The Osceola times., 1880-01-03
Parnell tn. Irish Agitaior
Irfeh World

Charles Stewart Parnell to-day. with
Michael Dlvitt, the central figure of the
Anti-Rent Agitation in Ireland was born
in the Irish famine year of 1916 at Avon
dale, County Wicklow.
His parents are John Henry Parnell
and Dilla Tudor Parncll only daughter
Of Admiral Charles Stewart, better known
as 'Old lronsides' OF the American navy
in which he served some fifty years. His
grandfather Sir John Parnell, was Speak
or Of the Irish House of Commons, who
bitterly opposed the purchased Act of
Union and his Ereat-grandfather was
the poet Parnell, author of the celebrated
poem of the The Hermit
Mr.. Parnellwas educated at Magdalene
College, Cambridge England, and the
stand he takes to-day is all the more
Creditable to him when the course of
training and his general Surroundings
are considered.
Himself a landlord, with an estate that
has brought him in annually a round sS,-
600 reduced considerably voluntarily
since he entered the movement and not so
much when the great Land Grabbers are
considered he has cut off from the nat
ural course of a man so conditional, and
espoused the cause AT the head of which
we now find him
His first appearance in public was un-
der rGoyernment auspices as High Sheriff
of County Wicklow, which position he
held the year before his entrance to
Parliament. This latter event took place
III 1875, he being elected to the House OF
Commons TO ill theMeath vacancy made
by the decease of the late John Martin
The first evidence of Mr.. ParnelIs
looming importance is rebelto the main
or Home Rule body of the Irish Parlia-
mentary representatives, whose tame
ness, whose utter impracticableness and
fooli-hness in frittering away the time
and patience ofthe people with unhceded
petition. to Her Most Gracious Maiesty's
Government ior "a Parliament in College
Green disguised himself and a few
others who resolvedto adopt new tactics,
with the object Of compelling the, En-
glish Parliament TO pay attention 20 Irish
demands.
This ripcned intowh At is known as the
Obstruction Policy; the main idea OF
which is to oppose each and every meas
ure Of the Government by technicalities
amendments, and dogCed opposition, TO
impede general legislation and worry the
English members into either compliance
with the wishes of the Irish members or
make il as Improbable ~ possible for
England to continue the course it has in
connection with Ireland.
A contest between him and the hsuse
is II comedy in itself. "Mr. Speaker, says
Mr.. Parnell rising TO his feet, amids,
overpowerIng cries of"Nide vide :" Then
comes lull in which Mr. Parnell edges
in the words "Mr. Speaker, sir" Here
there is renewed chorus of voices, on the
subsiding of which Mr.; Parnell ut
ters the words"l rise" which are fol-
lowed by another outburst. In this way
he contrives, biz by bit, to proceed with
his speech, the House uRconsciously SER
wing his purpose by forcing him to pause
at every word. The most successful
thing that has been accomplished
through this method of procedure has
been the abolition of the lash in the
army.
This, ar we have characterized ii in
the past is after all but child's play, and
/ but little better than the pass i've policy
/ of the more conservative Home Rulers
and Mr.. Parnoll himsclfhas recognized
/ the eutteruselessncss ofall Parliamentary
! action in the case of Ireland in a speech
delivered, at Dumbarton, Scotland, In
! 1877. In that he said;