The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-18
VI.

VI.
When. soon after his entrance into the House
OF Commons. Mr.. Parnell began to carry out
his obstructive tactics. he would OF course oc-
casionally lay himself open to effective inter-
ruption by his. as yet. immature acquaintance
with the regulations Of the assembly How"
said afterward a young follower OF his to the
Irish leader. :" is one to learn tho rules OF the
House," BY breaking them" was Parnells
reply. and this certainly was the method by
which he himself had gained his information.
1t was not indeed until the session Of 1877 that
Parnell and Biggar brought the House OF Com
mons definitely face to face with the new and
portentous force which had unmaskcd itself
within the Parliamentary citadel. Not of course
that there had not been obstructives" be-
fore them. During the preceding Gladstone
Ministry. for instance. between 1853 and 1874,
recourse had been made to obstruction
by several Conservative members who subse-
1uently held Official positions under Lord
BeaconsHcld More than one important Lib
eral measure had been logged at every step Of
its progress by endless and silly amendments.
by speeches against time. and by countless
motions for adjournment. 1t was. on the other
hand. q feature OF Parnell's obstructive tactics
that his interposition in the debates Of the
House was always rational He did not IN
dulge in my wild defamation or mako
speeches full Of empty and purposcless talk.
His method was to propose IN amendment to
the different measures before the House. and
his amendments were rarely. II ever. open to
the charge OF irrelevance or frivolity. The rea-
condolences OF his obstruction. however. and
the consequent difficulty OF dealing with 1t
did not shield Parnell from tempestu-
Gus Outbursts OF ange. and invective, and
the leade: OF his own party. Mr.. Butt. at
tempted to suppress him. Tho abortive effort
to that end added another element O; tragedy
to tho woful eclipse in which, the last days OF
Butt ended II was soon evident that, although
Parnelrs obstructive policy might not ms yet
have commended itself to the Intelligence of
Ireland it had, at all events. won the peoples
hearts. This was n tremendous gain for the
Nationalist movement. for 1t Is not to be for
gotten that ever since tho betrayal OF their
country's cause by keogh and Sadlicr in 1850
tho Irish people had looked with profoundly
cynical dlstrust upon Parliamentary agitation.
1t was Parnell's obstructive programme that
restored faith to the Irish people and arrayed
behind tho Parliamentary party the force
of national passion. The proofs OF the
revolution within the Home Rule party
were soon visible At tho close OF 1877 Mr..
Butt was deposed from the Presidency OF the
Homo Rule Confederation OF Irishmen resi-
don't In England. and Parnell was elected in
his place. At a conference Of the Irish Home
Rule party in Dublin which soon followed. 1t
was apparent that Parnoll had become moro
influential than his nominal chief. and Mr.
Butt virtually. though not yet avowedly. re-
tired from the leadership. There is no doubt
that Butts triumph over Parnell AT this crisis
would have been national disaster. 1t was
perhaps well for Ireland that In 1870 Butt
died. for in him the meanness. servility. and
half-heartedness which had 40 often paralyzed
the efforts OF Irish patriots lost rallyiDg
point