Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-15
PIRNELL.

When William O'Brien cahled Mr..
! Parneli few days ago that he "shrunk
| with horror from taking sides'' against
his old and trusted leader, he reflected
the sentiments of millions on this as well
as on the other side of the Atlantic.
Parnell had done more as parliamentary
leader aud statesman in bringing to q
knowledge of mankind the unhappy
condition Of his country. than any other
man had done since O'Connell won
the dominant question in British poll
tics. He had won the support of Glad
stone, aud with it, that of the bulk OF
the Liberal party. He had displayed
surprising force and ability ns Il leader
and organizer. By dint OF will power
he held his party together in a solid and
compact body for ten consecutive years.
But in spite Of his great services, when
it became q question OF choosing between
him with the odium of an unfortunate
scandal ciinging to him, aud Gladstone
press OF the realm and the genera |
concensus of popular opinion in Eng
land, Scotland and Wales at his back;
when this alternative presented itself to
Mr. O'Brien and thousands OF others
who esteemed the cause above the man
there seemed but one thing to do, and
that was to impiore Parnell to step asid q
FOR while, to sacrifice himself for the
good of the cause which he professed to
hold so dear. What answer did he make
to the able, faithful and patriotic men
who followed and trusted him?
His first reply was to attack Gladstone,
to impugn his motives and discredit his
honesty and sincerity with respect to the
Nationalist cause. That seemed 10 be
malevolent stroke that could result only
in evil to the cause of home rule. What
more fatal move can general make in
the face OF a powerful enemy, than to
stop and fall to quarreling with and
questioning the fidelity of an ally with
out whose aid nothing can be done? To
attack Gladstone in that sudden and
drive him from the support of home rule,
would inevitably cool the ardor of the
millions who lent their moral and polit-
cal support to Gladstone In his effort to
establish genuine unity between England
and Ireland. Parneil refused stubbornly
to effsce himself even temporarily, al
though urged and implored TO do
so by two-thirds of the Irish dele
CATION In Parliament. On the contrary,
he quibbled, equivocated, demonstrated,
quarreled with them, sneered at their
plans, hectored and browbeat them, and
informed them that he was the only man
" ho could win home rule, and SO forth
aud so forth.
Unable to convince him OF his error,
two-thirds of the delegation, and they
the ablest, seeded and chose Justin Nc
Carthy for leader. Parnell then went to
Ireland, where his strong individuality
and indomitable will power have won to
his support a large following. The her
archy is against him, but the people seem
to be with him. His capture of the paper
United Ireland WAS bold stroke that
shows the desperate aud unrelenring
spirit Of the man. II is said that in late
years he has grown very despotic with
the rank and file of his followers, and
bad totn yx,tt
plans and ideas. His strange conduct O.
late gives color to the statement, as IT
does to the other idea, that he is
supremely selfish and egotistic.. What
tbs result Of all this internecins warfare
may be with respect to himself is q mat.
ter of speculation; what it Will be with
respect to the cause Of home rule ia clear
enough.