Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-06
MR.. PARNELL AND THE IRISH CAUSE
Ill Gil r.. Al =.

Mr.. PARNELL AND THE IRISH CAUSE.
Parnell made a gallant fight for the
oppressed people of Ireland and
whilst he may have committed some
mistakes of judgment, he has GER
tainly done much toward placing the
wrongs Of his unfortunate country
men before the world in their true
light and been the means of bringing
about some relief. His visit to this
country a year or two ago did much
to arouse the sympathies Of the
American people and to unite Irish
men and their friends everywhere.
The recent agitation in ireland, in
which he was one of the most promi-
nent movers, has had the effect to
lower rents on an average about one
third. This is something, and Mr.
Parnell deserves great credit for 1t
1t is difficult at this distance to un-
derstand the complicated question o.
to properly weigh the men and meas
ures before the public over there. Mr..
Parnell is 50 prominent, however,
that his motives and plans may be
fairly understood. He appears to
be moved by an earnest desire to do
something for his country. Although
land owner himself, he has steadily
commended for the rights of the ten
antry. As an earnest Of good faith he
reduced the renfs'of his own tenants to
the Griffin standard and gave them
leaseholds for ninety-nine years. If
ofiiceholding and notoriety were his
only aim, he could have been elected
perpetually to the House Of Com
mons without taking such great
risks or making such heavy sacrifices
He is evidently animated by q high
purpose for which he is willing to sac
rifce himself and all he has. During
the great famine he raised by personal
appeals hundreds Of thousands of dol.
lars for the relief Of the famishing
people of ireland. Can they do less
than feel deeply grateful for the aid
Of their great champion in time of
direst need2 The curse Of Ireland for
centuries has been internal discussion;
much of this grew out Of stubborn
religious dinerences. Happily the
disestablishment Of the church and
other causes have done much of late
years to harmonic the Irish people
and they are animated more than ever
by a broad feeling of nationality and
religious liberation. Mr.. Parnell, lik e
Emmett, is Protestant; yet he has a
Catholic constituency and'eBjoys alike
the confidence and support Of those
who differ in matters Of faith and
forms Of worship. He has done more
than any living man to make
the Irish people fraternize and
stand together shoulder to shout.
der. The New York Herald
and other American papers have
been wont to sneer at Mr.. Par
nell and his efforts, and this has beer
renewed since it is reported that hr
will shortly visit this country again
But we cannot see how any Irishman
at home or abroad, unless he hold
Office under the British government
can join in these unjust denunciations
The cause of Ireland has undoubtedl
been often prejudiced by the acts O
extremists and by demagogues VIZ
were playing on the sympathies @
honest hearted people for selfish pur
poses. Mr.. Parnell, however, is no
one Of this class, and is not SO regarde
by the great body of the America
people. Should he come to this coun
try again he will receive respectfU
and a cordial welcome from the pee
Mo ar largo