New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-06
MIR. PARNELL'S SUCCESSOR.
MIR. w. o'BRIEN-AlR. sEXToN-MR TIN
HEALY-MR. JOHN DILLON
Westminster. JuIy ".

6ning their attitude towards their formerly
revered chief. have temporarily withdrawn from
the political arena. Mr.. Dillon has retired 10
a watering-place to recruit, and Mr oBrlen mas
settled down in the Irish county which, IL Is
announced. is 10 be the scene of his next novel.
His first was scarcely so good or 90 suocesSiu,
as IN suggest an early return 10 the field lt
was marked by the failings which handicap MS
platform and Parliamentary eloquence. 1t was
occasionally turgid often dull or utterly oeVoiu
If irrespective All his minnows lsupposlng they
were on the right side of the Irish question: DIS
ported themselves as whales, and the thieao Oh
the story attenuated at best was apt TO DE los''
while Mr. o'Brien talked political parallels. REQ
nle bought and read the book at the time because
the author was just out of prison OF JuSV eonis
to prison, or had just baified Mr. Balionr niyrhi
dons or got safely away to HaVre, aiter
perilous passage in an inadequate bark Ior%O
exactly how il was But at the time MI y brieh
was parsonage and just as Lord Lornes COIL
tributons to the magazines were goou copS
while the glamour Of his royal mating was Iresn
upon him, so Mr.. 0'Brien's novel was asheu iol
at Nudes, and some people, 1T Is sald' reau IL
through But as Lord LOrne has discovered, uho
10 public is very tickle in these matters, ana MI
O,Brien's next novel will have this disadvantage
among others, that its author has fallen from
Mr. OBrien's personal decadence will have It's
i effect upon far more important problem than
the success or failure OF a three-vOlume novel.
/, Mr. Justin Mccarthy, as every one knows, is MT
y Parneli's successor only pro ten. No one I'M
Is familiar with his personality and with the cir
cumstances of his daily life knows what
sacrifice he made when he accepted the invita-
ton to set up as leader of the majority oil lrsn
Members who preferred patriotism to Parnelllsn.
He was nominated for the office, not because he
is heaven-born leader, but because he would
least divide the party. That arrangement was
always understood TO be temporary one, ana
when, next session, the Irish Members foregather
il will be with captain, whose appointment
it is intended, shall be permanent
Who shall it be? If the question had
has arisen year ago. or Mr.. O'Brien had been
available as a candidate when, last November, the
vacancy was created 1 think there is no doubt
the choice would have fallen on him. Under Mr..
Parnelrs leadership he always took a more prom
inent part in Parliamentary debate than did Mr..
Dillon nor was the proportion disturbed in their
little tOun through Ireland They often hunted
in couples but it was noteworthy. or seemed
natural, that when they appeared on the platform
Mr. O'Brien should speak first, Mr.. Dillon falling
into the second line. 1t the same in the
House of Commons, though with that audience
whose Judgment of men is never at fault, MI
Dillon from the first, carried the greater weight
In debate.
The crush that overwhelmed Mr.. Parnell found
Mr. O'Bren in America, and he came home via
Boulogne. That was the fatal step in his career
from which he has not yet recovered and probably
never will His hySterical soOS transmitted by
cable under the melancholy ocean, his waving OF
O tearstained handkerchief in assurance that
faithful as Mrs Micawber, he would never
desert" his old chief, presented his character IN
% new light He had always been regarded as
emotional. but this was maudlin. When at length
he reached Boulogne he arranged a series OF in
terviews and congratulations with stealthy com
ings and goings stage whispers and the lights that
better fitted two-penny theatre than the stage of
real life The farce was redeemed from pueriity
only by the pale set face, the mpassve figure, and
the cool calculating gaze of Mr.. Parnel. Before
Mr.. O'Brien appeared on the scene the Member for
Cork had seemed TO he utterly defeated. Now, by
the operation of motives which puzzled the public,
he was set up again with another chance, and
with consunmate skill made so much of it that
for while even in what had seemed the hour of
assured victory, the fate Of Ireland again trembed
In the balance, and the enemies of Home Rule,
looking on audibly chucked at this unexpected
diversion in their favor 1t is said in explanation
of the inexplicable that Mr.. Parnell held Mr..
OBrien in thrall by his knowledge Of domestic
tragedy and his threat TO utilize it. It is whispered
in the intimate circle of Mr. O'Brien's friends that
his life was, year ago, suddenly clOuded by the
discovery that he had unknowiugly and quite in
nocently been playing a part in a family peace
based ON the story of Enoch Arden. l do not
know how true this is, nor is it any business
of ours But it is talked of compassionately in
Fria 70 Mr.
true it would account for much that is dark to
the unasssted vision.
Apart from Mr.. Dillon and Mr.. O'Brien there
are two members of the Irish Parliamentary party
who might well be considered in running for the
leadership. One is Mr. Sexton and the other
Mr. Tim Heay. The former, owing TO the absence
of other prominent members Of the party, en-
loved last session. unusual opportunities of coming
10 the front, and he certainly made the most OF
them In the debate on the Land Purchase Bill
he displayed a mastery of the details second only
10 that of Mr. Balfour He was aSsiduous in at
tendance through the Committee stage, and UNI
wearying in his efforts to introduce amendments
some of which were accepted by the Chief Secretary
as improvements on the. bill. II he were only
gifted with a modicum of modesty, his position
in Parliament would be very different one, and
there is no reason why he should
Sexton is unhappily afflicted with a morbid,
o exorbitant. self-conceit, which makes him
personally unpopular with his colleagues, and in
ficts sore suffering on the House of Commons. lie
is so in love with the sound of his own voice
that when once he falls under its seductive i'll
fuence time and space are annihilated and no enc
can say when he will give others chance OF
being heard. His speeches all run to seed FOL
allaek of timely cropping. An able debater, oc-
" casionally capable of rising TO the height OF elo-
ouence this fatal facility of wOrd-spinning mas
been his ruin, and there is no sign in most
recent times of any determined effort TO manfully
grapple with the weakness.
For quite other reasons Mr. Tim IIealy is passed
over when the question of Mr.. Parnelps successor
is discussed Since the Irish party are chroni
calIy in opposition, Tim" would if it suited
his circumstances, make a model leader With
Sir William Hsrcourt leading from the Treasury
n..u,. -