The Irish standard., 1899-06-03
your point Of view; but had not
thought of that at the time | thought

mind either way"
The story proves that no matter what
points he made Froude was not blind
as to the merits of the characters that
he set himself to blacken. Political in
terest will centre in Mr.. McCarthy's
"reminiscences OF his days OF active ser
vice to the cause OF Ireland. His mar
rative of the Carnarvon-Parnell inter-
view. for example, may be taken as the
exact and literal record OF what took
place. and the true appreciation of its
significance This is the story:
"One day I received All intimation
from an English Conservative member
of the House OF Commons may men
ton his name, for there was no secrecy
whatever about the matter-Sir Howard
Vincent, to the effect that Lord Carnar-
Won was anxious to have meeting with
Parnell, and asking me if | could bring
it about. at once expressed my entire
willingness 1t was then thought better
that should see Lord Carnarvon my
sell in the first instance. The house sug-
gested by Lord Carnarvon as a place
OF meeting was the house oi Sir How
ard Vincent | at once accepted the
proposed arrangement, and met Lord
Carnarvon at the place appointed. We
had very friendly talk about the con-
dition OF things in ireland and the pos
sibility of some policy being adopted
by the government which might meet
the wishes of the Irish National repre-
sentatives and the Irish people. Lord
Carnarvon distinctly told me that for his
own part he was prepared 10 go as far
in the direction OF home rule as either
Parnell or l could desire. But he did
not convey to me, and l am sure did
not intend to convey, the idea that he
was speaking on behalf of Lord Sails
bury's government. What understood
was that he spoke for himself alone, but
that he had some hope OF being able to
bring over his colleagues to his own
views on the subject, if Parnell and he
could agree upon some course of policy
which would be approved by the Irish
people, and which could be safely rec
commended to the consideration of the
Conservative government. | saw Par
nell soon afterwards, and the result was
that he met Lord Carnarvon. Not long
ago l met Lord Carnarvon at dinner in
the house of Sir Francis and Lady
Jeune, and during the course OF the eve
ming he took an opportunity of telling
me that he had not been able to bring
all his colleagues round to his way OF
thinking, and that, therefore, the nego-
tiations, if l may call them so, had
come to an end. He told me that some
of his colleagues had been greatly in
huenced by speech or statement OF
some kind made by Parncl to meet
ing, or to newspaper interviewer, in
which Parnell had said that he did not
expect much from the Tories in the di-
rection of home rule, and that he feared
the country would have to wait for any
policy of that kind until Gladstone came
into power. This statement, Lord Car
narvon said, seemed to convince some OF
his colleagues that it would be hopeless
to enter into any understanding with
Parnell; and SO there was an end OF the
matter. I have distinct recollection,
however, of Lord Carnarvon's assuring
me that if he could have had longer
time to impress his ideas upon his COL
leagues he still believed he might have
carried his point"
Calculation as to the gyrations of ''the
jumping cal" never influenced the
course of history more.
Mr.. Mccarthy was editor OF the
Morning Star for several years, and dur
ing the period was brought into close
relationship with John Bright. The
Manchester raid and the Manchester
martyrdom were incidents Of the period,
and Mr.. Mccarthy prints letters from
Bright that do credit to the writer's
head and heart, written as the letters
were when all England was in frenzy.
"Allen's uncle and aunt called on me
last Saturday and urged that he was not
guilty of murder, and that his life should
not be taken on the sort OF evidence ten
dered. The witnesses arc now discred-
tied; and l think that you should urge
that to hang anyone after the break
down OF the evidence will be much to be
deplorcd. l am certain that to hang
these men will embittcr the whole Irish
question. Allen is but 10 hot, en-
thusiastic youth, impcllcd by passion
for nationality and thoughtlcss OF the
folly or crime of the conspiracy"
Even the Clerkenwell explosion was
calmly judged Of as symptom OF the
disease Of Irish government. Bright
writes:
"The Star, more than any other Lon
don paper, has a right to look calmly
on these sad, shocking events. They are
but the natural results OF all that has
gone before in connection with the Irish
question; and suppose now, when
something OF crisis has come, States
men will begin to think something will
have to be done. In Ireland govern
mcnt is being dissolved Did you see
the case before the magistrates, where