... the opinions the English held led to his being elected as President of the Home Rule Confederation of Great Britain. Despite being in contact with a number of leading Fenians throughout 1877 and 1878, and working with a number in his Home Rule party, he refused to commit himself to their revolutionary programme. Regardless of this, they were impressed with him, and found that "He has many of the qualities of leadership". Although he had elevated far in the two years of his political career, he did not feel in a position yet to put a direct challenge to Butt's leadership of the Home Rule Party. However, the 1879 agricultural depression linked the Irish national cause with the agrarian crisis, and this gave the cause more power than ever before. If the Irish national's could harness the grievances that the farmers held, then they would be in a fine position ...

See this essay or coursework document in full right now