The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-08
CHARLES STEWART PARNELL,
OF Good Family on Both Sides of the
House-His Career.

OF Good Family on Both Sides of the
House-His Career.
Charles Stewart Parnell was born in 1916,
at Avondale, County Wicklow, Ireland. He
was descended from an old English family
that passed over from Congleton, Cheshire,
to Ireland. and many of his ancestors have
played prominent parts in history. Thomas
Parnell, the poet, was one of the family.
Mr.. Parnells great grandfather. Sir John
Parnell, held for many years the office of
chancellor of the exchequer in the Irish
parliament, and resigned rather than vote
for the "act of ~union;'' and Sir Henry Par
nell, Sir John'ss son, after many years of
service in the house Of commons, was
raised to the peerage as Lord Congleton in
l841. Mr.. Parnell, whose mother is a
daughter of Admiral Charles Stewart, the
celebrated American naval officer, was edu-
Gated at various private schools in England
and afterwards went to Magdalen college,
Cambridge. After a tour of some duration
in the United States he returned to his
home in Wicklow, and was high sheriff of
the county in 1874. He made his first at
tempt to enter public life in the same year,
contesting the county of Dublin. He was
defeated by an overwhelming majority. but
in the following year, 1885, he was returned
from the county of Meath.
For some time he took no prominent part
in the proceedings of parliament, but dur
ing the sessions OF 1876 he attracted some
attention by engaging in one or two pro-
longed stubborn conflicts with the govern
nent. In February, 1877, lie made his first
appearance as a legislator, producing the
Irish church act amendment BILL" the OBJ
ject of which was to facilitate the holdings
of the tenantry of the diseStabIished
church. The bill was thrown out by $50 to
to ITO votes. The introduction of the
prisons bill' gave rise 20 the first real de-
rrr &c Ah1 r i s.
known as the "~actiye" policy to the Irish,
and the policy of obstruction to the Eng
lish people. The various clauses of the
measure were obstinately opposed. A simi-
lar course WAS pursued on the "Mutiny
bill" n scenes of much passion and ex-
citement frequently occurred. During this
session Of parliament Mr.. Parnell came
into serious collision both with Sir Stat
ford Northcote. the then leader of the
house of commons, and MIR. Butt, leader of
the Irish party. Northcote moved a rsso-
luton on one occasion for Mr.. Parnell's
suspension. which, after varying fortunes
had finally to be abandoned. Mr.. Butt
condemned the policy of Parnell both by
letters and speeches, but it soon became
apparent that the action of the younger
man WAS the more popular among the Irish
people.
In the beginning of 1878 Mr.. Parnell was
elected president, instead of Mr.. Butt, of
the Irish organization known rs the home
rule confederation, and from this time for
ward Mr.. Butt practically ceased to be the
leader Of the Irish party. The sessions of
parliament of 1873 and 1879 were practical
ly repetitions Of the proceedings of 1877.
In 1878 a committee was appointed to dig
cuss the best means of putting down OBJ
sttuction, and Mr.. PANEL was appointed a
member, and took an active part in exam
ming the various witnesses called. At the
close OF the session in 1879, Mr.. Parnell en-
tered upon q new and important epoch in
his career. There had been a succession of
three bad harvests in Ireland; the country
was Threatened by deep and widespread
dlstress; the time was ripe for starting n
new movement Of reform of the relations
between landlord and tenant. A meeting
had been held in Ivishtown, County Mayo,
i'll the preyious April. but it was not Til
june that MIR. Parnell formally Joined the
1t was on this occasion that he
uttered the key note of the struggle, in tho
words, keep a firm gtip of your home
steads." On Oct. q following, the Irish
National Land league was formed and Mr..
Parnell was elected it's first president. The