Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-26
ge on his initiation into Irish politics, his first
appearance on the public stage being when he

age on his initiation into Irish politics. his first
appearance on the public stage being when he
made his bow to the speaker Of the
house of commons, in April, 1875, with
his return az member for the county of Meath
in his pocket. A tall, thin, fair, studious young
man, nobody then suspected in him the future
leader of great party. He had not long I'm
ished his studies at Cambridge and politics
were practically an unknown field to him, his
chief article of faith being Homo Rule.
During the whole of that session, after the
manner of most new members. Mr.. Parnell
was mute. He heard vote after vote OF the
estimates passed. and clause after clause OF
bills discussed in committee and said not
word. The following session he began to ind
his feet, and to interest himself in small de-
tails of estimates, and 1t seems to have been
about this tfine on his seeing the success
which attended persistent criticism, that he
thought of Obstruction 1t was only by de-
grees, however, that the policy of obstruction
was developed. Every body knows that the
English house of commons, or rather the
ministerial portion of it, is provervially intol-
Grant, of criticism, especially Of persistent
criticism of the estimates. A few of the older
members have a sort of prescriptive right to
make the same remarks and ask the same
questions year by year; but no sooner does any
new member betray disposition to pry
into the secrets of the publis purse than the
mechanical majority proceeds to sit on him
after its own fashion. hum of conversation
arises as soon as the new man gets upon bis
legs. The new man, being under the
impression that members are merely
careless, and not malicious, raises his
voice. the takers raise theirs, till at length, IT
the trial of strength is continued long enough,
the house is perfect bable of sound. This
was Mr.. ParnelPs experience. Now, few men
have the temerity to brave the house of COM
mons. Ninety-nine members out of hundred,
finding that they can not get
hearing, are content to accept the inevi-
table. Not so Mr.. Parnell. Under slim and
almost effeminate exterior, he had an iron
will. He refused to be put down. The more
the House would not isten, the more he would
talk, even although he could not be heard
more than couple of benches off. His per-
sistence gradually attracted the support of one
or two kindred spirits in the same
direction, and by and by he began to retaliate
during the sessions of 1877 and 1878, the mer-
its of CONSTRUCTION" as an engine for extorting
concessions from tn. government became 40
obvious as to raise it to the dignity of one OF
| the questions of the day. MIR. Parnell
| is standing wonder even to his colleagues in
| the house. Calm, cool, and always gentle
manly in demeanor, he is a man whom moth
| ing can move. O'Connor Power grows savage
| under the exasperating treatment of the
house, and O'Donnell Kisses words through
| his teeth with ill-disguised resentment. But
Parnell remains invariably imperturable. A
contest between him and the House is a comedy
! in itself. Mr.. Speaker says Mr.. Psrnell ris-
| ing to his feet. amidst overpowering cries of
Vide, 'vider' Then comes lull, in which
MIR. Parnell edges in the words. Mr..
speaker. sir Here there is a renewed chorus
of voices, on the subsiding of which Mr. Par
| nell utters the words I rise, which are fol-
lowed by another cutburst. In this way he
contrives, bit by bit, to proceed with bis
speech, thes house unconsciously serving his
purpose of forcing him to pause at every
| word. Though man of unbending stamp, he
has, in personal intercourse. the mildest and
most gentle manner conceivable. He is al
most womanly; and Sir Wilfred Lawson has
| long since noted that he is an inveterate water
drinker.