The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-04-03

pOrtly figure, and u face capable of e.
pressing all the varying humors which
provoke laughter. Isaac Butt. who or
gained the Home Rule movement, and
on whose shoulder the mantle Of O Con
nell was said to have fallen, was a
commanding figure too, and had a genial
face. Mr.. Parnell has neither a genial
face or an imposing presence. He is tall
and of very slight build while his face
is as unconditional as a statues. He
never laughs: and if he smiles. which is
very seldom, it is at something which
would convulse other people with merIl-
ment or else not Stir them at all
Although Mr.. Parnell is phlegmatic
and has the English characteristic OF
IRISH ever rendered such united allegi-
ance, principally on account of his gr at
success and because he has never mac e
any mistakes worth talking about.
Mr.. ParnclI first became known in
Irish politics as a candidate to Iepre>ei t
County d lbin in Parliament in 1874
There was a similarity in his speech
then to that of Mr.. Dlsraeh's first at
tempt in the House of Commons. Both
speeches we're conspicuous failures: but
Though Mr.. Parnell is not ~ orator by
any means he is now generally admitted
H., al L.,
uses classic f X lish whenever he turns
to Mr.. Speaker" II. was defeated for
Dublin but returned for County Meath
the following year. He was only "a year
in the House when he became famous in
company with Mr.. Bigger, member for
Cavan, for what is known as the policy
of obstruction. This is what that meant
\ lule OF the House prevented further
discussion Of bill a.sJe.r half past II at
1t was really directed against Ilish bills.
Mr.. Parnell carried the war into Africa
by putting down notices of opposition to
English bills indiscriminately. Isaac
Butt who was then leader of the Irish
Parliamentary party became disguised.
"Parliameut, said he, will put down
obstruction or obstruction will put down
Parliament" AS look at it to-day. the
Latter half of Mr.. Butts promise seems
to have been omlnously prophetic.
Soon aiterward Mr.. Butt had to give
way to Mr.. ParnelI as leader, and OF
struction continued 10 thrive. But Il ele
were not more than seven or eight mem
bers who would support Mr.. Parnell. 1t
was practically on this cry that sixty
two Home Rulers we're retu!ne during
the genera! election of 1850, but large
percentage of these Iebelled and Nj
pAruell could never count upon more
than thirty to do as he told them. The
late elections, however, have brought to
his back eighty five men who will do
anything at all he tells them-even
though it should be to resign. 1t has
why he is 50 unitedly obey ed. One rea
son is that the Irish have been over and
over again deceived by their representa-
tives who have either taken office-the
direst treason-or else have voted with
the government, which was as bad. Mr.
Gladstone, however, laid the foundation
Tor Mr.. Parnell's popularity when he
passed the Coercion Act Of 1881 and i'm
pIiSoned | 100 meu-and even women
without trial SINE of these men wer,
elected to Pan lament while in prison,
and others as soon as they got out. The
Irish people have never forgotten that
Mr.. Parnell passed six months in Kill
mailman Jail for tie cause of Ireland.
The fact that he was gentleman of
social standing as well as landlord
while at the Same time he appended his
signature to the famous no-rent mani
tcsto, accounts i'll great Ueasure for his
great popularity. The u,t"r contempt
he showed for English opinion in the
House of Commons when he was plead
ing for Ireland, and his expulsion upon
tn" occasions bt cause the f 'glish men,
p ale Il 10 Il people II, used to such tireless
y, l>is, ics in their behalf Bat, after
-. Is ri"I,r 9, imprisonment Was the
nii.4 stone. at lis n,lir cal authoritr.
nov l., 't1 ,'ued the y"nd will of the
ir,, II i'.n.i'A par IN lrel,nl-tor that
party Is i'll an over helmirg factor in
IKE p ,litirs "t the country, without
whose consent no constitutional agita-
ton could live there during one day-is
that has puzzled even veteran
Irish politicians. 1t is probably because
he went further than the majority of
leaders, and was beyond
doubt sincere; while on the other hand,
the physical force men, seeing no fair
opportunity to settle the question in their
own way, were willing, for the time at
least to leave it in the hand of one who
had no hard words to say against them
and who meant well though not, as II ey
believe, going far enough.
His remark too, at a Land Leage meet,
ing in Galway some years ago that he
would never have taken eff his coat to
the work, had he not known there was
more than settlement of the
Land question behind it qnieted the Fen
ians; and his judicious staying at home
from the big convention in Philadelphia
in 1882, although he had promised to
come, when it was feared the dynamiters
might possibly force resolutions helped
engender kindly feelings TOWARD him
among that section also.
Then the Roman Catholic hierarchy
and priests who are all powerful, and
slow to support a Protestant leader, are
as one man in his favor. He conciiated
them by never obtruding his religious
views into Irish measures and to his eff