The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-23

TIMOTHY NJ. HEALY.
especially. Late in the seventies, when
Charles S. ParneH began his famous
movement with the solitary assistance in
parliament Of quaint Joe" Biggar, he at
tended meetings at Newcastle and was
struck by the force and keenness of
Healy's debating and argumentative pow
ers. When Parnell came here to appeal
for American aid he brought over HeaIy
as his secretary In those days ParnelPs
word was law to most Of the Irish con-
stituencies, and he had Healy nominated
and elected to represent Wexford Bor-
ough In parliament. Healy jumped into
prominence at Westminster during the
prolonged debates on Gladstones land
act. 1t was said then that Gladstone,
Parnell and Healy were the only persons
who thoroughly understood the land bill
Healy gave his whole time and attention
to a study Of the measure-which made
a good-sized volume-and his suggestions
and criticisms received great attention
In 1881 Healy, with T. P. O'Connor, at
tended the land league convention in
Chicago, and while here he made
speeches all over the country.
During the stormy scenes attending the
passage of GladStone'S coercion act Mr.
Healy was one of the foremost figures
on the Irish side. Cool and self-possessed
while nearly everybody else in the house
was affected by the prevailing excite
ment, Healy kept pouring sarcasm and
invective into the ministerial ranks. He
appeared to have no reverence or respect
for anybody or anything, and used every
weapon calculated to annoy or WORRY his
opponents.
+. HTS STYLE OF ORATORY.
Healy is not the polished orator that
SaNton is, nor is his style of defamation
SO 1mpassioned as that of William
" Brlen. He is more analytical, more
searching, in his discussion of men AMI
measures, always seeking a tender spot
wherein to insert his\knife and then turn
1t around. He is too, something of a
verbal caricaturist, and has probably no
equal In the house in his capacity to seize
on personal characteristics and manner
islns fer the purpose of min1icry of exag-
geration.
During the years when the Irish mem
hers We're trying to make life miserable
Tor Gladstone, Harcourt, Foster and their
associates Healy was one of ParnelPs
most valued lieutenants. He began to
break away from his chief when the
latter's 1nfatua ton for Mrs. O'Shea be-
came Known to the inner circle, HeaIy.
said little, however, until ParneIl insist
ed on foisting Capt. O'Shea oman Irish
constituency at the time that the scandal
known. Healy was then quite outspoken
among his colleagues in criticising Par,
nell, and when the divorce proceedings
laid bare everything to the world the
'.UncroWned King of Ireland" had no
bitterer critic than his former secretary.
After Parnell's deposition the Irish
parliamentary party was in a Chaotic
condition. Justin Mccarthy was induced
to. accept the leadership solely because
of his charming personal qualities But
Mr.. Mccarthy was altogether too good
natured and retiring to keep his follow,
ers in line. Healy gave him more trouble !
than all the others. He had tasted frees
dom, and was apparently unwilling to
be any more an obedient follower Per
haps he believed that ParnelI's mantle
should have fallen to him. He had a
considerable following among the Irish
members of parliament and among the
Irish constituencies, but was never able
TO win support enough to reach the lead,
erShip.
For while it seemed as if he might
work under the leadership of John Dill
lon, but during the session Of 1896 he set
up in business for himself with twenty
five followers In parliament The other
Irish members did not like Gerald Bal
tours land bill, passed during that ses-
sion, but Healy openly praised it, saying:
$50 far as my humble voice and vote
the good work they have done on the
bill"
HOW HIS ENEMIES SUCCEEDED.
Dillon, o'Brien, John Redmond end
their associates were wrathy with
Healy. They found it difficult, however,
to get at him. His constituents in
North Louth elected and Reelected him
regardless of opposition, and the disin-
tegration of the Land league left the
country without any national organiza-
ton powerful enough to issue and en-
force orders.
Recently, however William O'Brien
launched the United Irish league. Healy
either did not realize the strength Of the
new movement, or he felt secure enough
to be Indifferent to It, At any rate,
he poked AL kinds OF fun at the league,
its organizers and methods. = The league
gained extraordinary popularity. IT was
not able to prevent Healy's reelection
to parliament at the general election this
year, but at convention the other day
it formally expelled him from the Irish
parliamentary party At the same con-
vention it was decided that the Irish
members should not attend the present
session of parliament. Tim has been
in attendance just the same. Of course,
he had something to say. For instance,
he asked in his innocent way how many
asses the government had sent to South
Africa. Subsequently he sailed into
Wall street on the strength of a rumor
that the government intended floating
some of It's war loan here.
The parliamentary adherents of the
United Irish league have reelected John
Redmond as chairman but it is pretty
certain that Mr.. Healy won't pay any
attention to Mr.. Redmond. The mem
Der for North Louth will probably go
his own gait, regardless Of consequences.
Mr.. Healy was admitted to the bar in
1884 There were times, however, in his
picturesque career. when his sole con-
Germ about the law seemed to be an
itching to put his foot through it on
every occasion. He was arrested in
1880 for an indanmatery speech; ct that