The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-12-20
GOTHAM CORRESPONDENCE
The Parnell Complications and Its
Effect on Irish Politics.
ALWAYS A WOMAN IN the CASE.
Parnell Justly Denounced For His
Intreagues With Mrs.
O'Shea.
ALWAYS A WOMAN IN The CASE.
Mccarthy Upheld in His Stand
Against Parnell and His
Followers.
+ Special Correspondence of the TRIBUNE.

Especial Correspondence of the TRIBuNE.l
NEW YORK, Dec. 11.-Pages might be
written on the Parnell complications, but
events succeed each other SO rapidly that
he would be a bold prophet who would
undertake to say even what an afternoon
may bring forth. Fortunately people
here can observe the scenes of this real
drama with more composure thar in Ire
land or England where personal feeling
is doing So much to cloud the judgment
and embltter the conflict. Until the dis
closures in the divorce court Mr.. ParhelPs
position was secure. He was the choice
of the Irish parliamentary party and bet
ter still of the Irish people. He and Mr..
Gladstone met on terms of equality as
party leaders. They were allies. They
represented the strongest combination
ever known in British politics. Since all
signs so far foreshadowed a sweeping
victory for Gladstone and home rule at
the next general election.
1t could not be the interest OF Mr..
Gladstone or Mr.. Parnell to disrupt this
alliance. Each party was dependent on
the other in parliament as we'll as outside.
The alliance was Of special Importance
in view of the coming general election.
In England aud Scotland the Irish vote
would be of much service to the Liberals.
That vote is so strong in Lancashire that
Mr.. O'Connor who is here at present, rep
resents a Liverpool district IN parliament,
alth ough he is an advanced Nationalist.
In Ireland the Liberal support would add
more vigor to the might that slumbers in
a peasants arm, to use O'Connell's phrase.
1t would impart to the voters in the com
ing campaign that confidence in victory
that firm expectation of success which Is
SO essential TO the full development of
Irish ardor when a great object is to be
attained,
The proceedings in the O'Shea divorce
have u%nhappily shaken the harmony
which existed between the Irish people
and the English liberals. l do not be-
lieve that the compact which promises
such good results for Ireland is broken.
Mr.. Gladstone found that the p%uritans in
his party were as exacting as In the days
of Cromwell. The grand old man"
might have regarded complacently Me-
Parnell's i~ntrigues with Mrs. O'Shea, re-
membering that the good King David
was prone to like misconduct, but as a
party leader he must take expediency in
to account. Accordingly he intimated in
very delicate, friendly terms that MIR.
Parneli should withdraw for the present
from the leadership of the Irish party.
This request provoked the crisis. 1t
brought about u critical moment for Mr..
Parnell. Ash in duty bound the Irish party
met to consider the situation since
it concerned them as well as their leader.
What happened is already we'll known.
Instead Of putting the question Mr.. Par
nell employed those obstructive tactics
which were all right in a hostile parlia-
ment but We're out of place in a meeting
of Irish members of parliament. Mr..
Mccarthy and his 43 colleagues stood it
as long as they could and then walked
out of the room. The A afterward met
formally and as was expected, selected
Mr.. Justin Mccarthy as the chairman of
the Irish party in parliament. This they
were perfectly justified in doing for they
Ouhllll DtIcu Nll, l. SuPpoioSio
who mustered 20 at most.
Mr.. Parnell appeals from this decision
to the Irish people and it must be said
that he is evoking much enthusiasm IN
Dublin and Cork. But Il + powerful reac-
ton may be expected when people exam
inc his platform-when they find that in
stead of the firm alliance with the liberals,
he would nave the people assume an
attitude of defiance and distrust that
would arouse the hostility of the British
democracy and place the irish nation at
the mercy of tories who's only remedy
for Irish wrongs is coercion.
If the case was reversed Mr.. Parnel.
might have been the first to pursue the
course adopted by the Liberal leaders
Had Mr.. Gladstone fallen from grace
through the wlles of Il pretty woman,
Mr.. Parnell might have readily sug-
horses" even though the allied party
were crossing a stream. He might have
limited broadly that Mr.. Morley would be
more acceptable to the Irish voters in
England if Mr.. Gladstone had made the
lapse from virtue referred to, and had
been unable to defend himself against
the charges in a &C urt of justice.
1t is sad to record these things of Mr..
Parnell-sad for his own sake and sad for
the Irish nation. Had he gone abroad
until after the next general election he
would still have retained a ::rm grip on
the affections of the IRISH race and might
count on being the premier of the first
Irish ministry. But in "A few weeks h"
has done more to destroy himself thar
all that piggott, backed by the London
Times and British government, could do
in years. But the Irish cause will tri
umph in the end. 1t has now attained a
position in British politics which is in
vulnerable. 1t cannot be settled until il
is settled right.
1t might seem improper to devote sc
much space to a matter of purely Irish
concern. But it is not so. The drama
now being enacted on British and Irish
soil is followed with the closest attention
by the American states as we'll as by
American statesmen. The consequences
may be far reaching for on the outcome
may depend whether tories or democrats
shall rule England for some years to
come. GOTHAM.
THE CELEBRATION.