The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-28
PAnSELL,s rrRsr spEEcn
Inauspicf0us Beginning ut the Political
Career of the Irisss Agitaker.

b JnlIk III was IN AS1S mat Eaf1eh mace MS
first public speech in Ireland know it was IN
the round room of the Rotunda. Dublin. The
Home Rule League was then In it's infancy. tt
had been organized the year before Isaac Butt
was at that time the recognized leader of the
movement, and he had already kinded the
| slumbering flame of national life into blaze.
| -Four fiftl1s of the Irish people salured him as
their chief Wherever he appeared he was re-
ceiyed with open arms.
Treason and loyalty were well represented in
/ that ante room. There were men there who
had stood in the deck for their political convic-
| tlons, and there were others who had sworn TO
| support and constitution at the hazard
| of their lives. The Orange. element was not In
Il force. but the Irish Professionals were as nunner,
/ GUS rs the Irish Catholics. Prof. Gal5raitn, OF
4 Trinity College, and some Catholic priests were
/ side by SIDE j. r. SnaytEe. who had not yet
become the Lone Fisherman in Irish national
| politics, was among the rest The church. the
+ bar, the army, the landlord and the tenant, the
/ loyaIst aud the rebel were all represented There
i was happy family of Irish Nationalists IN the
/ ante room when Isaac Butt arrived. His appear
anee the signal for little stir among the
/ groups of men who were waiting TO go on the
/ platform. Isaac Butts was beloved for the sim
/ pliclty of his manners and respected for his
/ genius. AS he entered | saw him shake hands
| with a tall young man who kaown only to
a few of u.s. and not noticed by many He
| then apparently about twenty-six years old
| The people around him did not appear to pay
him special attention, for he was comparatively
unoeserved. He wore u fsock coat butt0ued
across the breast. His hair was, | think. parted
in the center. He had been an officer in the Wick
low militia, and he had all the appearance of
man of leisure His trousers were LIGHT in color
and his necktie was Of hue to match His
| beard was full, bat eat close according to the
fashion of the day. He was good looking quiet
and dignied. His forehead was massive and
his detneanor self possessed
He was Charles Stewart FarnelL Many pe0rlc
were introduced to him. He left upon them the
| impression of being chilly and reserved. The
| opinion Mr. Butt had formed of him appeared to
be generally entertained by others The door
was thrown open, and we all climbed the steps
leading to the platform. There was sone APP
| plause We took our seats and looked over the
| great hail. and there was tumultous cheering
| when Isaac Butt sIocd up and advanced to the
| edge OF the platform, The people chee1ed the
old man with deafening earnestness There was
| national faith and patriotic power in that wild
| and fervid outburst. The scene was historic
| Isaac Butt WAS about to propose that Charles
| Stewart Pamell do take the chair He was GO
| ing to intrcaace the then almost unknown young
| man who, IN few years, to succeed him as
| the leader of the people. The motion was sec
| onded and carried and Farnell moved over to
the empty armchair that occupied the center
Of the platform. He was the observed
| of all observers as he stood up to
| thank the people. He saw a room
| packed to the ceiling with eager faces
and by earnest men. He the bannerets
| which hung from the ceiling dip in welcome
| saiutation. Before his eyes were quotations
! from Irish national poets, and the legend, I'VE
will have our own again" stared him in the face
as it dropped from the gallery. American.
| French and Irish flags We're displayed the
| walls Names dear 20 the memory of Irish
patriots were worked OH many OF the waving
| banners which dotted the room. Mitchell"
'Mea2her," Martin" ''FitzgeraId," Emmett
| Wolf Tone" and others recalled the memories
| Of former struggles for self government in Ire
| land The figures "98' must have reminded him
of the military executions OF Cafhampton and
| the perfdy of Castlereagh. God Save Ireland
| told the story of the Manchester martyrs whose
| names, Allen, Lafkn and 0Brien" were at
his side An American flag that draped part
| of the platform on which lie stood could not
have failed to remind him of odd Ironsides his
| grandfather on his mothers side Harps. sham
| rocks and sunbursts nearly covered the remain
| der OF the walls.
For few seconds he looked around him.
There was no evideGoe of excitement in his face
1t was cold looking He cast his eyes up to the
| gallery. then down on the of uplifted faces
| beneath him, and, bending his head toward the
platform family muttered the words, Fellow
countfyhfekP 1t was evident that he was ag-
| itated. His voice betrayed what his face refused
| to tell There was pause. \ struggle between
will power and the nervous system was going On
within him. He looked doggedy at the audi
| ence for a few seconds. His agitation became
more noticeable, aud the nervous system was
evidently getting the mastery The scene was
becoming painful to his friends. Some people
| in the audience smiled but the majority, quick
to express their sympathy where patriotic mo-
! tives led the way, clapped their hands in gener
! Gus encouragement. lsaac Butt, among the
rest, applauded, and hearty burst of applause
broke from the platform and extended over the
room 1t was loud, prolonged and earnest and
it must have sounded like words of
! welcome to his ears. But Parnnil'S
! face remained unchanged Not muscle
| moved AS he stood before that great audience
| he looked as stoical as Lapithae of bronze
| Whatever elements were at war within him
IL. TO- r.
! handsome counteharice Outwatdy at least, he
/ looked collected, and when the applause sub
sided he stood erect AMI looked before him. as
! though surveying the scene under the influence
of mild philosophy. Then silence came again.
and smile rippled over the faces of the men in
the vast audience as Parnell once more uttered
| the words, Fellow countrymenn His voice
was little stronger and his derneanor was more
resolute He stood erect and, passing his right
| hand across his chest imbedded his fingers up to
their knuckles in the lapels of his neatly fitting
coat. His attitude uncorsciously graceful
He looked like a model for an artist. His lips
moved, and two or three words, which
were lnaudable even to those within
! few feet of him, were falteringly ut
| tered. The flush OF excitement mounted
/ to his face, which, retaining its passive
I lines, at least gave outward indications of the
struggle within. The people heard nothing
| They saw Parnels lips moving. but even the
| murmur of his voice did not reach them. Once
| more sympathy found expression in words of en-
| enlargement, and Hear, hear sounded over
| the room. The platform rang with handclap-
ping. Many laughed. Others shouted, Order
/ order Isaac Butt came TO the 'front.' and by a
few happy words succeeded in winning for the
4 young gentleman from Wicklow many express
| sions of kindness and welcome Mr. Butt told
4 the people a little about Parnells family He
! recounted the history of the Union, and
| pictured the chairman Of the evening as man
| who would have been lord by English patent
| if his grandfather had accepted the bribe of
\ voting for the luiunit0uS lap cla which do
i stroyed the Irish House of Commons
| That broke the spell. When Mr. Butt sat
! down. Mr.. Parnel looked refreshed and canler
| He had evidently conquered his nervousness by
1 his will power He withdrew his hand from his
breast and, advancing q few inches nearer his
audience, he repeated the words, .Fellow-coun-
! trymen," with moderate firmness and clear ac-
cent The indomitablc character of the man
4 i, l,o L. =. L