There are two points in your scheme that he wants modified, and these I will explain to you when I see you at the House, and {256} you have a moment's spare time. He told me to tell you that those who wished that you should be ill received in Ireland would not have their way, and that you may count on a perfectly friendly reception. This letter is long, but I thought that you would like to know Healy's ideas, as he is by far the most honest and ablest of the Irishmen.... It is all very well expecting to win the elections, but the Irish vote is an important factor, and if only we could square the eighty Irish in the House, and turn them into your supporters, Whigs and Tories would be dished. Certainly there is no love lost between the Allies. W. O'Brien, Healy told me, declines to speak to any of them, regarding them as intriguers with whom they are allied because of the Coercion Acts. Mr. Healy wrote again to Mr. Labouchere on August 2, and his letter concluded with the following decisive words: "Of course, however, I should be bound by the majority, and would steadfastly carry out Parnell's policy, whatever it is declared by the Party to be." On August 11, Parliament was prorogued and politicians soon began the campaign in the constituencies with a view to the General Election, which was to take place in November. Lord Salisbury had made the first bid for the Irish vote in a speech at the Mansion House on July 29, in which he defended Carnarvon's policy as the logical outcome of the Franchise Act of 1884. On August 24, Parnell made a very important speech at Dublin, in which he said that the Irish platform would consist of one plank only--legislative independence. The English press was roused to vehement denunciation. The _Times_ said that an Irish Parliament was "impossible." The _Standard_ besought Whigs and Tories "to present a firm uncompromising front to the rebel chief." The _Daily Telegraph_ hoped that the House of Commons would not be seduced or terrified into surrender. The _Manchester Guardian_ declared that Englishmen would "condemn or punish any party or any public man who attempted to walk in the path traced by Mr. Parnell." {257} The _Leeds Mercury_ did not think the question of an Irish Parliament worth discussing; while the _Daily News_ felt that Great Britain could only be saved from the tyranny of Mr. Parnell by a "strong administration composed of advanced Liberals."[6] The right wing of the Liberals, represented by Lord Hartington, and the left by Mr. Chamberlain, both protested. Hartington, speaking on August 2, referred to Parnell's manifesto as "so fatal and mischievous a proposal." Mr. Chamberlain, speaking at Warrington in the early days of September, said very definitely: "Speaking for myself, I say that if these and these alone are the terms on which Mr. Parnell's support is to be obtained, I will not enter into competition for it." The veteran leader, for the moment, was silent,