Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-10-08
CAREER OF THE GREAT HOME RULER
OF English Descent and Typicaily English
in Manner and APPEARANCE.


Charles Stewart Parnell was born at Avon
dale, County Wicklow, in 1916 He was de-
scended from an English family which had
been settled for many generations in Ireland.
His mother is a daughter of Admiral Charles
Stewart, well-known American naval Off
Ger. Parnel was educated altogether in Eng
land and was a student of Magdalen. Cam
bridge. He was almost typically English in
manner and appearance In 1874 he became
high sheriff of Wicklow, and was beaten in an
effort to enter parliament. Next year he was
returned for County Meath, in succession to
John Martin, and for one year took no part in
the work of the house.
Began To BE Prominent.
He became gradually more prominent until
in 1875 he was elected president of the Home
Rule confederation in the place of Mr.. Isaac
Butt. He was subsequently elected to repre-
sent the city of Cork. He displayed remark a.
bic ability both as a parliamentary debater
and tactician and as an organizer in the inter-
est of he Irilh Home Rule party. He idehti-
fed himself with the tenant farmers of Ire
land il the struggles with absenteeism and
high rents, aid was chiefly instrumental in
forming and sustaining the Land league of
1S19-S0.
His Visit to the United States.
In December, 1879, Parnell made a visit to
the United States, with the design of inter-
esting the lrish-American population in tie
cause of the Land league. While in this
country he lectured before several state leeis-
latures, and finally before the house of repre-
sentatiyes at Washington. The honor of adj
dressing this branch of congress had prev-
ously been conferred upon but three persons.
Upon his return home he became bitter in his
attitude toward the landlords and the govern
ment, and it was charged that this led to dis
order in Ireland. From this charge he was
subseque ntly indicated. At this time he was
reelected to parliament by Cork city, Mayo,
and Meath, and chose to represent Cork.
Opposition to the Coercion Bill.
In November, 1880, informations were laid
by the IRISH attorney general against Parnell
and other members of the Land league execu-
tive. The trial ended in disagreement of
the jury. In the opening of the session of
1881 the Gladstone government brought in a CO.
ercion bill, and, to that measure, as well as
10 the arms bill, Parnell and his colleagues Of
fered an emphatic opposition, prolonged over
seven weeks. Feb. he and thirty-four of his
followers were removed by the sergeant-at-
arms for causing obstruction in the house of
commons. Land league demonstrations fol-
loweo the passage Of the land act and the gov
eminent proclaimed the Land league to be an
illegal association.
Sent to ilmainham Jail
Persistiny in organizing the League Parnell.
with other Irish agitators, was arrested and
confined in Kilmainham jail. During his con-
finement be issued the famous NO Rent
manifesto. He remained in Kilmainham Jail
till April, 49,, when he was released on parole
in order to attend the funeral of a relative
He was formally released May 9. Then fol-
lowed the resignation of Forster and Lord
Cowper, the Phoenix park murders, and the
stormy debates on the crimes bill. In these
scenes and the subsequent organization of the
National les que in 1883, and in parliament in
1SS4-5, Parnen was the most conspicuous figure.
The Defeat of Home Rule.
On the dissolution of parliament he returned
backed by eiYhty-five members. 1t was 70
meet this situation that Gladstone proposed
home rule, in which be was supported by Par
nell and the whole strength of his party But
this was refused by parliament, despite the
fact that Parnel had the assistance of Glad
stone and the Liberal party. Parnell's sue
cessful libel sgainst the London Times for pu,,-
fishing the Pi :gott forgeries raised him higher
than ever in Iublio estimation. Unfortunate
ly he lost all lie had gained by years of unre-
uniting and fIithful work by permitting him
self TO becom. involved in a scandal He was
made correspondent in the suit for divorce
brought by Captain w. II. O'Shea last year
against his wife and neither he nor the defend
ant made any defense Though he subsequent
ly married Mrs O'Shea he was unable to re-
gain his polite al influence and, as already in
timated, this probably tended TO hasten his de-
mise.