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close on the disestablishment of the Irish Protestant 
Church, and it is worthy to note that a large number 
of prominent Protestants and Conservatives partici- 
pated actively in the proceedings, and expressed 
their hearty concurrence in the policy of Home Rule. 
Dr. Maunsell, the editor and proprietor of the Dublin 
Conservative organ, the Evening Mail, was one of the 
most active supporters of the policy. Colonel King- 
Harman, afterwards one of Mr. Balfour’s unpaid 
coadjutors in Coercion, declared :—% We have come 
here to say that Home Rule is a matter of vital 
necessity, not only for this country but for Great 
Britain.” Lord Francis Conyngham regretted he 
was unable to attend. 
Lord French wrote to “wish success to the move- 
ment for an Irish Parliament on a Federal principle, 
which would include all the benefits that could 
reasonably be expected from an unqualified repeal 
of the statute by which the legislative Union was so 
unjustly enacted, and at the same time afford Ireland 
the great advantage of being duly represented on all 
Imperial questions.” 
Lord Robert Montague proclaimed his hearty 
good wishes for the success of the movement,” and 
the O'Connor Don expressed his “decided opinion 
in favour of Self-Government,” though he did not 
think the moment opportune for its concession. 
The Home Rule policy, formulated at the Rotunda 
Conference has been ever since the policy of the 
Nationalists of Ireland. It differs essentially from 
the old policy of Repeal. By Repeal, as has been 
already said, separation is necessarily implied. Home 
Rule repudiates separation. By the acceptance of 
Home Rule the Irish people have for the first time 
abandoned their claim in an independent Parliament 
and attorned to the Union. By the acceptance of 
Home Rule the absolute supremacy of the Imperial 
Parliament is expressly acknowledged.