The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-18

many Q man who might have swelled the
ranks OF those who were to fight throughout
the memorable years between 1881 and
1886. The severest contest In which he
then engaged took place in the city OF
Cork. which he personally won from charac-
teristic specimen Of the class Of Catholic Wings
whose timidlty and treachery have been one
OF the most potent agencies in the hands
Of English Ministers for the prolongation Of
Irish misery and servitude. The result OF that
general election was that sixty-eight men
were returned as ostensiblo Homo Rulers.
The deceptiveness Of this total may be
Judged from the fact that among the Home
Rulers were counted such men as Mr.. j. Orrell
Lever and Mr.. whitworth. Ofthe other Home
Rulers the majority were supposed to be sup
porters OF Mr. Shaw. and only small MINORS
ty were openly pledged to follow Mr.. Parnell.
considerable number had not as yet made
definite choice between the policies OF the
rival leaders. Up to a few days. indeed. before
the meeting OF tho sincere Homo Rulers for
the purpose OF organization. there was scarce
~ on intention OF proposing Mr. Parnell as
leader. Mr. Parnoll himself was inclined to
think that in case Mr.. Shaw should be dis
placed. the leadership should be conferred
on Mr.. Justin Mccarthy. When the meeting
assembled. however. % votes were cast
for Mr.. Parnell and 18 for MIR. Shaw.
Mr.. Shaw apparently accepted his de.
feat with good humor. but the two sections
presently showed themselves disposed to
take opposite sides at Westminster. To-
ward Shaw's faction Mr.. Parnell was person.
ally courteous and tolerant to degree that
looked almost like weakness. but meanwhile
he steadily pursued his own path. He and his
followers throughout the Gladstone Parliament
acted in close combination with the Tories
except when the Liberal Government proposed
coercion. a programme which tradition led tho
Tories to support. The Parliamentary de-
tents which shook the Liberal Ministry were
won by the help OF the Parnellite vote. and
would have been impossible without 1t. 1t
must be remembered that III this Parliament
Mr.. Parnell's steadfast supporters only num-
bercd 81, the rest OF the Irish delegation being
divided rs follows: Irish Liberals. IA; Irish
Conservatives. Is: nominal Homo Rulers fol-
lowing the lead OF Mr. Shaw 70; tho remaining
member. the Rev. Isaac Nelson. could not be
counted as an adhcrent OF any section. for
after few appearances In tho House he be-
came a permanent absentee.
Did Mr.. Parnell receive from leading Tories
pledges OF important concessions to ireland.
in consideration OF which he agreed that Irish
voters in British constituencies should support
Tory candidates? Mr.. OConnor has no doubt
that such pledges were given. and he states
definitely what they were. He says that at an
interview with Lord Carnarvon. Mr. Parnell
was made to understand that the Conservative
party. II they should be successful at the ballot
box. would offer Ireland a statutory legislature
with right to protect her own industries and
that this would be coupled withthe settlement
OF the Irish land question on the basis Of pur-
chase on larger scale than that subsequently
proposed by Mr.. Gladstone. 1t is true that
the correctness of this impression was
aftcrward denied by Lord Carnarvon in
the House OF Lords, but Mr.. O'Con-
nor insists that any one who reads
the denial carefully will see that it is really n
confirmation Of Mr.. Parnells recollection Of
what actually occurred. 1t is still. moreover.
Mr.. OConnor's conviction that II in 1885 the
Tories had been returned with u majority
small but sufficient to enable them. with the
support OF the Irish party. to control
the House. they would have introduced
q good measure OF home rule. 1t is pointed
out. too. that the introduction Of such
a measure by Tory Government would have
had many advantages over its proposal by q
Liberal Minister 1t is tho lesson OF English
history that the Tories. being free from OBJ
structon in the upper House OF Parliament.
can pass almost revolutionary measures
with less difficulty than can Liber-
ais the most modest nstnllmcnts Of re-
form. The importance OF the aid rendered by
Irish voters in Great Britain to tho Tory can
didates in 1885 was universally acknowledged
The Tories" wrote Mr.. Gladstone after the
outcome OF the contest in the Burroughs
was known. ARE well aware that but
for the imperative orders issued on their
behalf by Mr.. Parnel and his friends the
Liberal majority Of forty-eight would have
been near hundred" " Lancashire has
,l-ap ~ ho nd q. Jut Iicfop fol has
accents you will find them tinged strongly
with the Irish brogue.' The birmingham Daily
Post declares that but for the assistance OF
their Irish allies the position Of the Tories in
1885 would have been as bad rs it
was in 1880. The Lancaster Examiner was
also convinced that but for tho Nationalist
vote in English and Scotch constituencies the
Liberals would have gone back to Parliament
with more than their old numbers. The Irish
vote. however. did not succeed in bringing the
Tories to a position in which they could be Of
any service to Ireland. 1t was the net result
of the election OF 1885 that IL tho Tories got
the SO Nationalist votes and were able to poll
the full strength of their own party they would
have over the Liberals majority of only
four. which OF course is not a working majority.
1t was besides more than doubtful whether
they could have carried the whole Of their own
party with them on programme OF home rule.
Such Tory members for instance. as belong to
the Orange factionwould certainly have opposed
any important concession to tho majority OF
the Irish people. Under such conditions the
proposal OF homo rule by tho Tory Minister
would havs led to Tory cave which would
havo placed the Government in u hopeless
and have given them tho discredit OF
having proposed home rule without the credit
OF having carried 1t. The situation was cynic-
ally described to AZ Nationalist member by
Lord Randolph Churchill Il have done my
best for you.' he said. and failed: and now.
OF course. W i'll do my best a .ainst you.'
In an appendis. to tho present edition of this
book Mr.. O'Connor com ments briefly and sadly
on the rupture of the Irish party which fol-
lowed the deposition Of Mr.. Parncll from the
post OF leader BY majority OF the Nationalist
OF Parliament. He points out that
this unfortunate event occurred at a time
when the movement to start subscriptions for