Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-10-21
1T WAS PARNELL'S WISH.
Favored His Own Retirement from the
Irish leadership.

! Favored His Own Retirement from the
Irish Leadership.
LONDON, Oct. Let has been init
mated for some days past that William
O'Brien, member of Parliament for
Northeast Cork, was preparing state
ment or manifesto IN reply to the re-
cent Parnellite defances which have
been scattered right and left by the
leaders of that party. Mr.. OBrien's
statement is given to the public to-day.
He writes:
have waited since the funeral, hoping
that the late Mr.. ParnelPs leading support
erS, knowing my relations with Mr.. Par
nell at Boulogne, would have the manliness
to diSassociate themselves from the dia-
bOlicai charges circulated broadcast by
their special organ, that Mr.. Dillon and
myself bounded their leader to death.
Now are the councils of peace mad
ly and finally cast to the winds;
now have the fOuleSt inSinuatiOnS as
to our treatment of Mr.. Parnell become
part Of the machinery of the discussion
mOngerS without word of reputation or
rebuke from the men who know the
charges to be the fOuleSt, most ungrateful
and Ubiquitous ever leveled at an Irish
Nationalist. My cOuntrymen will agree
with me that | am absolved from all Obli-
enceS at BoulOgne.
The unalterable basis Of all communi-
cations with Mr.. ParneA at BOulOgne was,
first and last, his retirement from the
leadership. l broke off COMMUNICATION
with him after the first interview, until [
was informed by his chief lieutenant that
he would entertain the proposal. l invite
ParnelPS representatives to publish every
document concerning the Boulogne ne
gotiations. We kept three objects always
in view. First that it was impossible that
MI. Parnell could continue as chairman OF
the parliamentary committee; secondly, to
soften the memory Of MI ParnelPS fault
by every possible palliative and evidence
of good Will that his devoted colleagues
could suggest; thirdly, to avert the calam-
tiles which we keenly felt to be irrepara-
bic from any disruption OF the forces.
We were fully persuaded that these OBJ
jects would have been attained had the
terms we suggested been Loyalty accepted,
and the party would then have been re-
united under the leadership Of Mr.. McCar-
thy, leaving Mr.. Parnell an honorable
place in Irish public life. Mr.. ParneiIs
four most Influential lieutenants professed
themselves to be as eager as ourselves to
secure Mr.. ParnelPs withdrawal, either on
these terms or by reunion under the lead
ership of Mr. Dillon. These same men are
with plotting to get rid Of Mr.. Parnell.
They themselves pressed me to consent to
| Mr.. ParnelPs first proposition, which was
that he should retire in favor Of myself,
| and at the close of the negotiations they re-
peated their conviction that it would have
solved the difficulty had l consented. Mr..
ParneIPs own feelings as 10 my treatment
of him are explained in the following let
ter, written to me on the day we broke Off
negotiations:
FEBRUARY II. 1890.--My Deer o. Brien: I de-
sire to express to you how deeply feel the kind
ness and gentleness Of spirit SHOWN to me by you
throughout the negotiations. l have felt all
along that had no right to expect from any
body the constant anxiety to meet my
views, the intense desire that all pro-
posals claiming your sanction should be
palatable possible to me. which distin-
which passed between L know that you
have forgiven much oughneSS and asperity on
my part, and that you have made allowances
for some unreasonable conduct from which
to anybody gifted with less patience and con-
Citation than yourself would have been most
difficult. / appreciate intensely the diff
culties which surrounded you dur
ing these negotiations, the constant
/ daily anxiety which would have been over
wheming to any body possessed of less courage
] and devotlon than yourself. l fervently hope
and believe that the prospects of ireland
not so dark as you fear. and after little time,
I having passed through the clouds and dark
ness. shall again stand on former foot
ing-when in happier days we were comrades in
arms in behalf of united Ireland. Dearest
! O'Brien. l am always yours
CHARLES S. PARNELI.
'Thus," Mr.. O'Brien concludes, ''closed
! the BOulogne communications, with full
recognition that we parted as honorable
/ opponents"