The Irish standard., 1895-08-24
Not Great in Speech, but Thought
full and Searching in All the
Affairs Of Life.

knows a great deal, and he can write it
well, as he has shown in a great many
charming books-as he is showing today
in the best political leaders that appear
in the London daily papers.
Mr.. McCarthy's reelection last Tues
day as chairman Of the Irish parliament
ary party was a foregone conclusion. It
is a mistake to call him a leader in the
full sense of that word Since Parnell's
death removed the one man in the Irish
party whose fire was the fire of flint
against steel no leader has been possible
for the turbulent faction. Mr.. Mccarthy
would be the last to give his position
that name. He is chairman Of the party,
presides at it's meetings, and practically
stands for it in the house Of commons
when matters of vital concern demand
attention. Further than that, he does
not go, nor care to go.
N Tt was because of his mildness and
amiability--the general affection in
which he is held by all classes--that he
was chosen at the memorable meeting in
committee-room 16 after Parnell's over
throw. 1t must be said that Mr.. Nc
Carthy contributed as little to that over
throw and rejoiced in it as little as any
man in the house of commons. There is
very little of the politician in him-small
Ecraft" or guile. He likes his ease and
seldom gets it, He is in politics because
of the traditional respect for parliament
which even man born in Cork must feel
and which Is still strong in spite OF elec-
tion rows and Jabez Balfours. Being in
politics. it was essential that he should
become a follower of Parnell, then at
perigee When the old leader was de-
posed, it was equally natural that Mr..
Mccarthy, impressed by the feeling Of
Mr.. Gladstone and the attitude Of the
bishops and priests, at whose side Mr..
Mccarthy had often fought, should go
with the majority. Less ill-will is cher
ished toward him by the Parnellite fac
ton than toward any of the others. a
Mr.. Mccarthy is one of the men in the
Irish party whoslooks toward England to
accomplish, on her own account, the long
sought reforms in the Irish government.
Pacific by disposition, he is also more
English than Irish in his tastes. Long
contact with the English people in Lon
don, especially such close contact as
successful literary man must enjoy
whose tastes are worldly and who likes
the passing show, has softened any earlier
antipathies he might have derived from
Celtic forebears. He is we'll received in
society and numbers among his friends
some OF the cruelest despoilers Of his be-
loved people, In fact, there is quite as
much pretense about bitterness in politics
in England as there is in America. Here
the vulgar especially the conservative
yulga gar-1non opolize the pleasure of hat
inc. But Mr.. ampbell-Bannerman is
Justly popular on the government
benches and the believer in such politics
as John Randolph. Of Roanoke, used to
practice and preach was frequently
amazed during the last session to sec
MI. Balfour and Mr.. Morley drive up to-
5gether in cab and dine at the same
table, A wag remarked but then, you
never can tell what might have happen
ed in the cab. And perhaps Balfour
kicked Morley under the table, Mr.. Nc
Carthy is particularly friendly with Eng
lish members, and may even entertain
liking for the ertswhile bloody Balfour"
himself. 1t would be a fine thing if the
Irish parliamentary party We're disposed
as kindly to its enemies, the friends, as
st is toward it's friends. tie enemy,
Mr. AIcCarthy's literary side is more
pleasing than his political side, necessar-
ily He is in his 66th year ard comes
from Cork, where all the great men come
ffrorn-m you hear them tell it. He be-
gan writing as a reporter on the Cork t.x-
aniner, but, following The attraction that
carries every writing Irishman TO Eng
land at one time or another he crossed
the channel, worked on the staff OF a
Liverpool paper for a short time and
then went to London as parliamentary
reporter on the Star. (The paper after
ward died, but it's name was revived
some years ago by Mr.. McCarthys coll
flourish. sold it out and established his
present journal, the Weekly Sun.) Mean
time he contributed papers to a number
of important magazines, including the
Galaxy. of New York. now defunct. then
under the control of Richard Grant White.
Shakesperean defender of the faith Of
good English and critic of all things that
traced their origin from south of the Con-
neeticut valley. It was in the Galaxy
that Mr.. Mccarthy printed many Of the
charming papers that afterWard found
their way with additions, into al book
called "a History OF Our Own Times.
II Il 1868 he went TO America. He had
long sustained friendly relations with the.
people of that country. He had been as
.scciated with John Bright and had learn
ed ti,e meaning Of liberty from hfs lips.
During the war hen English sentiment
was bitterly hostile tp Ameri Lea, be as
sfjIle IA Ahe few nensH standing who not