The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-08

Il
Stewart Parnell the former well-knowr
Irish leader. will cause . shock Throughout
Europe and America. He had been known
70 be in delicate health for some time. anc
no doubt he suffered great mental distres
over the many troubles which have of late
beset him. all of which tended to impair his
constitution and shorten his life. Still no
one suspected that he was at all near his end
or that he was in such condition as r.
so speedily succumb to the comparatively
slight attack which carried him of
1t would have been far better for Mr.. Par
| nell had he died two years ago, before he be-
came involved in his complications with Mrs.
| O'Shea. Up to that time he enjoyed the con-
fdonce and respect OF men in general aud the
| friends OF the Irish cause IN particular. The
confidence reposed in him was unlimited: nor
was this confidence unworthily bestowed.
| He had welded immense power IN Parliament
| and did yeoman service for the cause Of politi-
| cal and personal liberty in Ireland, in which
| be was heartily and cordially interested. The
Irish people can never cease to be grateful to
him for the many ameliOrations in their con-
dition effected through his earnest and able
efforts. and for the zeal which he always dis
played in their behalf
When. however. he committed his first
false step in weaving the affections of Mrs.
O'Shea from her husband, and attemptiug 10
conceal his conduct by stoutly denying it,
although persisting in keeping Up his crimi-
nal relations with her. until at last he was
compelled to publicly confess his guilt, his
reputation began to suffer and his influence
to wanc And although he stroye to boldly
live down the effects of his misconduct. and
showed determination to brave out the evil
consequences Of his deed he could never re-
gain his position. The best men in his party
deserted him; the Roman Catholic Church
antagonized him. and the English Liberals,
under Gladstone, withdrew from him their
powerful support. He strove with undated
energy TO recover his lost ground. but in vain.
lie steadily declined in influence and popular
esteem. and no doubt the sense ofhumiliation
and modification caused bin by realization
Of this fact materially hastened his decline in
health.
His death, so far from being looked upon
as misfortune to Ireland. as would have
been the case had he died when full of honors.
will now be regarded as a positive cause Of
congratulatiOn TO the Irish party. AS long as
be lived he would have Lad large following;
but he would also have always encountered
strong opposition, and no would, therefore,
always have been a cause Of dissenson and
faction. Now that he IS dead. however. the
Irish party can unite under some other
trusted leader who, with the friendship of
and Of their English allies re-
stored, can continue effectively the work !
which Parnel first iDaugurated and then |
threatened with destruction.
A wholesome moral may be learned from |
Parnell's life and death. His rise to power
and influence and bis subsequent fall from
bis high estate on account of his grievous Of
tense against society shows that among all
people there is an innate sense Of right which
s ready TO reverence virtue and punish crime.
While Parnell remained above suspicion of
wrong doing he was exalted in the estimation
If his fellow-men, but when no offended the
avs of morality no sunk into comparative
From this it may be concluded
hat virtue is the only basis and foundation
# true greatness. and that vice is certain to
lrag man down even though lie be
,re-eminept for wisdom and endowed with
he highest natural gifts. Ii is right to say
lothing but good Of the dead and cover up
II their misdeeds with the mantle of charity,
nut still the lesson to be deduced from the
ise and fall of the great Irish leader will, if
eeded, rebound to the lasting benefit Of all
lture leaders of mankind.