland. "The opinions stated here, no doubt with perfect sincerity, by honourable Members, seem in some mys- terious fashion to change before they travel into the wilds of Connaught. Reports have reached me from which it would seem that there must be individuals almost at the present time making speeches in the South and West of Ireland, masquerading under the name of honourable Members of this House, who, when they sit here, are perfectly constitutional and loyal." Sir Michael concluded by saying that whether or not the Home-rule Party could convince the reason of the people of Great Britain, they would certainly fail in intimidating Scotchmen and Englishmen into any step they disapproved.
