The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-10-14


geant-at-arms. But the land act had
been passed, granting the three Fs,"-
ixity of tenure, free sale and fair rents
This measure would never have been
passed save for the labors of Mr.. Par
nell. Directly after, Mr.. Parnell pre-.
sided at land league convention at
which it was resolved that the act
should be tested by means of certain
selected cases, and for this, and his
presence at several succeeding league
demonstrations, he with John Dillon
and j. O'Kelly (both, like himself,
members of pailiamenD were con-
signed TO Kilmanham Jail near Dub
lin, where they remained until the
spring of 1882, when they we're re-
leased. Directly after their release,
Lord Frederick Cavendish was APP
pointed secretary for Ireland. Then
came the assassination of Lord Caven-
dish and Mr.. Burke in Ptenix park,
Dublin, although Burke was the only
one whom the murderers sought to kill.
Mr.. Parnell expressed in writing his
detestation of the crime, and his state
ment was considered satisfactory at the
time. The old land league had come
10 be in odium, and the national league
was organized 10 take its place. The
success Of Mr.. Parnell as leader was
shown in the election of 1885, when he
returned to parliament with party of
eighty-ive members. He now had the
balance of power, and Mr.. Gladstone
was compelled to propose home rule.
In 1887 his own land act was rejected,
but msny of its provisions were incor-
porated into the government bill which
was passed.
Mr.. Parnel was destined to pass
through two ordeals such as might we'll
shake the courage of the strongest
man. The first was the suspicion
aroused by the charge of the London
Times that he had written letters ex-
cusing the murder of Burke but regret
ting that of Lord Cavendish A fac
smile of the letter was published. The
government, after Mr.. Pdrnell had APP
peaed in vain for some time, finally Or
dered an investigation by commi'sio
of judges. This commission exoner-
aied Mr.. Parnel and his associates
from all the main charges, but found
them guilty of combining to boycott
the opponents of the league. The ver-
dict was announced in February, 1890,
and then Mr.. Parnell brought suit
against the Times for libel. The truth
came out that the letters in the Times
were forged by Richard Pigott, who
fled to Spain and committed suicide,
leaving a confession of his guilt The
Times apologized and compromised the
suit by paying Mr.. Parnell 1875, OOO
The divorce scandal is yet fresh in the
memory of the public. About year
ago Captain w. j. O'Shea brought suit
against his wife, naming Mr.. Parnell
as correspondent. No defense was
made, and the bill was allowed. Then
Mr.. Gladstone refused to treat with the
Irish party if Mr.. Parnell remained at
its head, and the party became rent by
factiOnal warfare. The Catholic clergy
declared against the Irish leader, and
his hold on the party rapidly grew
weaker. A few months ago he and
Mrs. O'Shea were married. The life
of this remarkable man was brought TO
sudden close when he was but forty
five years of age, at the very time when
he might have been at his best as the
leader of great political movement.
There are many ways of looking at
the map. The quality which was SUI
preme in him was courage. He was
never daunted by misfortune or adver-
sity of any sort. When his old follow
ers began deserving him after the di-
vorce trial, he went back to Ireland and
submitted his case to the people. APP
parently he counted on spirit of
patriotism in that country which would
overshadow personal considerations.
He reckoned without his host. The
Irish people turned from their political
leader, not because he had betrayed the
trust they had given him, but because
he had sinned against a moral law.
Slowly the truth dawned on him, but he
would not surrender, and it was only
about ten days before his death that he
made his last speech, denouncing the
inconsstenci of Messrs. Dillon and
O'Brien. Personal assaults were less
to be thought of than the desertion OF
the people, and the smart of the lime
in his eyes was not so painful as the
dull ache about his heart. He grew
thin and care-worn, but he would have
died sooner than recede from his posi-