Mr. Parnell's speech was remarkable. He began, of course, by
insisting on "the iniquity" of Mr. Balfour's administra- tion of Ireland, and the unexampled " sufferings " of the Irish people under his rule. He paraded his dislike of the attempt to apply the " Plan of Campaign" to the whole of Ireland, and his success in dissuading Mr. Dillon and Mr. O'Brien from the attempt to spread it over the whole face of the island ; and then he toned down, and began to offer Mr. Balfour good advice. He recommended him to introduce a Bill for establishing some reasonable arbitration on the estates where the " Plan of Campaign " is being enforced, and to pass it even in the short remainder of the Session ; and he urged on him to use the thirty-three millions which the Irish Land Bill is to provide, for the benefit of the genuine tenant-farmers, and not let any of the resources available be frittered away on finding the means by which great and wealthy graziers could buy their grazing farms. Mr. Balfour acknowledged frankly the moderation of Mr. Parnell's tone. He entirely refused to consider his first suggestion, but promised careful attention to the second.
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