New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-04
THE PaRNELLITE DISTRA CTJON.


Dnrine the progress of the Irish campaign in
the constituency of North Sligo where the Par
neIte candidate has just been overwhelmingly
defeated, MIR. parnell frequently announced that
should such fate befall him he would still
maintain the struggle. Those who admire fool
hardness and think it courage and VINO nave
no conception of patriotic duty Will doubtless
applaud this decision, but if MIR. Parnell Is per-
mitted to execute it the Tories will be Justi1ed
in the ewes of millions of rational sympathlzeH
with Home Rule in almost any extreme OF
coercive government they may attempt to en-
force. 1t will be a well-nigh irresistible agu-
ment that the Irish are constitutonally unable
TO recognize their own interest when they see IT,
Ii will be widely interpreted as meaning mat
they would rather have glorious head smash
ing row than a peaceful, self moving system Oh
order and law. And it will proclaim the TACT
that their attachments are not to principles, but
TO leaders and men.
Comparatively speaking, the North Sligo con-
test was quiet, Compared with the earlier one
at North Kilkenny it was tranquility ITSELF
There were no noteworthy mobs, and the list
of casualties contains no incident of importance
Nor have any loud complaints been made OF
priesty interference Undoubtedly the priests
took large and earnest hand in the fight and
this in other circumstances would he altoseuher
.1-olerable But the relations OF the irish 10
their clergy are peculiar, and have resulted from
so many generations of dependence on the one
hand and authority on the other that lar
Judgment on the question how far the priests
are justified in advising and soliciting the peo-
nile in political matters is difficult to get at.
That would be the case in any Irish contIn-
pency. and in this it is emphasized. The OF
fences and faults on account of which MIR. Par
nelps retirement is demanded are against morals,
and in the view of the Irish clergy they are
especially fragrant and dangerous. In us atu-
tude toward adultery and those who commit IL
the Catholic Church is by long odds more right
than wrong 1t is one of class OF crimes 100
easily forgiven and too soon forgotten. In
politics. at all events, conditions as they are,
and not as they might be, must be considered
The active, relentless opposition of the Church
to Parnell and his faction was inevitable and
cannot be overcome and by his own defiance
he has invited a war of determination.
Thus far, however, in the Sligo campaign his
| partisans have made none but general COM
plaint of priestly intervention. 1t is not al
| legged that the clergy ulu any uninB "nlch lIish
public sentiment denies their right to do. And
vet the Parnellite defeat is complete. 1t leaves
parneil without the shadow of hope that he
can make himself anything more formidable
than distraction. This though, will be quite
enough to hold Ireland in subject bonds Two
parties in Ireland and emancipation are i'm
possible. Civil dissension or freedom, one OF
the other, must be promptly, avowedly aban'
doned. 10 Americans who have watched the
rise and progress of the Irish movement foI
Home Rule with the lveliest sympathy, in many
instances going dangerously near the line which
divides legitimate interest from ore Of doubt
full proprety. the present situation is most dis
coulaging Among Mr. Parnells adherents are
some sagacious and experienced politicians
They should not allow themselves to be deceived
about American sentiment. The name OF Par
nell may yet be able TO conjure few dollars
from radical pockets, but these will avail him
nothing, and as an expression of American Opin-
| ion-that opinion which in the past has been the
mainstay of the Irish movement-they are wbok
| ly worthless. a further proloneing of the Par