The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-08-13

r, t.e turning OF SATURDAY, January
"a, 1874, the people of the British Islands
woke to find Parliament dissolved. No
| surprise could be more complete for Par
| iiainent bad stood summoned for the first
week In February. At midnight on the 2ld
I MIR. Gladstone sprang this grand surprise
on MS Ioes, English Conservative and Irish
home huier, hoping to overwhelm both by
the secrecy and suddenness of the attack.
ANA for while 1t quite seemed as if he
had correctly calculated and would sue
| coed. The widest confusion and dismay
prevailed. There was no time to do any
| thlng but simply rush ont and fight helter-
skelter. In Ireland tho first momentary
teellng seemed To be one almost of despair.
Oh had we but even another month"
Yet no cowardly despair ; only the first
gasp OF brave people taken at utter dis
| advantage.
For the Home Rule leaders it Was a mo-
ment of almost Sad and certainly oppres-
slVe responsibility and anxiety. They knew
how little allowance would be made for the
mere dexterity whereby they had been thus
outwitted, If they should lose the campaign
as 1t seemed to many they must. But not q
moment did they waste in signing for what
might have been. There was an instanta-
peous rush to the council rooms, and before
the tidiDgs from London were twenty. four
hours old there had begun what may be
called three weeks sitting on permanence
OF the Home Rule executive. 1t is almost
throughout that time receiving and for
warding dispatches from and to all parts of
the country, by telegraph, by mail, and by
special messenger. The Home Rulers had
always held forth So an object which they
conld achieve, or were determined 10
achieve, in fair time, and after necessary
preparations, the conquest of some seventy |
seats out OF the Irish one hundred and |
three. To secure even thirty just now in |
this rush was deemed daring hope. But |
1t seemed as if enthusiasm and popular in
dignation at the Gladstonian coup compen-
stated for lack of preparation or organiza-
ton. 1t was great national uprising.
North, south, east, and west the constituen-
cies themselves set the Home Rule flag hy-
ing. Ireland was atlame.
- This was the first general election under
the free and fearless voting of the ballot.s
No more complaints by voters of &" coer-
cion" or" intimidation by .lsndlord or
" clergy or " mob Neither bullying nor
brlbing weuld any more be of use. AT last,
for the first time, the mind of the elector
himself would prevail, and the constituen
cies of Ireland were free to pass a verdict |
on the Act of Union.
One draw back, however, threatened to
battle their purpose. Candidates! Where
were trustworthy candidates to be found 2
The Home-Rule council had gone upon the
plan of refusing to provide or recommend
thinking to force upon the con-
such selection. eve will set up no candi-
date factory here in Dablin." they said ait
might lead to intrigue. Wen keep clear
of it; let each county and borough choose
for itself" But this had to be given Up. ,
The cry from the constituencies showed lite
folly: " Candidates., candidates For the
ove of God eend US a candidate, and we'll
sweep this county for Home Rule. As "a
matter of fact, owing to the dearth of suit
able candidates, no lees than dozen seats
had to be let go by default without any
contest at all while in as many more cases
converts from mere liberalism to Home .
Rule, whose sincerity was hardly accepta- =;
Die, had, from the same cause, to be let
pass in +" on good behavior"
The ballot voting in Ireland under the act Of 1873
mike that in American ie strictly there being
20 ticket to be seen by outsiders. Only entering
ne oooth where the few PEI necessarily present
re sworn to secrecy, the voter receives q paper on
which the Nance Of tho candidates printed. NAL
cTet compartment Of the booth the voter marks
ross along SIDE the name OF the for " HON he
'ishes TO vote folds the paper the
1ark which he has made. brings 1t forward
through slit into sealed bp1 He then uits the
Goth. and no one. inside outside (but 6imseln
nows for whom he has voted.
concluded next week
P00Tc ANN cunrc uhrc