The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-10-07
IRELAND s DISASTER,
Charles Stewart Parnell
Dead After a Brief
Illness.
HIS SPLENDID CAREER.
He Made Home Rule a Possi-
bility and Gave the Peas
antry a Hope in
Life.
HIS SPLENDID CAREER.
His Triumphs and Misfortunes
Make a Good Story Of Pop
ular Fickleness.

was received IN L0QuOn SnOrtly aIptf tiilu-
night this morning. and has created the
most intense excitement all over the
United Kingdom. The end came shortly
before midnight. The bulletin places the
hour at 11.3O. The great ex-leader caught
a severe cold last week, and on Friday
was obliged to take to his bed. Physic-
ians were at once summoned, but de-
spite their constant attention Mr. Par
nell rapidly grew worse, the end coming
during the night at the house on Wal
singham terrace. Parnell's bride OF three
months, formerly Mrs. O'Shea, is pros
rated with grief over the sad event.
SHINING CAREER.
Seldom has the history of public man
oeen fraught with such momentous
events as has Mr.. Parnell's. Within the
past year he had rapidly fallen from the
position OF leader OF the Home Rule party
ind champion Of tho Irish cause, in which
le was universally respected and adj
mired by all his constituents, as well as
thousands of people all over the world
to the station of private citizen-es-
teemeG by many, 1t is true, but By others
Sneered at and scOrned.
Parnelps last great victory, his suit
against the London Times for libel, which
he won, was speedily followed by the
blow which undoubtedly wrecked his
political career. The great O'Shea di-
vorce case, in which he was made the CO.
respondent, lifted the veil from life that
had hitherto been considered almost
faultless. Many of his friends still be-
lieved him innocent until the trial OF the
case, when the great leader. to the sur
prise of every one, kept silent, making
not the slightest defense.
HARPIES LET LOOSE.
Then began his troubles. Press, pulpit
and populace turned loose the walls of
their excoriation upon him. His deposit
tion from the leadership of the Home
Rule party followed, aud his doom was
stood by him and their action caused
wide breach in the Home Rule party,
which bid fair never to be healed
With The death of the cause Of this dis
i astrous diversion, it is hoped that these
differences will be .obliterated, and the
Irish party be once more firmly united.
In spite OF the death of its most noted
champion, the cause of Home Rule for
Ireland never had brighter prospects.
ParnelPs marriage to Mrs. O'Shea for
the time being created something OF re-
action in his favor. Politically, however,
he was in great difficulty.
A singular striking coincidence with
Parnell's demise is the death of his most
bitter opponent in Parliament yesterday.
AS Government leader Ia the House Of
Commons, William Henry Smith was
naturally brought into bitter opposition
towards Parnell and the cause he cham
pioned.. J, ~,
to many hearts.
MIR. PARNELL's CAREER.
Charles Stewart Parnell was but forty
i've years old, though he had achieved a
fame not often reached by men, even of
genius, before ripe old age. He was born
at Avondale, County Wicklow, Ireland,
in 1S46. and his career has been specially
interesting to Americans as well as Irish
men, because of the fact that his descent
was American on the maternal side
Parnell was descended from an old
English family that passed over from
Congleton, in Cheshire, to Ireland, and
many of his ancestry were conspicu-
GUS figures in Irish history. Thomas
Parnell. the poet, was one OF the family,
and Charles Stewart Parnells great
grandfather, Sir John Parnell, was for
many years Chancellor of the Excheduer
in the Irish Parliament: He was known
cestor of the nineteenth century leader
resigned Office rather than vote for the
Act Of Union. That was in 1900. Sir
Henry Parnell, Sir Johns son, was ele-
waited to the peerage In 1S41 at Lord Con-
gleton.
Charles Stewart Parneli's father mar
ried Della Stewart the daughter of the
American Admiral, Charles Stewart and
the great Irishman that now lies dead to-
day inherited from his American grand
father not only an American name, but
veneration for American institutions and
a love of liberty as it is examplitied in the
American commonwealth. Mrs. Parnell
is at present a resident of Bordentown in
this State.
Parnell was educated atvarious private
schools in England and afterwards went
to Magdalen College. Cambridge. After
the completion of his education he made
an extensive tour OF the United States,
studying our institutions az he went. On
his return to his home at Wicklow he
was made High Sheriff OF the county in
1874. The same year ne made his nrst at
tempt to enter public life. offering him
self as candidate for Parliament for the
county Of Dublin against Colonel Taylor,
who had accepted the Chancellorship of
the Duchy of Lancaster from Lord
Beaconsf1eld.
The daring young man was defeated
overwhelmingly, but nothing daunted
offered himself next year for County
Meath, and he was returned, taking the
place OF the late Mr.. John Martin.
ENTERS PARLIAMENT.
Parnell had studied Parliament from
the outside. He now devoted q yssr to its
study from the position of member, and
in 1876 he planted himself squarely and
stubbornly in the pathway of the Govern
mental chariot, engaging the British
Government in two prolonged aud famous
conflicts.
In February, 1877, he made his first offer
as legislator for Ireland, introducing
'The Irish Church Act Amendment
Bill"
The object Of this first bill offered by
the young legislator and patriot was 10
facilitate the purchase of their holdings
the small farms-by the tenantry of the
disestablished Irish Church.
OF course, the bill was defeated but
the vote showed muster Of 110 members
III its favor to only $50 against it.
This defeat was almost equivalent to
victory, and it was the opening wedge in
the policy known TO Irlshmen as the
s'Actiye Policv'' and,to the English as the
policy OF Construction, which got its
first send Off in the contest over Mr..
Cross "Prison Bill"
Parnell arose to a remarkable promi-