He had to tell his hearers of victory and of repulse.
"When you last assembled in Convention, two years ago, the Irish party in Parliament did not number more than forty; to-day we hold five-sixths of the Irish seats, and speak in the name of five-sixths of the Irish people in Ireland.

Two years ago we had arrayed against us all English political parties and every English statesman; to-day we have on our side one of the great English political parties, which, though its past traditions in Ireland have been evil, still represents the party of progress in England, and the greatest statesman of the day, who has staked his all upon winning for Ireland her national rights.

Two years ago England had in truth, in Mitchel's phrase, the ear of the world.

To-day, at last, that ear, so long poisoned with calumnies of our people, is now open to the voice of Ireland.

Two years ago the public opinion of the world--aye, and even of this free land of America--was doubtful as to the justice of our movement; to-day the opinion of the civilized world, and of America in particular, is clearly and distinctly on our side." On the other hand, in England the forces of reaction had succeeded.