The sun., 1891-08-02
The Release OF Messrs. Dillon and
O'Brien.

The liberation Of Mr. JOHN DILLON and
Mr.. WILLIAM OBR1EN brings new and
powerful forces to bear upon Irish politics
and cannot fail to hive n decisive influence
on the situation. These two men are Pc
cullarly endeared to the Irish people by
their services and sufrerinGs, and they can
speak even to the Fenian faction with an
authority equal. II not superior, TO that OF
their former CHIEF.
The conferences in which these gentlemen
took part at Doulogne had it is true, no
definite result, but left an impression that
they favored compromise with Mr.. PAR
NELL. The latter's followers have undoubt-
edly counted on securing at all events the
adhesion OF Mr.. O'BR1EN, whose affection
for his old leader was proof even against the
violent expulsion of his representatives from
the Office OF Eniicd Ireland. The hopes
which for these reasons were formed be-
fore Mr. OBRIESs recent imprson-
ment, have now been rudely dis
PEELED. He. "a well as Mr.. DILLON,
has refused to enter into any commlnca-
tion with the Parnellite faction, and has de-
clared his purpose ofgiving unqualified sup
port to the bulk of the Nationalist party tenn
porarily headed by Mr.. JUSTIN MCCARTHY.
The effect OF this unequivocal attitude has
been disastrous to Mr.. PARSELL. Already
some of his few remaining partisans in Par
Lament have deserted him, and now his
weightiest advocate among newspapers, the
Freemans Journal avows its determination
to abandon Mr.. PARNELL's cause.
1t seems. then. that Mr.. PARSELL is def
nitely repudiated rs the leader OF constitu-
tional agitation. There are. apparently, bus
two courses open to him, IL he is resolved to
continue in public life. He can go forward
in the direction toward which he has OF late
seemed drifting, and proclaiming the re-
demption OF Ireland impossible by consttu-
tional means, make himself the champion
Of the party OF violence and revolution. 1t
is possible that lie will indicate such
change OF tactics In the speech which he is
expected to deliver to-day at Thurles. To
justify, however, such a complete rcversalof
the programme with which he has hitherto
been identified, he will have to disaVow
all his public utterances since 1879. He will
have to show wherein the situation Is so
utterly transformed that he who for twelve
years has denounced violent measures
should all at once recur to them. The Nc.
Carthyites will tell him that the situation
fact that CHARLES STEWART PARNELI. is no
longer leader Of the Nationalist party. And
even were it true, as the Unionists pre-
tend, that the home rule cause has received
a mortal blow. whose hand but Mr.. PAR
NELLs dealt 1t?
1t will not be easy to convince the ex-
Fenians that the hour has come for re-
newal OF their extra-legal demonstrations.
merely because the constitutionalists reject
Mr.. PARNELL's leadership. They will prob
ably prefer to wait until after the next gen.
eral election, and see whether tho National
lists cannot obtain from the next Parliament
q satisfactory home rule scheme. They will
be the moro inclined TO patience because
they have quite as much confidence in Mr.
DILLON as in Mr.. PARNELL, and it is we'll
understood that the former will very shortly
take Mr.. MCCARTHY's place.
On the whole, we fear that the only role
in which Mr.. PAENEIL can accomplish any,
thing is that Of an Irish coadjutor OF the
Tory party.