Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-10

i
came. One part Of the Irish leaders days
work is done, but it is by no means over. As
he walks through the street it is noticeable that
but few persons salute him as did the old Irish
man in the morning. In fact, he seems to be
little known in London. Thomas Power O'Con-
always been Parnelrs plan to shun publicity
| except when on the hustngs. But few men
know where he lives or how he lives. O'Kelly and
a few more know, but are not given to talking
There are certain public places where he can
| be seen when he wants, but his private haunts
and private affairs he keeps to himself So it
is that the "Uncrowned king of Ireland" as he
is sometimes called, whose reputation is world
| wide, walks the streets Of London with fewer
| signs OF recognition meeting him than would
| greet q New York alderman walking twenty
blocks on Broadway.
| MEETING OF IRISH LEADERS.
But this is as he wishes it.
Some time after the scenes at the Parnell
commission described above q group of men
may be found sitting around long table in
room in another part of London At the head
OF the table sits the pale-faced Irish leader, and
around him sit men more or less famous be-
cause they have helped him wage war against
successive English governments. The kindly
faced man who sits near Parnell, gazing be-
nignantly upon the party, stroking his beard
the while, Is Justin Mccarthy, the historian.
| He is vice chairman of the Parnelite party and
Is its leader when Parnell is absent The robust
looking man who is exchanging stories with
U Nelly some distance away is I. p. O'Connor,
the statesman, orator, man-about-town, and
| editor OF the London Star, He is one
OF the most trusted Of Parnell's lieutenants
| The rather small man with the short beard
the sharp intellectual face and busting man
| ner Is Tim Healy, one Of the keenest witted
men in the three kingdoms, and near him, up
to the eyes in papers and documents, is
timothy Harrington, secretary Of the league.
| Thomas Sexton, the orator among the Irish
men, is pale and intellectual in appearance
Scattered around the room are Arthur O'Con-
nor and others Of the Irish party. The gaunt
| figure of VIM. O'Brien Is not here, but he is at
work where he loves best to work-in Ireland.
Davitts swarthy face is not seen, for the reason
that he does not belong to the parliamentary
party.
PLAINLY THE DOMINANT SPIRIT
There are papers and documents from Amer
lea, from Australia, from Canada and elsewhere
that are laid before the meeting,
and everything bearing on the Cronin tragedy
has especial interest for the party, and
| especially for Parnell AS the Irish leader sits
| in his place at the table he looks like sick
| man. His face is sallow and drawn, and he
! looks like one upon whom a heavy blow has
| fallen. His friends say that he is as we'll as
| usual, but that worriment caused by the Times
trial, and latterly by the Cronin matter, has
| told upon him. He speaks little, leaving his
lieutenants to do the talking. But he splainly
the dominant spirit. He seems to affect none
of that intimacy with the other members of his
party that others have affected. He treats
them with cold cordially, but with reserve.
There is always line drawn between him and
them, however. But he is clearly the leader Of
his party. Now and then he makes q sugges-
ton, but not often. The machinery Of
the Irish party is well oiled, and, besides,
| there Is not much to do Just now. The drag
ging on Of the commission causes inaction and
since the Cronin murder Parnell has deemed il
wise to avoid discussions Of all kinds. News
newspaper men who are supposed to be friendly
cannot get the Irishmen to talk. "a clam
knows when to shut up" remarked one of the
Irshmen to me.
"a clam is wise," he continued. sagely.
So the meeting Of the Irish leaders is less
| stirring than it might be-a new scheme to
form tenant farmers into . sort of protective
league not unlike that of the trades unions 1t
is talked over and favorably regarded. Then
few formal matters of less moment are settled
and the meeting breaks up. Almost immedi-
ately the chairman departs, and this time
OConnor and couple Of favorite lieutenants
accompany him.
GOOD LISTENER.
Some time later, In private room, in first
class restaurant the Irish leader may be found
with the genial editor Of the Star, with Healy.
Harrington, O'Kelly and Arthur O'Connor. All,
with the exception OF Parnell, are good and pro-
life story tellers. Parnell can probably tell
good story. but if he can he never tries it. But
he is an excellent listener, and as O'Kellv and
O'Connor roll out story after story, and Healy
emits his quaint conceits, leans back and lis
| tens with more enjoyment than he is often seen
to manifest. He eats and drinks sparingly, for
he is temperate in all things. Besides a good
part OF his days work is before him. He has
yet to go to the house, and although things are
dull, one can never tell what is going to hap
pen. A bout with Balfour may occur acct
dentally, or Col. Saunderson, the Orange cham
plon, may get ON the rampage, or a dozen diff
ferent things may happen. But meanwhile the
Irish leader sits back and enjoys himself until
dinner Is over, when he becomes the cold
grave man that he was before. OConnor goes
to his newspaper office, the others depart in
various directions and the leader takes his own
course until he gets ready
TO APPEAR IN THE HOUSE.
Some time later the Irish leader il seen en-
tering the lobby Of the house Of commons. As
he walks through he passes a group Of young
tories in evening Dress Two or three of the
group turn their backs upon him, q couple
more stare stolidly at him through their eve
glasses, and couple Of others nod carelessly
as he goes by. He notices neither the one nor
the other, but pushes his way along A few feet
farther on he meets another bunch Of liberals
and this time Is greeted warmly, as he stops
for moment to exchange a shake Of the hand
with another friend, slender, refined man
with thoughtful face set Of by carefully
| trimmed side whiskers. He is no other than
| the redoubtable Arthur j. Balfour "Bloodv
Balfour," as the Irish call him, home secretary
for Ireland. He Is waging q bitter fight on
Parnen and his party, but he bows pleasantly
and respectfully to the Irish statesman. and the
salute Is as pleasantly returned. These men
are too big to adopt the tactics of the young
| tories before mentioned. As Parnell is about
| to enter the chamber hand is laid upon his
arm; it is Henry Labouchere this time.
QUIET NIGHT IN THE HOUSE
"Come along. Parnell, I've something good 70
tell you" he exclaims, pulling the Irishman
along with him. Presently the latter reappears
again with much of q smile on his face as ia
ever seen there, and this time he makes his
way to his seat without further Interruptions.
1t is quiet night in the house. Few of the big
men are present. Gladstone is away some
where talking on the Irish question The mar
quis of Harrington 10 at Monaco or Baden or
some place Of that sort Joseph Chamberlain's
monocle shines out and one of the Irish men,
bers suggests that he is on hand to watch
wicked Lord Randolph Churchill who talks of
setting up shop in Joe's own bailiwick. Bir-
mingham. Haroourt is on hand and Labouchere
is in the smoking room, near enough to be on
hand for any fight. Biggar is drawn up on one
Of the Irish benches watching nervous old
tory, whom he suspects Of an intention to speak
later In the evening and whom he intends to
have some fun with.
The proceedings are rather monotonous. One