It has never found a friend in Mr.
Dillon. In the movement itself and in the Irish Agricultural
Organisation Society, founded expressly to promote it, he can only see a
cunning device of the enemy to undermine Nationalism. In this matter Mr.
Dillon's attitude is also the official attitude of the Irish Party. Thus
Mr. Redmond (now reconciled with Mr. Dillon and become leader of the
main body of Nationalists), in a letter to Mr. Patrick Ford, dated
October 4, 1904, does not scruple to say of Sir Horace Plunkett's truly
patriotic work:--
"I myself, indeed, at one time entertained some belief in the good
intentions of Sir Horace Plunkett and his friends, but recent
events have entirely undeceived me; and Sir Horace Plunkett's
recent book, full as it is of undisguised contempt for the Irish
race, makes it plain to me that the real object of the movement in
question is to undermine the National Party and divert the minds of
our people from Home Rule, which is the only thing that can ever
lead to a real revival of Irish industries.
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