Plan of Campaign

The plan of Campaign was a stratagem adopted in Ireland between 1886 & 1891, co-ordinated by Irish politicians for the proceeds of tenant farmers, against mainly absentee as well as rack-rent landlords. It was launched to counter agricultural distress caused by a continual depression in prices of dairy products and cattle from the mid-1870s, which left numerous tenants in arrears with rent. Bad weather in 1885 and 1886 also caused crop failure, creating it harder to pay rents. The Land War of the early 1880s was approximately to be renewed after evictions increased and outrages became widespread.

Parnell's modify of policy

The organisation looked unavailingly to Parnell for further help. In the course of a speech he filed in May 1888 to the Liberal Eighty Club, Parnell, concerned that it would otherwise destruction his alliance with the Liberals, virtually renounced his association with the Plan, this disunity with his party a precursor of the more momentous split to come. The organisers were forced to seek financial assistance elsewhere and Dillon embarked on a fund-raising drive in Australia and New Zealand May 1889 – April 1890 which raised some £33,000, but this was insufficient for their needs. In October Dillon and O'Brien jumped bail and escaped to France, and from there to America where they were empowered by Parnell to raise more money £61,000, which he referenced for the Irish party.

Parnell also had to distance himself from the Campaign during the Parnell Commission hearings in 1888–89. While the main outcome was very favourable to him, much of the surrounding evidence suggested that the organisers of the Campaign and the former Land War had incited, or were complicit in, the attendant violence.