New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-16
NJ p1RNELL,S pOLLCK

today. is a most logical and cogent de-
fence of Mr.. Parnclls policy. AT the outset
obstruction seemed an ignOblc en- ;.n0w II Is
claimed by his followers to have been only
means TO an end and this end having been ac-
complished the agency is no longer in ordinary
use Mr.. Parncl beginning with group OF
four or five adhcrenis. found it necessary to
resort to rough methods IN order to convince
Parliament and the Irish people that he and his
o.soclates were determined to be heard. lie Is
now ut the head of u delegation OF forty Irish
members. who know that the people of the island
stand behind them and there IA every reason
to expect that after the next election his tol-
lowers will number Mt least seventy. He hls
forced the Commons tO listen to him aud has
no longcrAny excuse for stopping the move
mcnts of Parliamentary business. 10 has or
ginizcd the Irish people and created n thor
oughly independent party To represent thom w
tho Commons. Unle-a all signs fail' this phrty
will be heavily reinforced uGxt year. when Mr..
Gladstone appeals Ia the country ms ms
boon the snprcmc aim of Mr.. Parnclrs policy
Obstruction was only arough and ready method
OF which he nyailcd himself under the
pressure Of necessity lie now gives the
Conservatives free field for obstructlng
the course of legislation aud rcsOlutcly keeps IN
mind his own purpose OF cNtfcating Ireland
from the coils of Parliamentary connection with
England.
This is an ingenious plea and it is supported
by the Parliamentary records of the last two
years. Mr.. Parnel's political authority has
steadily increased at Westminster rs well IA In
Ireland He has NJ rival in the Irish delcga-
ton. and whenever critical diyis is impend-
ing he is recognized by the English mombcrs
as the leader of a third party holding already
the balance of power. When there are signs Of
Liberal revolt on the Egyptian question or in
n Bradlaugh debate, the votes of the Home
Rulers are eagerly canvasSed in advance and
are felt to be decisive. If with
forty followers Mr.. Parnell can make
his influence of commanding Importance IN de-
bates on English que 'tions, he has reason to
believe that with united delegation Of seventy
members, and the fate of an English Ministry
dcpendent upon his support, he can force the
Commons to enact measures which the Irish
people deem essential for their prosperity
That this is a reasonable calculation cannot be
seriously disputed. The London press some
times aifrms that the Liberals and Tories, by
agreeing among themselves that Irish votes
shall no. count in a critical division, can keep
the balance of power out of Mr., Parnell's
hands. This would be a desperate remedy.
Cabinet Government would be impracticable
without clear Parliamentary majority POI
litcal partisanship is too strong to permit
compact by which Irish votes shall be excluded
If the Government majority In the next Paria-
ment be anything less than it is at present, Mr.
Parne and his third party of seventy members
will be a great political force 1t is on this ac-
count that Englishmen of all parties dread the
outcome of the next general election. Mr.. Par
nell, in their Judgment, now has too much
power. In the next Parliament he will be still
more powerful.
Mr. Mccarthy describes Mr.. Parnell ac-
curately as essentially Parliamentary poll
tlcian. OF all the leaders who have commanded
the enthusiastic support of the Irish people, he
is the least imaginative. the most practical.
"He is not" remarks Mr. Mccarthy, "a theorist
cor dreamer. Airy speculations do not capti
"vate him; do nOteven interest him. lie treads
"the firm earth of present and practical politiesp
Ii is this practical character of the man which
has favorably impressed Americans, as time has
gone on and his political purposes have been
more clearly discerned. Having frankly criti-
cised him in the past for the lack of definite
ness In his earlier policy, and also for
his neglect to do one thing which O'Connell
invariably did-namely, to denounce crime and
lawles ,ness-we now feel justified in commend
ing his attitude and his work, especially during
the last two years. Englishmen have their own
ideas respecting the justice of Mr.. Parnell's dc
mands, and the expedlency of granting to Ire
land so large concession as legislative indie
pendence. Americans do not concern them
selves with the intricacies of the argument.
They read ly cOncede that Home Rule is le-
gitimate object of political agitation. and are
inclined TO believe that as the present Parlia-
mentary system has failed to satisfy tho Irish