Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-02-19
HOPE ABANDONED.

HOPE ABANDONED.
O'Brtcn and Dillon Discouraged ut She
Result of Their Efforts to Settle the Irish
Troubles They Will Return to England
and Serve Out Their Terms In Prison.
LONDON, Feb 12.-William O'Brien
has issued long statement on the Irish
Parliamentary party situation. tie says:
1.-The experience of the past five weeks, gath
cred il personal interviews, letters and news
papers, confirms my conviction that only o
hearty reunion can save the Irish cause II Is
my duty to solemnly declare that no difficulty
existed which q little more sacrifice OF per
sonal feelings on both sides might not have
surmounted- No useful purpose can be served
by publishing the dc tails of negotiations, and
have therefore, decided to regard them as con-
fidential; but think Dune of the parties
concerned will seriously question that on the
main points q substantial agreement was
established. can not too strongly express
with what feelings We found the settlement
shipwrecked at the last momennt by mere con-
tests of words, which offer shockingly made
Quate excuse for committing the country to
struggle involving appalling influences Ham
pered at every stepby q misunderstanding sec
ton of the press and also by responsible per
sons who seemed to resent any attempt to
give less barbarous character to the conflict
and the reconciliation impeded by persons
fatally deceived to our own and our OPP
ponents' strength, the irreconcilaoles of all
sections have carried the day. Dillon and my
self can not longer stand their deplorable
work. We should have been more sensitive
to the obliquity We incur by refusing to
participate in such conflict had we ever
shrunk from o conflict with Ireland's enc.
mics. We can do nothing more till We have re-
covered freedom Of action by getting through
with the sentence standing against us. On the
expiration Of that terln l shall be happy to
submit myself to the judgment OF my constit-
uents: and il can not otherwise assist can
enable them to commit their interests to other
hands,"
Mr.. O''Brien expresses the hope that
the inevitable conflict forced upon the
country may be conducted without per-
sonal bitterness and degrading person
atty, SO that when the unhappy pas
sions of the hour have exhausted them
selves all may again cooperate in the
Nations cause.
Mr.. Dillon. in short statement, adj
mits that he had been largely influenced
to mediate by the action of Mr.. Par
nell's most prominent opponents. Mr..
Parnell, he says, had been assailed
with shocking personal vindictive-
ness and brutality in utter dis
regard of what was due him in
return for his splendid services.
This personal element had in many
minds hopelessly obscured the great
public issues and driven thousands in
Ireland and America into Parnell's
camp who otherwise would have OPP
posed his continued leadership. Mr..
Dillon continues:
II have resented the whole OF Mr.. Parnell's
proceedings. l was utterly unable to accept
his leadership after the famous manifesto, yet
had been free from the sentence OF imprison-
ment I should have found it difficult,
II not impossible, to throw myself
heartily into a struggle conducted in method
utterly abhorrent to me. The Havre confer
ence found myself in perfect accord with Mr..
O'Brien on the facts submitted to me that no
alternative but'the arrangement he suggested
would free our cause from disaster. l therefore
felt it to be my duty cordially and loyalty t.
support him in the difficult task he had under
taken. Events have fully borne out Mr.
O'Brien's views and proved that the arrange
ment he contemplated was perfectly possible,
but from the beginning Of the negotiations pow
erful influences were working on both
sides against pence and We are
now compelled sorrowfully to an
nounce failure Those who, either
from ignorance or malice, sneered at and mis-
construed our efforts, will before long realize
the fulh 81 their responsibility. For my
own part can not even now abandon the hope
that the good sense of the Irish people will as
sert itself and ineist upon putting an end to an
insane conflict that can result only IN her hui
initiation and ruin"
Messrs. O'Brien and Dillon will i'm
mediately return to England and sur
render themselves to the authorities,
and serve their terms in prison.