The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-26


stitutioni
The Parnellites All Right.
grave error was committed In de-
spatch which was cabled from London tc the
United Press on the evening Of Aug. 9, and
which was published in the New York news
papers on the morning Of Aug. 10. This
despatch announced that the Parnellite
Convention. held in Dublin on Aug. Q. had
instructed the nine Parnelllte members Of
Parliament to vote against the third read
Ing Of the Home Rule bill. For this report,
which has remained uncontradicted up to
the present hour. there was never an atom
OF foundation. It was q lie. The Parnellite
Convention did the opposite Of what 1t was
accused by the despatch Of having done.
The Parnellite members who were present
declared their intention Of supporting the
Home Rule bill at the third reading. and
the Convention, by an overwhelming vote.
approved Of the intention.
The false report to which we have referred
has been made the subject Of comment In
THE Sun. It was received by the American
friends Of Ireland. at first. with incredulity.
and afterward. when 1t remained uncontra-
dicted. with profound dismay. That the
incredulity was justified. and that there
was not the slightest ground for dlsmay. is
clear from the detailed report Of the pro-
ceedings Of the Convention which we find
set forth in the Irish Daily Independent. pub
lished at Dublin on Aug. 10. 1t appears
that one Of the resolutions proposed at the
Convention expressed hearty approval OF
the efforts Of the Parnellite members OF
Parliament to amend the Home Rule bill.
and assured them Of undated confidence
In their discretion and patriotism. There
upon. some one offered an amendment to
the effect that the Parnellite members
ought to vote against the third reading. Mr..
JOHN E. REDMOND. who presided, opposed
the amendment. employing the very argu-
ments which have seemed unanswerable to
the American friends Of Ireland. He told
the Convention that the nine Parnellite
members had come to the conclusion that
the Home Rule bill. defective as it was in
most Of its leading features. was one
(which. like the toad. ugly and venomous.
Wears yet . precious jewel In its head"
Mr.. REDMOND said that he and his
colleagues were convinced that. bad as
were the details Of the measure. there was.
nevertheless. enshrined In 1t a principle
which they could not take the responsibility
Of voting against In the House Of Commons.
The bill. II it were passed. would confer on
Ireland freely elected Irish Parliament
legislature chosen by the people. with
power to deal with many. at any rate, of
the most vital interests Of the country.
This Parliament would have control. as no
Irish Parliament had In the past. Of the
Tric Two 7 no In FOL o do
the whole administration OF the civil and the
criminal law; by stroke OF the pen it could
abolish grand juries and create County
Boards; from the moment that the new
Parliament convened. the old hateful
system. known as the Castle system.
would cease to exist: the Local Govern
ment Board. the Board OF Works, and the
whole nest Of Boards that now exist in
Dublin Castle would come at once under the
control and the management OF the freely
elected representatives OF the Irish people.
Although. therefore. the Home Rule bill
seemed to Mr.. REDMOND full OF deformities,
he recognized In 1t vital principle. and de-
clared accordingly that. apart from ICON
siderations of expediency. and on the broad
ground Of principle alone. it would not be
right for any Irish Nationalist to vote
against the measure.
Turning from the question OF principle to
that OF expediency. Mr.. REDMOND went on
to give reasons for supporting the bill
identical with those suggested by The Sun
when commenting on the cabled report
which 30 grossly distorted the action Of the
Dublin Convention. Mr.. REDMOND said
that. II the nine Parnellites should vote
against the third reading OF the bill. 1t was
quite upon the cards that the project might
be defeated even In the House of Commons.
He pointed out that there had been defeo-
lions already from the ranks Of the Liberal
party; that three or four members elected as
Home Rulers had months ago. declared
themselves hostile to the bill. Mr.. RED
MoND also said that since he had left
London for Dublin. another Gladstonian
member had resigned his seat rather
than vote for the bill. and the Parnell-
lite leader foresaw that the Government
might lose the seat for Hereford thus
made vacant. which loss. In fact. has been
incurred. 1t was further pointed out that
another English member-Mr LITTLE-has
declared that. unless Mr.. GLADSTONE &C.
cepts an amendment which Is known to
be unacceptable. he will vote against the
bill. Under such circumstances. Mr.. RED
MoND expressed the conviction that. II
the Parnellite members were to vote
against the BILL their action would be
made an excuse for abstaining by many
Liberal members. with the probable result
that the measure would be defeated. and
Mr.. GLADSTONE would be driven from
power. Whether he came back or not
would make very little difference. for. as
Mr.. REDMOND told the Dublin Convention,
the youngest man in the room would not
live to see the principle OF home rule taken
up. after two defeats. by an English party
Such was the purport OF the speech made
by Mr.. REDMOND on this subject. When he
concluded. the proposed resolution. direct
Ing the Parnellite members to oppose the