Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-09-26
A GREAT FRESHMAN.
Healy and the Notable Part Played by
Him in British Politics,

HeaIy and the Notable Part Played by
Him in British Politics.
Timothy NJ. Healy, the Irish leader,
is now As years old He was born in
Bantry, Cork, but went to England at
an early age and settled in Newcastle.
In local debating societies he took a
conspicuous part and was prominent
among the Irish societies especially.
Late in the seventies, when Charles S.
Parnell began his famous movement,
with the solitary assistance in parlia-
ment of quaint Joe Biggar, he attend.
ed meetings in Newcastle and was
struck by the force and keenness OF
Healy's debating and argumentativs
powers. When Parnell came over to
appeal for American aid, he brought
over Healy as his secretary The two
visited Madison. In those days Par
nell's word was law to most of the
Irish constituencies, and he had Healy
nominated and elected to represent
| Wexford borough in parliament Healy
| jumped into prominence at Westmin-
ster during the prolonged debates on
Gladstones land act 1t was said
then that Gladstone, Parneu and
Healy were the only persons who
thoroughly understood the land bill.
Healy gave his whole time and atten-
ton to 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, attended 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 Healy was one of the foremost
| figures on the Irish side. Cool and
self possessed while nearly every
body else in the house was affected
| by the prevailing excitement, Healy
| kept pouring sarcasm and inyective in
to the ministerial ranks.
| Healy is not the polished orator
that Sexton is, nor is his style Of dec
iamation so impassioned as that OF
| William O'Brien. He is more analyt-
| ical, more searching in his discussion
of men and measures, always seeking
tender spot wherein to insert his
knife and then turn it around. He is,
too, something of verbal caricaturist
and has probably no equal in the
house in his capacity to seize on per-
sonal characteristics and mannerisms
| for the purpose of mimicry or exag-
geration.
During the years when the Irish
members were trying to make life
miserable for Gladstone, Harcourt,
Foster and their associates Healy was
one of Parnell's most valued lieuten.
ants.
After Parnell's deposition the Irish
parliamentary party was in chaotic
| to keep his followers in line. Really
gave him more trouble than all the
| others He had tasted freedom and
was apparently unwilling to be any
more an obedient follower. Perhaps
he believed that Parnells manti3
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 leadership.
For awhile it seemed as if he might
work under the leadership Of John
Dillon, but during the session Of 1896
he set up in business for himself with
% followers in parliament The other
Irish members did not like Gerald Bal
tours land BILL passed during that
session, but Healy openly praised ii,
saying, $50 far as my humble voice
and vote go | thank the government
heartily for the good work they have
done on the BILL
Dillon, O'Brien, John Redmond and
their associates were wrathy with
Healy. They found it difficult, how
ever, to get at him. His constituents
in North Louth elected and reelected
him regardless Of opposition, and the
disintegration of the Land League left
the country without any National or
ganization powerful enough to issue
and enforce 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 all kinds OF
fun at the league, its organizers and
methods. The league gained extraor-
binary popularity. 1t was not able to
prevent Healy's reelection to parlia-
ment at the general election last year,
but it read him out of the party, and
for the present he seems likely to re-
main out.