The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-08
Close of Parnelrs Career.

With the death Of Mr.. ParneIl one OF the
most conspicuous characters Is removed
! from English politics and one Of the most
aggressive advocates of the cause OF irish
/ home rule is forever sllenced Now that be
is dead even his bitterest detractors In Ire
land will probably be ready to conclde that
he did more than any other lrIshman Of
! recent years to organize and maintain the
constant political agitation against English
rule that the Irish have perslstently urged
for years
Whatever his personal faults or weak
nesses may have been he has demonstrated
to the satisfaction Of his countrymen the
world over that he was an effective organ
izer and a magnetic leader Of political
forces as ell as somewhat adroit in guild
ing the movements of his followers. Only
when his downfall came and the bitterness
of enmity and Jealousy and opposition that
he had to combat aud control within his
own ranks was brought into public view
was the consummate skill of his manage
ment disclosed and fully appreciated by the
general public.
But that did not serve to avert his hui
initiation. Only pretext had apparently
been somewhat impatiently awaited by his
enemies for long time in order that they
might crush him without alternating their
own partissns or engaging his loyal follow
ers. Such an opportunity as the O'Shea
affair presented could not be allowed to
pass. Whether his personal affairs had any
direct bearing upon his political efficiency
or in any wise impaired his mental and ex-
ecutive faculties as leader were questions
of but secondary Importance compared TO the
great vital point that a weak spot had been
discovered and torn open so as to disclose a
means Of destroying his great popularity
| and melting against him the blindest and
most unreasoning of condemnations-re-
ligious prejudice-all at one fell swoop.
That was just what they wanted. What
| followed is so familiar matter Of recent
history as to render repeating unnecessary.
But it is evident that the outcome Of that
bitterly contested struggle to maintain his
supremacy so preyed upon the mind of Mr..
| Parnell as to be largely a contributory
cause of his sudden death. Further politi
| cal struggles he found unavailing and the
sudden fail from the pinnacle of power and
| popularity to the depths of defeat as well
as certain degree Of degradation naturally
had a crushing effect upon the hitherto
| dauntless spirit of the man and probably
brought upon him the dependency that
preceded death.
Now that he is out of their way it remains
! to be seen whether the many aspiring lead
ers of the warning factions that he left be-
| hind will evolve from their numbers one
man who can heal the bitter dissensions and
do with the same material that Parnell had
as well as he did.
Before such thing can be undertaken
some very persuasive arguments will be re-
quired TO satisfy the loyal followers Of Par
nell that the treatment he received from his
enemies did not kill him. Now that he is
dead he will probably have more bitter par
tisans than ever and they will be harder to
convince. Sudden death evokes sympathy
for any public man.
At the same time public men all over the
world can draw very wholesome lesson
in the vital importance Of circumspect con-
duct from the melancholy fate of Parnell