Telegram-herald., 1890-12-24

court house, claimed that he had al
least a majority Of !, 900, and when the
actual hgures were given 70 the public
il was seen that the nti-Parneliite
candidate was not far out IN bis esti-
mate
Parneu proved strongest among the
farmers and field laborers His Oppo-
nents captured the miners. II was an
exciting day, replete with petty rows at
the polling booths, but except ia one
instance there was no serious violence.
Psrnell takes his defeat calmly and saws
IL will not change his determination 20
fight each constituency seat by seat lie
says this was one of the worst districts
for him 10 contest.
In an interview during the day Mr.
Parnen said he expected the majority
would be small whichever party won.
He hoped the bitterness OF language
that marked the contest would be for
gotten, and, In fact, considering all
things, he thought the battle had been
fought with little ill-feeling on either
side Mr.. Parnell said that his eyes
were much better He win 60 to
Avondale and viii remain there a
day, proceeding thence 10 Paris. He
viii not resume the campaign in Ire
land until January.
Mr.. Timothy Harrington says that
priestly coercion was rampant through
out North Kilkenny and that the Par
nellites have good grounds 10 petition
against the val. dity of Sir John Pope
Hennessy's election should the latter
be shown 10 have headed Mr.. Vincent
Scully at the polls.
The result of this contest means much
10 Parnell; il also means much 10 the
priests. The latter were told by Par
nell and his followers that it meant
death to their influence. The priests
buckled on their armor and fought like
members of the church militant in the
time of the crusades There are
eight polling districts in the division
of North Kilkenny. On all roads lead
ing to these Monday morning were long
professions. In the first car sat the
driver and the parish priest; in the fol-
lowing cars were electors who stood by
him. The reception accorded such pro-
cessions varied, but il was general
iy favorable Take Castlecomer for in
stance. the largest division in the dis
trict, there being 1900 voters in it. The
professions of farmers were received
with cheers by the townspeople. In
front of each booth stood priest who
explained the modus operandi TO the
electors At convenient points stood
priests handing out ballots for Hen
messy.
In Ballyragget one curate declared to
a crowd of men around him that the
curse of God would fall on any voter
who cast ballot in favor of Parnell
and against the bishops. The rival
candidates were swamped. lost sight
of, in the activity of the priests They
trooped about the streets and country
roads from house to house, crowds of
men, women and children following at
their heels, shouting and cheering.
The priests were directly responsible
for the most serious row of the dav
which occurred at Johnstown. A squad
of anti-Parnell men were marching in
from the country under the leadership
OF a priest when they met a squad
of Parnell men coming from
the opposite direction. Blows might
have been averted If another
priest, IN his anxiety 10 avoid a seri-
Gus row, had not placed himself at the
head of the Parnell men and endeav-
ored 10 persuade them 10 keep out OF
the way till their rivals cast their bal
lots. This provoked a brisk stick
swinging, which was not stopped until
the police charged upon the mob and
took the sticks away from them.
LONDON. Dec. ga dispatch from
Kilkenny 10 the Daily News says that
there is not the slightest doubt that Sir
John Pope Hennessy is elected by a