The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-21
A BoDY-BLow TO PaRSELL.

Out of his own mouth the Chicago Trib-
ane deals heavier blow at Parnell's posi-
ton in the pending controversy than he
has received from any of his Nationalist
opponents. It in fact knocks completely
from under him the chief ground upon
which he based his persistence in con-
tinued leadership.
Mr. Parnell, it will be remembered, rested
his refusal to withdraw from leadership on
the score of objections to certain proposals
and suggestions in reference TO the home
rule cause made to him by Gladstone and
Morley during an interview at Hawarden
in November, 1889. A correspondent
asked the Tribune to cite any declaration
made by Parnell, subsequent to that inter
view, indicating that he did not view those
proposals as menacing the integrity of the
home rule programme.
To that question or request the Tribune
replies by quoting as follows from the pub
lished reports of speech delivered by Par
nell at the Westminster Palace Hotel, on
the 18th of June, 1890. when he was being
banqueted by the Irish members: "The
time has come, said he on that occasion,
when an English party-a great English
party-under the distinguished leadership
of Mr.. Gladstone, has conceded to Ireland
those rights and has enabled us to enter
into an honorable alliance-honorable and
hopeful for our country-an alliance which
/ venture 10 believe will last and will yield
permanent fruit and result in knitting
together of Great Britain and Ireland in
true and real union. We are happy
and Ireland is happy that the time has
come when we can shake hands with
Englishmen with the consciousness that
in doing so We sacrifice no principle or
hope for the future of our country"
Ii is incredible that the substance of
those proposals was not fresher in the
mind of Mr.. Parnell last June than it is
now. At that time he knew, and perfectly
remembered just what those proposals had
been. To hint the contrary would be an
imputation against his well-established
repute for intelligence and attention to
business. Thus knowing and remember
ing he announced to his colleagues, and
common cause and country on an alli-
ance. an honorable alliance" an alliance
honorable and hopeful" for Ireland, with
the gentlemen who had made those pro-
posals and on the basis of those proposals.
Was Mr.. Parnell at that time making
Misrepresentation? Was he practising
upon his compatriots willful deception?
Was he deceiving his countrymen and
feeding them with false hopes? Nobody
can be disposed to suspect him of such
baseness. But this is the only view at all
consistent with his later accounts of the
proposals made at the Hawarden inter-
view.
Certainly if this later account be &C
cepted, there could have been nothing in
the situation last June to make Ireland
happy" There was nothing in it to
promise permanent fruit" or a knitting
together" into a true and real union.
There was nothing to call for handshaking.
And so he says and advises, and has in
censed his followers to the point of fist
shaking instead-to fistshaking and bludg-
cons, not only against Gladstone and the
English Liberals, but against large body
of Irish Nationalists as well, including a
majority of those to whom he gave such
cheering assurances at the banquet last
June. The two positions cannot be recon-
ciled