Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-17

PARNELL'S CAUSE WANING,
Feeling Against the Ex-Leader Much
Stronger.

Stronger.
Special to the New York Times
DUBLIN. Dec. 16.-Dubiin. in contrast with
Wednesday nights meeting with regard to the
great leadership question. is now SO calm that
it is difficult to believe that the city was recently
the scene of such transcendent Parnellite
enthusiasm was described by the press on
the occasion of Parncll reception.
Save in the committee rooms of either party
and in the offices of the Fireman and other
newspapers, tho struggle oxcites at present lit
tie interest Indeed. considerable misapprehen-
sion has been created by the exaggerated re-
ports of the ex-leader's reception at Dublin.
Or course. Parneu was acclaimed vociferouslv
by mob. but it was not mainly voting mob.
nor even SO formidable in numbers as We were
given to understand. Moreover the respect
able element Of the population was wanting.
When Parnel last visited Dublin, five wears
ago. he was met by huge procession of trades,
bearing enormous banners and also by large
procession of priests Both these elements of yot-
ing power were conspicuously absent last week.
As prominent Dublin citizen said to me last
night: "Parneil can always get amob when it
the Dublin mob element is engaged elsewhere.
in Kilkenny. where Parnell's committee has i'm
ported 100 Dublin larikins for purposes of ami
cable advocacy. Each day. however, the feel
ing of the populace in favor of Parnell is modi-
fying. Wherever he goes there are cheers for
the man from those who as yet ignore what has
altered the mans position. but that is the ex-
tent of the feeling for him. and each dav di-
minishes its strength. Parnells cause is wan
ing with the fighting strength of its leader.
which is now almost at its lowest ebb ParnelI
will break down physically. if nothing more,
before many days have passed.
The last few days, during which he has en-
cOuntered a hostility to which he is altogether
unaccustomed, have thoroughly sapped the
strength. born merely Of passion and audacity,
with which he entered IN this painful contest
Against him through the neighborhood are
sprayed forces with Which he never thought to
have to compete. The priests are solidly op-
posed 20 him and it is almost needless to en-
phasize the power welded by the hierarchy
throughout the whole of the district covered
by the present campaign. Ont of over 200
priests there is but one who has declared in
favor of Parnell, and who from personal friend
ship is stanchly fighting for him.
Parnell owes all his present success to his
surprising and abnormal terrifying energy
coupled with the fact that the Irish party have
no newspaper organ through whose columns
to reason with people who eagerly devour
political news. The suppression Of United
ireland had q great temporary influence on
popular sentiment in the rural districts, but
now that the momentary effect Of Parnelrs
audacity in suppressing O'Brien's organ has
stituency is rapidly bearing round again to the
real issues ut stake.
1t is hardly too much to prophesy that the re-
suit of the election will entail the collapse Of
the present Improbable campaign, if the ma
jOrity is successful, and the odds are greatly in
their favor. Parnell will disappear from the
scene, broken, exhausted, incapacitated for
further effort and having succeeded only in
wrecking, by wanlon egotism, the work Of six
teen years Of noble political struggle.