At the Annual Convention of the Home Rule Confederation, held in the Rotunda, Dublin, August 21st, 1876, Dr. Commins in the chair, a vote of confidence in Mr. Butt was passed.  At the same time what was known as the “Obstruction” policy was endorsed, though Mr. Butt had given its chief exponents, Biggar and Parnell, no countenance.  It was also resolved to remove the headquarters of the Confederation from Liverpool to London.

Although, out of respect for his distinguished services, Mr. Butt was allowed to remain as the nominal leader up to the time of his death, it is quite evident that our people favoured the more active policy of the younger men.

At a banquet given on the night of this Convention in the Ancient Concert Room, Mr. Butt, as chairman, gave the toast of “The Queen, Lords and Commons of Ireland.”  It will be seen elsewhere that I have always objected to join in this toast on the ground that it implies an acceptance of the existing condition of government in Ireland.  Finding it on the list, I remained away, but I am afraid my friends, who knew my views, were scandalized at seeing in the newspaper report my name given as having been present.  How it occurred was through the reporter, desiring, no doubt, to save himself the trouble of making out a new list, giving the names of those who had been present at the Convention as having attended the banquet.  I had a somewhat similar experience at a Newcastle-on-Tyne Convention—­sixteen years later.  The Newcastle men, in the interval between the Convention and the banquet, asked my opinion about the toast list.  I gave them a sketch of what I thought a good one, but said, “Don’t have the Queen.”  They said they wouldn’t, and I went to the banquet.  I was surprised to hear the chairman giving “The Queen, Lords and Commons of Ireland.”  There was nothing for me to do but walk out.

In Mr. Parnell Mr. Biggar found a colleague after his own heart in working the “Obstruction” policy.  From the time when I made the acquaintance of Parnell, when he came amongst us, a shy-looking young man, under the wing of Isaac Butt, we were drawn towards each other—­he because he looked upon me, from my life-long experience of them, as an authority upon our people in this country, and I because I was impressed by the terrible earnestness that I soon recognised underlying the young man’s apparently impassive and unemotional exterior.  I was one of the first he came in contact with in this country, and I believe he unbent himself and showed more of his really enthusiastic nature to me than he did to most men.  He used to speak unreservedly to me.  He knew my views as to Irishmen taking the oath of allegiance and entering the British Parliament, of which he was at that time a member.  He knew that, holding these views, I could not enter the British Parliament myself, though he would have liked to see me there.  With me it was a matter of conscience; I could not take an oath of allegiance to any but an Irish Government.  At the same time, I have always been practical, and willing to fight Ireland’s battles with the weapons that come readiest to my hand.  I, therefore, always gave what support I could to the Irish Parliamentary Party, who could conscientiously enter the House of Commons, and to the recognised Irish organisations for the time being.