The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-10-14
Parnell Dead.

and stirred to hear of the death, on
Tuesday night of last week at Brighton
of Charles Stewart Parnell, the great
Irish leader. Although bis health had
been failing since the divorce trial of
last year, and for four or five days be-
fore his death he had been confined to
his bed under the almost constant care
of physicians, the public was wholly
unaware of the seriousness of his con-
dition, and the news of his death came
like a flash from clear sky. He died
in the arms of his wife, with no other
person but physicians present. A
chill taken the week before had de-
veloped into rheumatic fever, which,
complicated with other difficulties,
caused his death. Almost his last
words we're: "Let my love be con-
veyed to my colleagues and the Irish
people,"
Mr.. Parnell was the descendant of
an English family which went to Ire
land in the time of Charles H., and
among his ancestors was Thomas Par
nell, the poet and friend of Gay, Pope
and Swift. He was born in the county
of Wicklow in 1916, his mother, from
whom the most of his Irish blood came,
being the daughter of the American
admiral, Charles stewart, who was an
Irishman. The young man was edu-
Gated at Oxford, after which he visited
the United States. He then settled
down to the life of a country gentle
man. In 1874 he was appointed sheriff
of the county, and his experience in
that office gave him an insight into the
condition of the unhappy Irish people
which aroused all his sympathy and
patriotism. He at once became can
didate for parliament, but was defeated.
Again, in 1875, he stood for election in
another borough, and this time he was
elected. His parliamentary career be-
gan quietly; he was getting acquainted
with the work in which he afterwards
took such a prominent part. In 1877
he proposed his first important meas
urea bill to make easy the purchase
by tenants of their holdings, which the
disestablishment of the Irish church
placed on sale. The bill was defeated,
as was usual at that time with bills
designed to benefit the Irish people.
1t was at this time that the obstruction
policy was begun by the Irishmen, and
Parnell at once came to the front as a
debater and leader. Isaac Butt, who
had been the leader of the party, dis
approved the new tactics and he saw
himself succeeded in 1878 as president
of the home-rule confederation by the
younger man. 1t was in 1879 that the
land league was formed, with the pur-
pose of substituting peasant proprietor.
ship for landlordism, and Mr.. Parnell,
as the head of the organization, directed
its policy, the keynote of which was
his admonition: Keep firm grip on
your homesteads." Early in 1880 be
with others visited the United States,
speaking in many of the principal
cities and organizing branches of the
land league. He took back with him
$350,000 for the assistance of his fam
ine-threatened countrymen. 1t wal
after his return to Great Britain that ht
was formally chosen leader of the
Irish parliamentary party. Now begar
the stubborn fighting which showed
the stuff of which the man was made
He, with other members of the land
league, was put on trial, charged with
encouraging boycotting, but the jury
failed TO agree. AT the opening of thu
session of 1881 Mr.. Gladstone's govern
ment brought in coercion bill, ant
Mr.. Parnell made such an obstinat,
fight against it for seven weeks that h,