"The proper place to guard Ireland is on the battlefields of France." It was from Belfast after this meeting that the first striking demonstration of response came--organized and inspired by Mr.Devlin.

On November 20th nearly a full battalion of recruits, many National Volunteers, entrained for Fermoy; a week later they were followed by another great detachment.

The example spread; and when Redmond spoke at Limerick on December 20th, the _Irish Times_ in a friendly leading article admitted that "the National Volunteers were now coming forward in large numbers and the Irish Brigade was going to be a credit to the country." This was a very different note from that which had come from Unionist quarters at earlier stages.
III So far as recruiting went, Redmond had won.

He was sure of making good to England.

But in what concerned making good to Ireland, he had no progress to report.