Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-29
SATURDAY NOVEMBER %, 1890.
Parnell's Apparent Obstinacy.


II is a source of wonder at this distance
from the centre Of interest in Irish affairs
that PARNYLL should go resolutely MAN.
tain his leadership Of the Nationalist In
spite Of what seems 10 be the wlsest coun-
selling Of his colleagues. To the average
American mind IL is clear that tho recent
events affecting the private character OF
Mr.. PAESRLL initiate decidedly against
the further usefulness of the great Com
roner in public capacity, at least for some
time TO come. The relations between party
policy and personal purity may be more
intimate in this country than in Great Bri-
tain. but we hardly believe this 10 So
Human nature is about the same the world
over, and the value OF moral rectltude Is
about as fully appreciated in one part OF
Christendom as another.
II is certainly not strange, as Earl SPIN
GER has pointed out. that the Nationalists
have been slow 10 depose from the place
at their head man whom they have fol-
lowed from victory 20 victory, who has
proven faithful 20 every public trust and
whose services 10 the cause he champions
have been great. 1t would not be strange
were Mr.. PARSEIL simply declining to yield
20 unreasonable popular clamor. But there
is apparently much more than this against
him in the logic of the situation.
He promises O manifesto to the Irish peo-
ole, and in this he may give better reasons
for his seeming obstinacy than have yet
been made public. We await the forth
40 rrft Mt
But mean while we do not see how he
can avoid the necessity of ultimately with
drawing from the prominence he holds.
lie intiIpates that the opposition to him Is
the outcome of Radical revenge and
nothing more, and IT is asserted in his be-
half that the breaking of the bond Of
union with the Liberal party would be
well for Ireland. The latter is certainly
desperate suggestion and the former
sounds very much like mere bitterness en-
gendered by the attitude of Mr.. GLAD
STONE. The Irish party cannot afford 10
lose the potent aid of the Liberals, and
Mr.. GLADSTONE We believe to be above
petty revengefulness.
II is earnestly TO be hoped for the sake
of Ireland's cause, held sacred 10y liberty
loving people the world over, that PABNKLL
and his supporters will bow TO the will OF
the Irish party should that will be for q
chsnge in the party's leadership, and from
our present point Of view we do not see
how the verdict can be otherwise than IN
favor of change. II will be infinitely
more graceful in Mr.. PARSELL to retire
without contest and even without protest
than 10 hold on until forced into retire
ment. No one man is as great as the party
20 which be belongs, no matter what his
position in that party may be, and Ireland
evidently has now to make choice between
the continued leadership of PARSELL ana
Home Rule, which is at length In sight.
it is hardly possible to doubt that her Wis
dom will decide In behalf of the welfare
of the whole Irish people as against the
personal interests Of one man.
As we write this last paragraph we have
the information that PANELS manifesto
has been made public. We regret to see
that the Irish leader still insists on retain
ing his place at the head of the Nationalist
party, that he defes his political oppo-
nents and appeals to the people OF Ireland
10 sustain him in the stand he has taken.
1t is to be hoped that the utterance OF
Mondays meeting of his present followers
In Parliament will be wiser than his own