The state herald., 1891-10-23
o'coNNoR's LIFE OF pARNELL,
A Collection Of Interesting Facts
About the Great Leader.

Thomas Power O'Connor's life Of
Charles Stewart Parnell has Just appeared
In London. 1t bears but few traces OF hur-
ried preparation, yet II Is book Of 223
pages, and contains great deal in small
| compass.
All previous biographies Of Mr.. Parneli
accord TO Avondale the honor Of his place
OF birth. Mr.. O'Connor says he hoard Mr..
Parnoll state that this is incorrect Hc
was born at Brighton. Among his earliest
influences were the stories he heard In his
! childhood from an old servant Of the fam
lily, narrating the horrible cruelties the
Irish suffered during the rebellion. These
made Parnell the man he became. From
his mother were also derived traditions
thoroughly hostile to the existing relations
Of England and ireland.
Though intensely Irish in sentiment, Mr..
O'Connor always regarded Mr. Parnell in
physique and character-in character
above allan American.
While he was studying at Cambridge lie
was more devoted to athletic sports than
he was to his studies. 1t is doubtful II he
ever read poem or novel throughout in
his lifo--not even the poems of Thomas
Moore. He first read Irish history while
q prisoner ut Kilmainham. In his early
manhood he was Of unstained moral char
acter. He became engaged to q young
lady Of Rhode Island who Tilted him for
another.
Referring TO his ilrst appearance In Par
Lament, MIR. O'Connor says that the Irish
mombars then led life Of isolated strug-
gle. The awful loneliness of Parnell must
always be borne In mind when ono consid-
ers the terrible event that subsequently
darkoncd and blasted his life and brought
his untimely end.
After rapid resume OF known points In
his parliamentary career, the writer
nlludes to the charge leveled ut Parnell
that he mislcd intimate friends as to the
truth In regard to his relations to Mrs.
OShea. He SAYS:
"Parnell may have said that he came out
Of tho trial with his character untarnished
Certainly he so wrote to one of his most
affectionatc and faithful friends
What he probably meant was indicated
in few words spoken after his reelection
by tho party, in which "lifting," as he said
VI thc ut uculCu tLl-
phatically that he had betrayed friendship,
abased his piety, or broken happy, united
home.
The circumstances seemed to Parnell, as
in the case of Launcelot, to make dishonor
honorable, and falsshood TRUTH
The effect of MIR Parnelrs subsequent
manifesto to the Irish delegates then in
America is thus described:
Every member of the delegation except
Timothy Harrison was indignant Disbe
lief, disgust and despair succeeded each
other. We rushed out to the first station
whence 1t was possible TO send cable.
gram, and announced TO our colleagues In
Ireland that hcncoforth we were to be
counted amongst the opponents to Parnells
leadership. 1t has been represented that
we ncted ON the cablcgrams of others.
This is false and unjust to Parnell. Our
judgment was reached on Parnells own
words.n
Commenting on Mr.. Parnelrs parlia.
mentary career, says the writer
"A stranger visiting tho House of Com
mons would find 1t hard TO understand why
he produced such au effect there. He
stumbled constantly. He had u very scanty
vocabulary and by no means large stock
OF ideas. He was also very careless In
preparing materials, which work he put
of 10 the last moment 1t was quite com.
mon to find him ut Tilvary ploughinR
laboriously through figures, OF which he
had no mastery whatever ut time when
he ought TO have been at the House ready
TO speak,
'On such occasions his colleagues went
through untold agonics. At the last mo-
ment ho would appear, armed with bun
dies of papers badly arranged and
digested, but the House. sensitive as a
barometer TO his personal character, al-
ways felt the full force OF this extraordi-
nary mans strength.
when he rose TO address il he spoke In
low tones, often with inattcntion to the
audience which made his speech u so liloauy.
But on rare occasions there were outburs,.
OF tho hery, devastating passion raging
within. Then his voice changed 10
hoarsc, sullcn sound, and his mouth was
almost cruel. His right urn was then
held forth In denunciation. have seen
the house quail before such an outourst OF
savage, though seemingly cold, rage. In
most parliamentary gifts he was vastly
inferior 10 some OF his colleagues, but lie
was a consummatc taetician. by instinct
he seemed TO know the right thing TO do.
never regarded him Us highly intellectual
man. He was essentially narrow. and te
this narrowness attribute tho final mis-
take OF his life.
when Mr.. Mccarthy, before the meet
ing In the Commons room, told him what
Mr.. Gladstone had said. his reply was te
poo hoo the whole business as mere non
eonformist howl, which would die out u
defled Ono reason for his attitude was
his latent dislike for Englishmen. II.
never got over this. His strength was In
his character, not In his intellect, and te
bad ends and self.des,ruction were tue
same terrible strength OF will and tenacity
OF purpose devoted that were formcrl,
given To noble and wise ends. Amongs,
his followers were many with stubborn
will and iniicxiblc resolutions, yot nil were
as clay In the potter's hands when ho chose
TO exercise tho power His subiugailon OF
his race from u restless facticn into great
united aud absolutely obsdient whole, wa,
one Of the most remarkable achievements
In political leadership in the history Of
mankind"