Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-18
MR.. PARNEhL.
a Fellow Prisoners Kecollections-An
Irksh Account of the Man.


much interest shown in what he says as
though he were an aged and dis
tinguishsd Commoner like Mr.. Glad
stone or Mr.. Bright. His sudden rise
and the supreme control he now e1er-
cises over thirty out Of the thirty
two counties IN Ireland is the most re-
markable feature in his career. Another
fact which renders an explanation OF TINS
influence more difficult still is tnat
though an Irishman born, ne has none
OF those charac ueristics which tue
people in Ireland believe leader should
have, and which, AS fact. every leader
who appeared in that country before MIN
did have. O'COnneli, the greatest Of all
Irish agftators before Mr.. Parnell ap-
4,eared. bad a rich Munster brOgue,
portly figure. and a face capable or eN-
pressing al the varying humors which
provoke laughter. Isaac Butt, who or
gained the home rule movement, and on
whose shoulder 1.-The mantle OF 0COnnelP'
was said 10 have fallen, was a command
ing figure too, and had a genial face. Mr..
Parnen has neither a genial face nor an
Imposing presence. He is tall aud OF
very slight build, while his face is as IN
emotional as a statues. He never laughs:
and If he smiles, which is very seldom, II
IS at something which would convulse
other people with merriment or else not
stir them at all.
A London paper described Mr.. aParnell
sn the early days OF bis Parliamentary ca
Tesr, and during an exciting debate IN the
commons, as having cultivated the art
AOf inward laughter with as much success
as Mr.. Weller himself.' l saw him laugh
heartily upon two occasions, this merely
proving the exception TO the rule. This
was during his Imprisonment in Kilmain-
ham jail. / happened to be brought in
as prisoner. In the exercise yard the
next day John Dillon. who was then
member Tor Tipperary, shook me cordially
10y the hand and SAID: Hello! MIR. ,
you're welcome to Kilmainh8mw "See
here, Dillon" Mr.. Paruell said, 'don't
you think this is a very inhOspitgble Irish
reception"
The other incident was when l related
10 MIN something about new prisoner
named Peter Whelan, who had just been
brought in from Wexford. The old sus-
Iects who had become used to prison diet
took delight in disappointlng-forth the first
day at least--new arrivals whose anxiety
was great concerning the quality OF the
food. / had led Wbelan to believe that
Hea and steak would be for the breakfast,
and not stirabout. WAS the strabout
FoOd?" he was asked afterward. "GoOd
Why, man, when the warden shut the
door the wind o. the door blew the half of
1T off the plate!' This made Mr.. Parnell
5augh.
Although Mr.. Parnell is phlegmatic
and has the English characteristic OF
stubbOrnness, TO no other man have the
Irish ever rendered such united allegi-
ance principally on account OF mis- great
success and because he has never made
any mistakes worth talking about.
Mr.. Parnell first became known in
Irish politics as a candidate to represent
County Dublin IN Parliament in 1874.
ND cfFs t1as ff IN, 3
10 that of Mr.. Disraeliis hrst attempt in
the House of Commons. Both speeches
were conspicuous failures; but though
Mr.. PaTnell is not an orator by any
means. be is now generally admitted to be
an easy and agreeable talker, who uses
classical English whenever he turns TO
"Mr. Speaker" He 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 MIR. Biggar,
member for Cavan, for what is known as
the policy OF obstruction. This is what
that meant: A rule Of the House prevented
further discussion OF bill after 1890 at
night IL notice OF opposition were given.
1t was really directed against Irish bills.
Mr.. Parnell carried the war into Africa
by putting down notices OF opposition TO
English bills Unfortunately. Isaac
Butt, who was then leader OF the Irish
Parliamentary party, became disguised.
''Parliament," said he, twill put down
obstruction or obstruction will put down
Parliament" AS l look at IL to-day, the
latter half of Mr.. Butts promise seems to
have been Ominously prophetic.
Soon afterwaTd Mr.. Butt had to give
way to Mr.. Parnell as leader, ana obstruc-
ton continued TO thrive. But there were
not more than seven or eight members
who would support MIR. Parnell. 1t was
practically on this cry that siXty-two
Home Rulers were returned during the
general election of 1850, but large per-
centage Of these rebelled and Mr.. Parnell
could never count upon more than thirty
10 do as he told them. The late elections,
however, have brought TO his back eighty
i've men who will do anything at all be
tells them-eyen though it should be to
resign. II has been puzzle to many TO
understand why he is 80 unitedly ObeVed.
One reason is that the Irish have been
over and over again deceived by their Rep
resentatiVes, who have either taken Office
the ditest treasOn--Or else have voted
with the government, which was as bad.
Mr.. Gladstone, however, laid the founda-
tiOns for Mr. ParnelPs popularity when
he passed the Coercion Act OF 1881 and
imprisoned LOO men-and even women
without trial. Some of these men
were elected to Parliament while in pris-
On, and others as soon as they got out.
The Irish people have never forgotten
that Mr.. PaTnell passed six months
IN kilmainham Jail for the
cause OF Ireland. The fact that he
was a gentleman Of social standing
as well as a landlord, while at the same
time he appended his signature to the IA
nous no-rent manifesto, accounts, in a
large measure for his great popularity.
The utter contempt he showed Tor Eng
lish opinion in the House Of Commons
when ne was pleading for Ireland, and
his expulsion upon two occasions because
the English members thought be talked
TOO much, appealed 10 people unused 70
such tireless persistency in their behalf
But after all, his prolonged imprlson-
ment was the coping stone OF his political
authority.
The most significant fact in his career
has been his astonishing success in IL
ster. where q majority OF the seats have
been carried by his followers. II Is not
easy FOR people outside Of Ireland 10 un-
derstand how great was this victory, The
Orangemen were wont 10 claim this PROV.
1nce as exclusively their own and anti
National to the core. The break WAS first
made In county MOnahan IN 1859, where a
bye.election was held before the franchise
bill was passed. He took down Mr..
Healy, already member for Wexford,
and had him elected over both Whig
and Tory. Mr. Parnell was happy and
atrofid that daV n was nv hfa aid la ~