The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-07-09

government to Ireland. He introduced
his first home rule bill on April Sth of
the year named. Mr.. Davitt regards
the speech in which the aim, the scope
and the justification of the measure
We're expounded as probably the great
est oratorical achievement of Mr..
Gladstone's parliamentary career. For
listening Irishmen the speech marked
an hour of eXultation, and registered
a sanguine hope. The greatest and
most popular statesman who had ever
welded the power and influence of
British premier not only renowned
coercion forever as discredited and
defeated means Of ruling Ireland. but
in the hearing of the civilized world,
confessed that the act of union had
been born in corruption and infamy,
and ought to be swept away, to make
place for Il government of Ireland by
the chosen representatives of the Irish
people. The aged stateSman's cour-
age and chivalry in thus devoting the
closing years of his life to the righting
of an ancient and still operating
wrong was generally recognized in all
but narrow minds, and the good
wishes of the friends of liberty and
progress everywhere encouraged him
in his difficult task. How difficult
task he had cssayed was soon made
deserted, not only by Lord Harrington
and by most of the Wing landlords,
but even by such Radical lieutenants
as Joseph Chamberlain and John
Bright who had been confidently eX-
pected to uphold the effort to do Ire
land justice. The bill. it is we'll
known, was beaten-though only by q
majority Of thirty in a house of 656
members. Looking back upon the sit
uation in June, 1886. Mr.. Davitt now
recognizes that the causes which oper-
atcd against Mr.. Gladstones first
home rule bill We're these: 1.-The un-
preparedness of the English mind for
the idea of Il separate parliament for
Ireland: the INSCRIPTIONS tactics of
the Tories ana their organizations in
appealing to the forces of political fear
and religious bigotry; the dead weight
of GladStonc's concOmitant land pur-
chase scheme, the boiling of Harting-
ton ana Chamberlain from the Liberal
party, and the irritation caused in the
minds of IL large section of English
and Scotch Radicals Mt the support
given by Irish voters in Great Britain
to Tory candidates at the previous
general election" 1t may be remem-
bcrcd that Tory candidates We're sup
ported by Irish voters in British con-
Stitucncios in conformity to a peremp-
tory mandate given by Mr.. parnell,
against the issuance of which Mr..
Davitt had earnestly and publicly pro-
tested.
".
1t is we'll known that the so-callcd
Great InquiStion." conducted by Il
special commission. into the charges
brought against Parnell by the Lon
don Times. in the articles collectively
entitled "Parnrllisln and Crime" re-
suited in an impressive moral victory
for the Irish leader, owing to Pigotts
confession that he had forged the in
criminating letters published by that
newspapcr-a confession sealed by
suicide. Mr.. Davitt dcvotcs two
chapters to the forgcr's career. Scarce
~, however. had Mr.. Parnell's vim
dication been assured and acclaimed,
when the shadow of impending dis
aster fell across the bright prospects
Of home rule. On the morning of
Monday. December Both, 1880. the
world of politics was startled at the
news that Capt. O'Shea had filed Il
petition for divorce against his wife,
and that Mr.. Parnell was named as the
correspondent in the case. On the 18th
and 18th of November, 1890, the petit
ton was heard before London jury.
1t was not defended by the wife nor
by Mr.. Parnell, and on the day last
named verdict was rendered against
the correspondent. There had been
one and only one plea on which some
eXtenuation of the laison could be Of
fered, and no attempt had been made
to put it forward-the connivance of
the husband at the misconduct of the
wife. What followed Is narrated in a
chapter which bears the appropriate
title Of Samson Agonistes." The ques-
ton of what Parnell would do in the
event of verdict being rendered
against him had exercised the minds
of friends and foes for some weeks be.
fore the trial. Mr.. Davitt's comment
on the situation presented runs rs fol-
lows: "Again the timid temporizing
spirit which had been evinced in the
Nationalist party, and among its con
stituents in Ireland also, did mischief
to him it was meant to serve. There
| must be no English dictation,' 1--WE
will stand by our leader and Other
thoughtless bravado did duty in the
press and on the platform for common
sense and sane craftsmanship. There
was no issue of the kind at stake, bu
| simply one affecting Mr. pnrnnll,s OWL