Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-04
ARE THEY REALLY DEAD?
Superstitions 9TH Regard to Parneli,
4 Skobeleff and Others.

OF all the extrao rCinary stories that
have found their way into print in con-
nection with the South African war
now drawing to a close there is NONE
that at first sight appes rs more eA-
travagant than the one widely circI.
lated in the Continental eWspapers OIL
the Old World. according TO "hicn
Charles Stewart Parnell, tine ceieprateu
Irish leader and statesman, IS MOI
only alive and in good health. out mas
actually been fighting in the boei
ranks against the English. Aays
writer in the Pittsburg Dispatcu. IN
deed some even go so far as tH ihs,s'
that the elusive General DeWetA inc
most successful of all the Irans'Na''
leaders, and whose feats OF haras siIs
and tricking the English dominance rs
have served to endow him with sucL' d
halo Of fame that in the stories told Nol
him it is impossible to define the pom
where reality ends and mere Legend
begins. is no other than the virtual
creator of the Home Rule party, who
il generally believed to have been car
ried to his grave some ten years ago.
Nor is this belief confined to the
Continental press. 1t is prevalent
among the peasantry and poorer
classes in various parts of ireland,
where the people appear to be con-
WINGED that Parnell, realizing that his
existence after the scandal in connec-
ton with the O'Shea divorce case
would constitute source of weakness
to the cause of his beloved country,
resolved to disappear. either forever OF,
at any rate. until such time as Ireland
had obtained her own, and the TACT
that he was still alive could no longer
affect her destines injuriously. 1t Is
asserted that the coffin purportlng II
contain his remains hold nothing but a
mere lay figure or sand, and that.
having shaved off his beard, he had
without any difficulty whatsoever
made his escape in the guise OF
priest.
To those who may feel disposed to
scott at this strange story and to DIS
miss it from their minds as unworthy
of any consideration. | would point ont
that Parnells career and character
were so utterly unlike those of the
average English-speaking statesman
and politician; that he was 50 thor
oughly unconventional and original In
all that he did and even said, that he
is Just the kind of man to adopt some
such peculiar method of Withdrawing
from public life and from public view,
either from motives of patriotism So
intense as to border on quiXotism. o.
because he had become tired and dis
pusted at the treatment to which he had
been subjected by those of his follow
ers and adherents whom he rightly
considered owed him deep dept OF
gratitude and loyalty.
Co -
Parnell is still alive. or that he has
anything in common with the Boer
general. DeWet. excepting fondness
peculiar to both of them for investing
their movements with the most pro-
found and impenetrable mystery. But
what | do wish to say is that, if there
is any one man whom l have known
who, in my opinion. would be capable
of playing such a hoax upon the pub
lie. it is assuredly Charles Stewart
Parnell.
1t was in the spring of 1884 that l
first made the personal acquaintance
of the great Irish leader. and for sew
eral months l saw him frequently. iii
variably at the House of Commons.
The Cabinet of the day was far from
being a very united one, nor was the
majority of which it was able to dis
pose in the House of Commons very
large Certain negotiations were in
progress between some members OF the
ministry who believed at that time
that the Irish problem might possibly
be solved by means of a statesmanlike
compromise, redounding to the honor
of all parties concerned. SO many
years have passed since then that 1
cannot conceive of any harm being
done by my stating today that l acted
as the intermediary for a number of
messages that passed between the
ministers in question and Mr.. ParneIi
communications that were as credi-
table to the one as to the other. For
they were prompted on the side OF the
ministers by an honest desire 10 solve
in an equitable manner one of the
most difficult problems that has ever
confronted the English Crown, while,
if Parnell was unable to meet them
half way, as they had hoped. 1t was
solely because he believed that he
could not DO so without doing an in
Justice to those who had entrusted
their destina ton to his keeping.
I would merely add that these ne
rotiations at one moment, however.
progressed sufficiently far to result IN
the entire Irish party under the direc-
ton of Parnell casting its vote at q
critical moment in favor of a govern
ment that comprised among the mem
bers the statesman who though long
since dead still lives in the hate of the
Irish people. under the name of Buck
shot Foster" 1t was on the subject OF
some Egyptian question and the man.
ner in which the Irish party came to
the support of the Cabinet was so I'M
expected by the outer world that 1t
caused a nine days wonder.
The ministers chiefly concerned ii
these negotiations with Parnel con-
WINGED themselves thereby that it was
useless 10 attempt to effect any settle
men of the Irish problem on a basis
equally fair to both parties concerned,
and from that time forth became the
most violent opponents of Home Ruiz
doctrines
While | was sitting and talking to
parnell his followers would frequently
como to him. either to report or for in
atructions. and it was impossible not to
no struck by the extraordinary hauteur
with which he treated one and all OF
,-;tl, no e<-pontiDn of .TuSIin Nc