The Irish standard., 1899-02-18
RESIGNS THE GUARDIANSHIP.

| The Atlantic cable has conveyed the
news to this country that Mr. John Dill
lon the Chevalier Bayard of Irish poll
tics, sans peur ct sans reproche, has
uIselfshly resigned the leadership of the
anti-Parnelite party in the British Par
| lament as Il step toward the restoration
of political harmony among the conflict.
ing Irish factions led by himself, by
| Timothy Healy and by John Redmond.
| Since the death OF Parnell in 1891 there
has been continual strife between the
! Irish leaders, to the great disgust of the
friends of Ireland throughout the world.
ENJOYS went from the United States to
pacfy them and returned home COM
pletely tired of their mission. The
wrangling leaders intimated quite
strongly that they would not brook any
interference from Irish Americans or
any other people. and so they were left
to fight one another unmolested in true
Kilkenny cat style even to this day.
John Dillon made several ovcrtures Of
reconciliation to Tim Healy, and the
boys of Wexford the two Redmonds
but they We're superciliously rejected.
Timothy Harrington, disinterested
freshman who placed country above fac
ton. tried to have them bury the hatch
ct but without avail. Each of the leaders
had his organ, and every day there were
invectives hurled in torrents of ink at
the rival leaders and their followers
But everything comes to an end at last,
| and there is every indication that the
seven years war in Ireland is happily
drawing to a close. In resigning the
craftsmanship of his party Mr.. Dillon
used the following patriotic words:
"I gave my personal adhesion at once to
the proposal Of the Limerick board for II
conference which has been so widely adopt.
ed by other Nationalist bodies thrJuSho
ireland. and was accepted by the Nationalist
party at It's last meeting. earnestly hope
it may be accepted by all Nationalist :nnm-
bcrs. by declining the nomination FOR re-
election to the chair hope have removed
what is described by some persons as the
| chief obstacle to Il reunion Of the Irish
Natinnalsts. | shall not accept any office
in the party during the continuance of the
present parliament. am prepared to CO.
| operate heartily with any body of Nation
nliSS inside or outside of the party who will
work for Il reunion Of Nationalist forces in
the house of commons on the lines of the
| Parncll party before the split. | consider
| the struggle which my colleagues and my
self have been engaged IN these many years
| has borne abundant fruit IN the vastly i'm
proved spirit that now obtains in Irish pol
| tics and the passionate desire now all but
| universally expressed by Irish Nationalist
| for reunion of the National forces on the
| old lines
| Being asked what he thought of John
Dillon's resignation Timothy Healy is
reported 10 have said that he acted wise
wisely; that the reunion of the factions
will result if chairman is appointed
who is not offensive to any of
the three parties, as now
constituted. William Redmond is
declared to have spoken for his brother
John to the effect that "Dillon's action
does not affect our party in the slightest
way. and makes no difference to our po-
stion whatever" Perhaps in the coun-
ty elections coming OFF in March the
Wexford chaps may discover that their
occupation as disturbcrs of national
unity may pass away forever. In the re-
cent municipal elections the Redmond
ties were buried under an avalanche of
votes cast by the working men. and by
the women, too. Another dose will bring
them to their senses.
| Who will take the place of Dillon is
not stated. For the present Sir Thomas
Grattan Esmonde, the chief whip of the
National party. will act as chairman I'M
til a successor to Dillon is elected by the
reunited forces. Among those men,
toned are Thomas Sexton. who is now
editor of the Dublin Freeman's Journal.
and Edward Blake. the Canadian states
man. who is representing an Irish con-
stituency. Tom Sexton is the ex-mem