New-York tribune., 1891-12-27
meant to leave Waterford that afternoon. VIII

"iN"hV W HaVo NauerIoru tnab 6fternOou. w nde
the authorities had to do was to get them safely
OIL. The retreat was conducted with skiu Mr.
Da1itt and Mr., O'Bren occupied car-an Irish
caf-together. Mr.. Dillon and Mr. Sheehy fol
lowed in another. The cavalry formed up. The
mounted police went In front. formidable force
OF police lined the space in front OF the hall
The procession started. Behind Mr.. Davitt's and
Mr. 0Brien's car galloped troop of hussars with
swords drawn. Then. sandwicbed between the
hussars and the police in ears AMI more cavalry.
came Mr.. Dillon looking the licture of despair.
His shoulders were bent His ends rested on his
knees. The crowds thai lined the streets greeted
these popular heroes " III yclls and insults. Ar
riving at the station. ttcy found infantry drawn
up to receive them, irnIed in line and fanked
by cavalry. and behind .his triple wall of police.
Of English infantry .th loaded Tfcs, and Of
English hussars with drawn swords these leaders
OF the Irish people in this 9ncent Il sh city crept
into the railway station
Mr. Redmond meantime set out for the same
station 10 leave by the same train lie had an
escort far more numerous than his beaten OPP
ponent. The people, or, if you like ii better the
populace of Waterford, were his escort They
streamed and surged through the streets There
were no troops and police-they were all occupied
In protecting Mr.. Davitt-but an immense con-
course of triumphant Parnellites with bands and
banners. and their hearts in their mouths. Such
is an Irish contested election at the end of the
year Of grace SOL.
The political effect of Mr.. Dayitt's defeat is
variously estimated. Probably it is too soon to
form accurate opinion. Waterford. no doubt,
was Parnellite stronghold, but Mr.. Davitt was
strong candidate, and till the day before election
was expected to capture it, Mr.. 0'Brien, Mr..
Dillon, and Mr.. Davitt himself were prophetic and
confident; more than confdent-jubilant over the
coming victory, which never came. Archbishop
Walsh, who has a shrewd head for politics, was
against the contest This worldly-wise prelate put
forth specous plea for peace till after Christmas
He was over-ruled His over-rulers now regret
it. Mr. Redmond. in the flush of victory. sees
Parnellism rising again, phoenix-like, from its
ashes Gladstonians are chagriped and perplexed
because Waterford postponed indefinitely that
unity of tie Nationalist party in Ireland on which
Mr. Gladstone in $50 and ever since based his
whole argument for Home Rule. IL Is now thought
that a number of other seats must be carried by
the Parnelites. Their dstrust of Mr.. Gladstone
is avowed. Their policy is summed up In the
word irreconcilable.
The Unonists are content. They consider
Home Rule just as much identified with the
Fenanism of Mr.. Davitt as If he had been
elected. OF course they can endure to see their
opponents and the opponents of the unity of this
Kingdom divided. They look without dismay
upon the prospect of O prolonged wrange be-
tween the two factions, each of whom claimed
precedence in sedition. They point to Waterford
as they did TO Cork as one more example of what
might happen were Ireland left to herself, and
were Irishmen free 10 fight out their quarels.
Cork would have been wrecked. In Waterford
it Mr. Davitt and his party who would have
been wrecked. They would have been driven out
OF the town but for the police. Riot and blood
shed would have marked the history of this last
week-or would, il you can conceive Of men stand
ing up TO fight who did not think it expedent 20
face single public meeting except under roof
and under police protection. G. w. S.