Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-12-30
PARNELL'S POWER.
Will the Harp of the Uncrowned
King, Like that of Tara. be
Unstrung.

Unstrung.
Mr.. Parnell is undoubtedly one of the
personages of the time. There are not
many at time, and they do not PASS
into the Pantheon when they die. Lord
Beaconsfeld was unquestionably one
toward the close of his career, but he
will hardly remain like Chatham and
Burke. Mr.. Parnell, however, although
an active figure in contemporary politics,
and therefore, like all such figures, some
what belittled by imperfect knowledge,
has apparently an extraordinary oppor-
tunity The man whoYorings the long
and trying Irishsand English question to
satisfactory conclnsion will be associated
with great historic event and become a
historical figure. - <
At this mon1ent Mr.. Parnell "tholds an
actual power in Ireland which is essen
TALLY greater than that held by Mr..
Gladstone in England or by Bismarck in
Germany, because it rests upon the Writ
ually undivided confidence of his coun-
trymen. Both Gladstone apd Bismarck
hold their own against large and organ
lied parties. But while the Ulster Irish
men do not all follow Parnell, the over
wbelming Grift of sympathy is with him.
He has virtually dictated the selection OF
almost all of the Irish members of Par
lament, and they are all pledged to fol-
low him. ODe correspondent calls him
the most powerful Irish leader since the
conquest. 1t is certain that with little
of the eloquence or the personal popular
charm which have distinguished the irish
leaders since Flood, he is stronger than
any, and the hope which has survived
centuries of apparent hopelessness. seems
about to be filled by the.cool, dry impass-
| i've Parnell.
His skill has been shown by his use oi
his opportunities. Clearly to perceive
| the situation, and thoroughly comprehend
your resources and the effective way OF
| applying them, is the secret of leadership
in sta!ecraft as elsewhere. Parnell be-
lieves that every advantage, or, as be
holds, every right, of Ireland has been
extorted from England by annoying her.
He knew the bitter conflict of parties in
England, and be saw that the Irish vote
holds the balance Of power in Parliament.
To make that vote absolutely his own;
| to cast it solidly for any man or party OF
| policy which should favor bis policy in
Ireland; to use it with both parties as q
| threat or bribe; to master parliamentary
law so as to obstruct legislation. legally;
| in q word TO make the success of either
party dependent upon him this has been
his aim and he,has apparently accom-
plished his purpose. zF
Organized insurrection he has sur
pressed. Boycotting and individual
crimes he has not condemned, thinking
probably, that while savagely denounced
by the English press, they would be
in:erpretated by English intelligence as
incidents inseparable from individual
wrongs and national oppression, Mr.
ParnelPs has been a deliberate, we'll
considered course. Persistence 10 it has
carried him steadily forward. There is
no rival near the throne. His actual
ascendency was strikingly shown at Mayo,
where he pufsuaded community resolved
to support certain candidate to set him
aside and unanimously and enthusiastic
ally support Mr.. Parnell's choice.
He is indeed an uncrowned king, and
should he die there is no one else to take
up his sceptre. No fabulous monarch of
Tara's Hall, no lord of the round towers,
no wild Celtic chieftain was SO powerful s
ruler. A short time will show whether
his power also, like the harp of Tara,
will be unstrung, and his deeds remain
buried, resultless, under the stream of
time, like ;hose stern round towers of
other days.-Geotge William Curtis in
Harper's lNdgasiae for January.