The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-04-01


Tho wish was father to the thought which
led Mr.. A. L. ToTTENHAM member OF Parlia-
mont for Leitrim, to attempt in letter to
the London Times a refutation OF Mr.. PAR
NELL's claim that he and those who share his
opinions represent tho majority Of the people
OF Ireland. An examination OF the facts will
convince candid men that when MIR. PAR
NELL's claim was madc-about ycar ago
1t was abundantly justified, and will in all
likelihood he made good at the next general
election.
Mr.. TorrENHAM has discovered that only
50 members who can be classed as Parnell-
ties were returned to Parliament at the last
general election, whereas 6j constituencies
preferred men OF widely different political
opinions. This Is fact which nobody de-
nics but which has no bearing on the point
which tho member for Leitrim endcavors to
establish. Nor is tho circumstance more
pertinent that the population of tho SO Par
nellite constituencies Is only 100000, where
as that of tho other G5 exceeds 100000. or
tho five and half million inhabitants OF
Ireland only few hundred thousand, or. in
other words. an Insignificant faction. are.
under an unjustly restricted franchise,
qualified tn vote for members Of the
imperial legislature. What Mr.. PAR
NELL asserted was that - fraction did
not in the spring Of 1880 represent the mass
of the people, that. on the contrary. the vast
majority OF the nOn-voters were in avowed
and fervent sympathy with the reformcrs.
Indeed. public opinion, which utters tho SEN
timents and resolves, not of circumscribcd
electorate, but Of the whole community, was
so earnestly enlisted on his behalf that Mr..
PARNELL was justified in predicting
that the bulk even OF tho electors who
had been opposed to him would be NOR
ally cocrced into rejecting faithfully tho
wishes OF their countrymon before new mp
peal was made to the constituencies. That
his expectation was we'll founded was proved
by every by-election to fill q vacancy that
took place between May, 1880, and tho de-
plorable murders OF CAvENDIsH and BURKE.
The results OF those dd interim contests
showed that 1t was impossible for the cleo
tors to withstand the pressure OF popular
enthusiasm, and it became evident that the
Parnel!ite party did in very truth possess
n hold upon at least thrce-quartcrs Of the
seats allotted to Ireland in Parliament. And
even since tho Dublin tragedy, and the SUBJ
Sclucut luulcdtiOuS Ol u conspiracy organ
lied for assassination although the reform
movement has apparently lost some ground
all tho by-elections, with tho exception of tho
return OF Mr.. KING-HARMAN. attest the I'M
shaken grasp OF Mr.. PARNELL's friends upon
tho great majority Of the Irish counties and
borOughs.
If tho Irish patriots who undertook five
years ago to obtain the necessary reforms by
constitutional agitation continue to hold
themselves sternly aioof from the advocates
OF unlawful aims and sinister practices. and If
the friends Of Ireland in the United States shall
strengthen their hands in SO doing. the pros
ent cloud will be uplifted and Mr.. PAR
NELLs prophecy will be fulfilled. He will
prove not only that no represents the
Irish people, but that ho controls three
fourths Of their seats in Parliament; and
when no can point to formidable corps OF
CONDUCTORS In the Legislature nothing can
Illustrate or postpone his success in cxtort-
ing, either from the Liberal or tho Conscrva-
tive party, compliance with all OF Ireland's
reasonable demands It will behoovo tho
coming convention OF Irish Americans at
Philadelphia to do nothing which may tend
to deprive tho Irish leader OF such splendid
opportunity.