New-York tribune., 1882-04-24
MIR. PARNELL'S FURLOUGH.
WHY HE WAS RELEASED AND HOW THE
NEWS WAS RECEIVED


Easter Monday. which some millions OF Britons
regard as sacred TO beer, came near being turned
into a political saints day. Mr.. Parnell was re-
leased from Kilmainham at O'clock in the morn
ing. and incredibly rapid is the transmission and
publication of news in these Kingdoms that the
release was actually known in London by o'clock
in the afternoon. That, at any rate, was
the hour when the fact was brought to the
knowledge of people in the West End.
AS the printers take holiday at Easter,
and evening papers published, the news
filtered out slowly than usual What we had
at first was the bare announcement that Mr. Par
nell had been released. For some hours London
was left to suppose that the Government had turned
Mr. Parnel loose upon the country Toward night
ii became known that he had been liberated for
week or parole to attend the funeral of his
nephew in Paris.
In Dublin, in Cork and in other parts Of Ireland
there premature reoicings. The Irish Irrecon-
cIlables quick to believe in the absolute liberia
ti0n of the IrrecOncilable leader. They ordered
llluminati0ns IN towns. music, tar-barrcls on the
mountain tops and other manifestations of patriotic
joy. 1t Is characteristic of the party concerned in
these performances that when the ruth became
known mo trouble was taken to correct the first
bulletins" A remark heard IN England was
equally characteristic, if not of the whole party,
of some members of it, The chairman of Land
League meeting in Leeds signaized his sense Of
Mr.. Forster's civility by saying that SIR. Parnell
only ticket-of-leave man. This sweet flower
seems to have grown on Mr.. Biggars bush.
Probably it is no part of Mr. FOrsters business TO
superlntend the transmission Of news from Ireland.
Probably it Is nobodys business. Ii was none tho
less blunder to allow it to be supposed that Mr..
hal
Still more serious would have been the blunder
but for the emptiness Of London Men are so scat
tered the country that between the arrival and
correction of the first story, there time for
the concentration o. public opinion. But the effect
was damaging enough. 1t appears to have been
believed in some houses not only in London, but
all over England and Ireland. that the Government
had resolved on q general amnesty. People agreed
that, if Mr.. Parnell was allowed his liberty il
would be preposterous to keep anybody else in
prison; in which they were right. Even
a momentary mistake of that kind is blow to
the Government. With a little forethought
it might all have been prevented. There
of communication between Dublin Castle and tho
Press agencies. They were not used. and because
they not used the Government suffered.
"When men heard, yesterday afternoon" says one
journal, of the liberation of Mr.. Parnell, the news
was regarded as scandalous, and as of the worst
possible omen" 1t is an opposition journal which
makes that statement, but the statement is true.
There was undoubtedly general feeling of ndigna-
tion and anxiety. | am inclined TO think there is
truth also in the comment of the samo
paper that the possibility of such a
belief spreading indicates the extent to
which the Government have compromised them-
selves with the country. Compromised is too strong
word, but the policy of the country with reference
Il. -. l.. c ~, IL.
uncertainty. Mr.. Gladstones speech at the close Of
the session did not relieve this feeling if anything
it strengthened it. People don't know what to
look for next They have an uneasy apprehension
as to the extent Of the Chamberlain influence in
the Ministry They don't quite know what Mr..
Chamberlain would do if he could, could do if he
would The one instructive feature OF yesterdays
incident is this, that it must have taught Ministers,
suppOsng they needed teaching, that the country
would stand no nonsense in the direction of conces-
sion to Irish sedltOn.
1t is hinted but on no sufficient authority that
Mr. Parnells vacation may be used tor the purpose
of negotiation between him and the Government
The English Radicals supposed TO be eager for
such negotiations. But there are two three OBJ.
jections to this view. The first is that there was
nothing to prevent negotiations being carried in
Kilmainham. The second is that Mr.. Panell was
The third is that the number of leading English
Radicals now acting i'll harmony with don't even
say in cooperation with-the Parnellites may be
counted on a very few fingers. The fourth is that
the murder of Mrs. Smythe is too recent, and the
country would not stand parley with the
whom it holds politically and morally responsible
for that and the horrible catalogue of other current
outrages
To Mr. parnelPs enlargement for domestic rea-
son and limited time, nobody objects. The Tory
press makes no criticism on it; one journal OF FASH
ion-jouInal of London ideness, Mr. Morley
called it-excepted. The exception due 10
the fact that the paper in question offers practical
proof of the clOsencss of the alliance between the
Conservatives and the Parnelles. The Morning Post
is the most thOroughgoing of Tory papers and ono
of its leading contributors is f. Ii. ODonnell.
1t is presumably to the pen of Mr.. O'Donnel that
we are to trace the at the refusal to let Mr..
Parnell out when he wanted to take part in a crti-
cal division in Parliament. and the facility with
which he obtains permission ION any minor oc-
casion 40. involving the fate of her Majesty's Gov
ernment'
Nor is Mr. PamelPs conduct with reference TO his
parole open thus far to criticism No written pa
role was exacted from him. Mr. FOrster's letter TO
the Governor of KIlmaInham repeated Mr. Parnelrs
voluntary not to take part in any poiti-
cal matter during his absence. This was read to
Nlr Parnell, with the addition that II was under
stood TO mean he would take pare in any poiiti-
cal demon. tration. TO-dry's accounts present Mr.
Pamell ~ acting mp to the spirit and letter of >
engagement lie avoided notice in the Dublin rail-
way station and the boat at Hoyhead. At
Chester aud on his arrival III London, vigorous eff
forts were made b. various reporters to Inter
view him, but Mr.. Parncl said little. Less deh-
cate such matters than their chief the Irish party
| IN London arranged reception for him
| at Euston Station, where considerable
crowd had been collected in expectation
of his arrival Mr.. Mccarthy and other