Omaha daily bee., 1889-04-29

with my own ears l heard MIN say he
thought IL was
And on that evidence tho mau was sent Ia
Jail with hard labor.
now COERCION WORKS.
Other men have been similarly sentenced
for calling for cheers for William O'Brcn,
and still others for "bohingn for Balfour
BlacKsmiths have been sentenced as crimn.
ais for refusing 10 shoe horses for unpopular
neighbors, even although the prosecutors
were not regular customers; shopkceperi
have been condemned to jail and plank bee
for refusing to sell goods TO police splcs and
even young girls have boen consigned to iai
for cheering or waving handkerschcfs OF
shawls In honor of popular leaders
Yet the National league in Dublin holds III
meetings regularly and openly, aud denunci
ations OF the government are not only spoken
but fully reported and published in the daily
papers with impunity. There is no cstab
lishcd rule even in castle dospotism; just ai
the whims or tho caprice of the secretary
dictates frcc speech and free press are tolcr
ated or they are ppressed-tolerated in one
district aud suppressed in others,
A hopeful sign ia that the most tyrnnnica
enforcement OF this law has not only moi
cowed the people, but IL has stimulated their
spirit; in fact, IL seemed TO me that l was
the witnesss more than once of open viola
tions of the Castle rule suppressng free
speech that were deliberately intended u
dare the secretary to arrest the speaker.
IL helps public man in Ireland to have
been IN Jail for tho sake of Ireland, aud
prison life has rather charm than u terror
for every one who desires to be conspicuous
in the national contest, Women and girls
arc AS defiant as the men aud boys.
In this respect tho Irish to-day are far
more courageous and even more reckless
than they were ten years ago. Coercion has
absolutely no terrors for anyo one.
Donegal is entirely under military rule.
Every cabin in Gwcedore has been searched
by the soldiers. A Gordon OF soldiers beat
the entire parish with locked hands, as Of.
fectually as hunters beat the covers for
game. Not one informer appeared All
tins would be discouraging-al except the
gallant spirt OF the people l mcan-if there
were not a thousand proofs to oe seen on
every hand of the fact that this is probably
the last round of the long fight between the
castle and the cabin, aud that, although Ire
land may be pretty badly punished by the
Saxon Sullivan, John Bull, yet he will soon
throw up the sponge, and forever.
HARMONY AMONG IRISH LEADERS.
Reporter-Are the Irish leaders as much
in real concord as in iSS0l
James Redpath-More so. l was thor
oughly convinced and took especial pains
to find out; and as | know very intimately so
many of the leaders, / should have discov-
cred the real state of the case, no matter
what attempts might have been made to con-
ceal the truth. Yes there is more "real
union" among the leaders now than there
was in 1880 Then, although John Mitchellis
body lay smoldering in his grave, his soul
still inspired the masses of the people-a
spirit Of irreconcilable antagonism to Eng
land and to all attemnts to try to get Justice
from the English parliament. Parnell him.
self was not distrusted but there were
many good men-true patriots-who dis
trusted Parnellism. They were simply
willing to give it and all parliamentary poll
cies last trial. Although they did not pro-
claim their doubts of Parnells policy, l
know that many of them felt doubtful of its
success. Now, excepting an Irish bourbon
here and there every intelligent man talks
npt ttl hat
trusted, but that Parnellism will be sue
cessful.
Gladstone and Parnen have taken the
place that ten years since was held by John
Mitchell's spirit. But John Mitchelps fierce
ghost is laid at rest at last.
No man attempts to rival Parnell, He
stands absolutely pre.eminent and alone He
shares his pedestal with no man. The pop
ularity of other men-O'l}rien, for example
does not cndanger Parnell's popularity or
diminish it-rather, it increases it,
1880 CoNTRAsTED WITH 1889.
Another hopeful fact of to-day is that the
so are abler men and better leaders tnan
they were then. They have grown. Some
who were comparatively obscure then are
conspicuous now.
Still another peril of the future then has
been removed during the past ten years IL
Mr.. Parnell had died in 1850 the Irish party
would either have gone to pieces or have
been badly demoralized There was no one
then who had the peculiar ability Or who en-
loyed enough of the peoples confidence to
have taken his place.
When Daniel O'Connel died his party dis
appeared forever. If Parnell was to die now
II would be great national calamity, but the
party would still have able, unselfsh and
competent leaders-men whom the people
would trust and follow, and who would save
the movement from even temporary disin-
tegratIon.
If Gladstone should die, John Morley would
he almost SatiSfactOrv the Irish He
would be trusted as much; and from all
could learn, he would hold together the
English party, also, until home rule was es-
tablished.
However, although Mr. Parnell, few
months ago was very seriously sick, much
worse off than was generally thought. he is
now in good health, and there is no reason
to fear that the Irish movement will need
any other leader until an Irish parliament
meets at College Green.
PAREELI's PROUD DISTINCTION.
Reporters Parncll as popular and as
much trusted as he was in 1880, in spite of
the Times chargesl
James Redpath-More so. Everybody
trusts and respects him. No Irishman that
met was ever influenced, even for "a mo
mcnt, by the Times charges If Parnell had
even secretly believed that little touch OF
terrorism would have helped the Irish move
ment the history of the past ten years would
have been clottcd with English Official blood.
But Parnell knows that assassination in
der" ana even if it We're neither, as in
Russia it is for Ireland an impossible pol
icy.
Therel The interview is long enough
Let me sum up:
The Irish are engaged with every hope OF
speedy victory, in their last political struggle
with England as an enemy. Their English
allies are strong, determined, and TO all ap.
pearances, perfectly honest in their eX.
pressions of friendship, but If they should
prove recrcant, which don't fear, then all
nope of a peaceful solution of the Irish ques-
ton will disappear, never to come back into
Irish politics, leaving only Il last resort TO
terrorism as n remedy. But | be-
lleyc that Parnell and Gladstone will be sus.
tanned by the English and Scotch constitu.
encies. and that there will be an Irish parla-
ment In Dublin within three or four years.
Parnell and his policy enjoy the confidence
of the Irish people, and those who believe in
home rule for Ireland should sustain him
literally until ut least the next English cleo
ton.
And let me add that praising Parnel
doesn't help ireland; passing resolutions Of
doesn't help Ireland; cheering tho
Irish patriots doesn't help ireland. Ireland
can be helped now by her American friends
in one way ouly-by dollars.
Pass around the hat once more; il will be
for the last time.