New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-03-14
MR. PARNELL As 4 LEADER.


Mr.. Parnel is already as great figure in
English history as either OCOnnell or Grattan
and seems destined to suIpass them in popular
ity and in achievements. HIS career has been
one of the strangest puzzles of modern times
lie lacks OratOry, humOr, sympathetic face,
commanding presence-everything which the
great Irish agitators have possessed; and yet
has succeeded in establishing an absolute polti
cal dictatorship throughout Ireland except in
the nOrthernmost counties of Ulster. a land
lord himself, he is the uncrowned king of the
peasantry. A Protestant and graduate of the
University Of Cambridge, speaking classical
English without trace of brogue he is the
hero of Catholic Ireland and is trusted and
liked because he is Protestant and as risen
above the trammels of prejudice His charac-
teristic traits are English rather than Irish
his phlegmatc temperament, his iniiexible will,
his tireless vigilance and perseverance and his
contempt for hostile criticism; yet he is to-day
the idOlized leader of the Irish race, whose
traits he does not possess There is no greater
anomaly in recent history than Mr.. Parnel1s
complete ascendancy in his party and in the
island. When his birth, social station, relig
ious ties, education and traits of character are
considered, the success which he has achieved
is almost incOmprehensible.
When Mr.. Parnells career is reviewed in de-
tail, as is done in the very interesting sketch
printed on another page, the wonder grows in
stead of diminishing. He has been barely ten
years in Parliament, has originated no great
measure, and has made no speeches of OratOri-
cal pretensons. He began with tactics which
Dr. Butt condemned as irrational and ruinOus
to the Irish cause and until the present Parlia-
ment was elected could count upon the support
of only thirty members. What is the secret of
his power7 The record of legislation and Par
liamentary debate does not reveal it and yet
there is no fact in political history more clearly
established than his absolute dictatorship In
every Irish county except Antrim and Derry,
and his commanding influence in the British
Parliament. His fellow prisoner in Klman-
ham, W no in our columns comments upon his
marvellous success, attributes it to various
causes and pre- -emnently to his six months i'm
prisonment for the cause of Ireland. All the
reasons which are urged are valid and must be
taken into account in solving this singular
problem but when all is said, his achievements
and political authority are not fully explained.
Mr. Parnells imprisonment no doubt touched
the Irish heart, but he was not the only popular
leader in Kilmainham. He has been sur
rounded with men who have made great sacri-
fees for the island. Some of them, notably
Mr. Davitt are better organizers than he is !;
others, like Mr.. Sexton, are greater orators and
closer reasoners; nearly all are more character
istic as Irishmen. But he has succeeded where
they have failed and the real reason is this,
that he has phenomenal genius and capacity as
n political leader. Until this concession is
made Mr.. ParnelrS career is not wholly intel
ligible.