The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-18
SOME NEW ROCKS.
r. r. o'connor ON the rsrnen Meve.ent.

r. r. O'Connor ON the Parnen lIeveraent.
Mr.. Pnrnells death gives timelinoss to the
publication OF q new enlarged and revised edi-
zion OF The Pd,7,su Mopen,saI by I. p O'CoHNoR.
n. r. tCassell & Cob This book. whose ex-
haustiveness entities IL to be called a mono
. graph. Is invested with peculiar authority. ow-
ing to tho writer's high position In tho councils
OF the Nationalist party. In what no describes
he bore leading part but the reticence which
no observes concerning his personal services
might lead the uninformcd reader to under
rnto them. This single defect Of his narrative
Is corrected by Mr.. Thomas Nelson Page. who
has contributed n short Introductory sketch Of
Mr.. O'Connor's life. We shall frst lay before
tho reader on outline Of this interesting biog-
raphy and then follow the authors account Of
tho Parnell movement. dwelling especially up
on Its loss familiar aspects.
Thomas Power o'Connor is ~ years old. He
was born IN lS4S In the town OF Athlone. His
parents although poor. were educated and re-
fined people. devout Catholics. and Jealous
patriots. At an carly ago the young OConnor
was sen. to tho College Of the Immaculate
Conception In his native town. whence he pro-
ceeded to the Galway branch Of the Queens
University. whore at tho age Of 10 he took his
B. A. degroc. 10 had not wasted his opportu-
mites. having been noted among his fellow
underg duates for his Attachments In tho
classics and in mathematics. and to this day.
notwithstanding the 0ttrition OF life In hard
working world. his style bears witness to the
accuracy and range OF his scholarship. Motor
him. however. was reserved the delight Of
academical sccluson amid congen'al studies.
He had known from his boyhood TINT he would
IN, 20 nil nd fn
during the leisure moments Of his university
career. he had taught himself shorthand to
qualify himself for the field OF journalism. He
began in the humblest walk OF his chosen pro-
fession., obtaining soon after graduation en-
ployment us q reporter on an Irish newspaper.
ut first without any remuneration ut all and
then ut stipend Of S. q week. which. after an
interval was doubled. The last-named salary
was the highest compensation which Mr..
,OConnor obtained for his journalistic lnbors
in Ireland. though he often worked thirteen
and fourteen hours out OF tho twenty-four.
Small as his earnings were he managed to
maintain with them In Dublin one or more
members Of his family who were more needy
than himself
At the ago Of twenty -one OConnor with only
twenty dollars in his pocket. flung himself into
the ocean OF London life. He had not ono
friend. and hardly an acquaintance, in tho huge
metropolis for which Do Quincy could find no
descriptive term so adequate rs nation"
.Attor trldGing for weeks up and down tho
streets OF London. vainly seeking for employ
mcnt. Otonnor at length secured n place rs
reporter on the Idlv Telegraph Mt Il salnry of
ten dollars week. Luckily for him. he had
acquired during and since his college days a
thorough knowledge OF French and German.
which stood him In good stead on the outbreak
Of the Frnnco-Prussian war and enabled him
10 write Il series Of striking articles on the
successive phases of that contest. The alton
tion which his work on the Telegraph had at
tracted caused him to he presently associated
with DR.. Hosmer in the conduct OF the London
agency Of tho Nr'r York Herald. He was con-
nected with the lastnamed journal at the time
when Stanley. in its behalf. discovered Living
stone. and did the newspaper work in London
connected with that remarkable achievement.
Not long afterwarl occurred ono OF the peri
odical revolutions which convulso the Herald
. ONCE. and O'Connor. failing to Immediately
secure a permanent place upon any other
newspaper. was for two or three years depend
ent upon occasional employment. writing all
sorts OF copy" stories. descriptive articles.
Literary criticisms. and political leaders. 1t
seems that during this period he was often for
daysat time subjected to actual want. but.
III harsh experience was t. make him tho
steadfast ally and generous friend OF the UNI
fortunate.
Even In what seem the stagnant depths
~ Grub street there Is IL tide. and II turned for
UConnor when he managed to Geta seat in the
reporters gallery Of the House of Commons.
II is not the easiest thing in the world to trans
for ones self from that gallery to tho benches
IN the floor below. but O'Connor was destined
to- accomplish it. and It turned out that his
experience as a parliamentary reporter was an
admirable preparation for the functions OF an
NJ. r.. and enabled him in his first session to
boar himself like veteran. Before. however.
b" entered 1t. Stephens rs n member he
turned his opportunities OF observation from
tho reporters gallery to account in Life Of
Lord Beacnnsheld.' which created sensation
and swiftly ran through several editions.
This book. which was written in
punGent. not to say mordant. style. was
made by the Liberals q campaign document In
tho canvass OF 1880. and was pronounced by
the Spectator u terrific exposure" Of tho public
career Of the Tory chief. while the AHenruDl
described it as "A storchouse for all future
writer's Of modern history" Disraeli himself
appreciated the vlgor Of the assault upon him.
sumo sycophantish follower having denounced
the book to tho Conservative Prime Minister
and inquired whether ho had seen It, Lord
Beaconsfeld replied. with sardonlc humor:
have road it. But do not know why you
should Gull 1t scurrilous, It Is all true"
Thenceiorth OConnor was marked man.
and soon nftcrward he was invited to stand
for Galway as Homo Ruler Mt tho
general election Of 1880. On the very
first night whom lie entered tho House
his public career Logan. A reply t, the speech
from the throne had beei, moved and tho
young recruit was delegated b. the Irish party
TO represent them In the debate. He spoke
with self-possession and vigor which were
characterized by his opponents AZ impudencc.
but which aroused tho enthusiasm OF his
friends. He wns forthwith requested TO take
part In the CAUCUS which appointed Mr.. Par
nell leader OF tho Nationalist n,cmbers OF Par
lament, and on this occasion delivered an
address which caused him to be accepted
a. one OF the chiefs Of tho organization.
DIriaS the subsequent prolonged fight
against coercion Mr.. O'Counor made moro
hunlrsd nd