The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-09-05
Other Interesting Figures now Gone from
the Irish Benches are Sexton
Mccarthy and Davitt
But 1he Man most Missed From the
Serried Ranks is that Incompatible
Personality, Parnell.

Michael Mnr,lonnugll. who has srrv-
"a MS II reporter for London papers in
HE House of Commons since 1857.
writes interestingly in the last numhcr
of l,nlElh"r's Magazine about former
members of the Irish party in lArla
mrnt While in essentials the Irish
party is always the same its faces
change. AS look down
rr;l interesting i,rrSoll;lgc:' c:'-Solnr of
them. indeed great individualitrS
who We're To hc seen amongst them
when first entered the reporters gal
lrry in 1857. One was rather Il "ro-
trS'lur iiyurr--;. h,lrl-back With grim
S;lr''unic face !rMl""u hy Struggling
iron: gray whiSh"rs. His harsh. sharp
cry Of "llr;,r! hear" sounded like the
tones of Il corllrlns". \ yolln" Tory
m"nlirr is mnkin. his maiden speech. |
lIr is shy. dillilrmt. Srlf-cuuScionS In |
his self depreciation h" expresses the
fear that lIr is trrSpaSSr% on tho patti |
rllrr Of the house. "llHr. hear"
cries the little hunrl-hack With the
rugged face. who is gIaring ut him
from the opposite lrnclrS. 1t WAS n
rude Interruptions: but there WAS Il
comic side to il which made IFS brutal
ity less apparent. Besides. that quaint
parsonage wns Il sort of chartered lih
crtinr whose antics the house could
never bring itself to resent. 1t WAS
Joseph GilliS I'igyar.- one of tn" most
remarkable men Ireland has ever sent
To the house of romnonS-thc inventor
of the policy of construction" the sue
ccSSrul use of which made the Irish
party under PnrnrIl II supreme political
force TIL" n,Ilncty of HiggHr as an
| ohStrlIctioniSl was immense. One
| night he came into tn" house StHggcr-
books from the library. Mr. Speak,
en-" said he. ut the opening of his
speech, "in order to save time have
| brought in ut once all the authorities
to which ! propose to- refer" Then
be spoke for four long weary hours.
for the most part quoting irrclrvnntly
from these blue books. His voice I'M
der the ordeal grew weak ntlI husky.
"rhr honorable member" said the ir-
ritutrd speaker. must address the
chair and not talk to himself in that
fashion" Cant you hear mo. MIR.
Speaker" said bggnr in Il tone of pre-
tended surprise. NO. ! cannot hear
YOU" replied the speaker. Then I'll
| move up nearer to you. sir" said the
irrrprcssibc ol,Structionist: and carry
ing his pile of blue books with him,
he crossed the gang-why. and took up
Il position close to the chair.
Gone, too. is that old warrior, the
O'Gormnn Mnhon. "IIOw many chal-
lcngrs to n duel have you acccptcd!'
Gladstone once asked him. mot one
sir" he replied. 81 was always the
challenger" Even in his extreme old
age he was Il magnificent specimen OF
physical humanity. Towering il
height above all his pccrS.-his fint
shock of hair and flowing beard. white
with the SHOWS of eiglIty-SX years
SnrmIOunting Il straight. wcll-prOpOr
toned framr.---lc was at once the tall
est ana oldest man. as well as the
most remarkable looking. in the house
And what boistrOuS fun!--wllat Il
spirit of dcvitry!-rsrd to animate the
late Dr. Tanner. or "Charlcy' as ll'
was Familiarity known. One way il
found vent was in shouting awkward
Interruptions during a bitter attack OF
the Irish party from the government
benches in the famous. years whcl
Arthur BalfOur the present prime
minister. was chief secretary for Ire
land Another Of his antics was tt
cross the floor when Charles Stewar
parncll. John Dillon, or William
OHricm was speaking, and shout him
r self hoHrse in rapturOns Elusc from
the very sanctr iNn of thu
r Tory benches! midst OF
the fierce fis, is,------------------tsh part!
against coerci. got mar
ried under We umstan