The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-08
VI

~ was IN the early pAIV OF 1873 tHdt WI
Mccarthy entered Parliament as the Ma
tionalist representative of Longford county.
Mr.. Charles Stewart Parnell who had been
four years in the House Of Commons, had
already made his mark by endeavoring
10 introduce an entirely new system OF
policy and Of tactics Isaac Butt, who was
then the leader Of the Irish Home Rule party.
was politician OF the old school, filed with
o spirit OF Difference for all the traditional
methods and forms Of the House of Com
mons, and anxious that his party should
show itself thoroughly amenable 10 the
authorities and the usaRes of the Chamber.
Parnelfs firm belief, on the other hand
was that the only course for the Irish Par
liamentary party 10 pursue was To compel
the attention of the whole country to the
national claims Of Ireland. His desire was
to make it clear to the House OF Commons
and to the country that il the House would
not give its due consideration'to the claims
urged by the Irish members. then the Irish
members would allow no other work TO he
done. We hive described Mr.. Parnells
system as new and MIR, Mccarthy shows
that it was 80 in this sense.
in the days before Parnell had come to
the front the policy Of obstruction was
only put into practice at rare intervals
and when some exceptional occasion arose
which one OF other political party might
regard az justification for resisting 10y
every constitutional means the action OF
the Government Our history is full OF
instances in which illustrious leaders Of
the Opposition have felt themselves war
ranted in opposing the passage Of some
particular measure 10y means OF unmitgated,
although strictly constitutional, ots1ruc-
ton But the novelty in the Irish case
was that Parnell for the first time adopted
the idea Of resisting systematically ererp
measure brought in by the Administration.
unless or until the whole claims Of Ireland
should obtain a fair hearing Parnel was
convinced that IL by such a policy the
attention OF the whole English people
should he aroused or even startled into a
knowledge Of the fact that Ireland had
some claims 70 press which abe would not
abandon, the effect would be in the end
90 obtain hearing for the Irish cause
from all reasonable Englishnen, and thus
secure before long recognition OF the
Justice of Ireand's demands
chapter Of this book Ia devoted 10 The
FnTnpl comm SSlOns DIT Mfi drtiN re-
calls that the manner in which the House
OF Commons as "A whole interpreted the
report of the commission WIS illustrated
most effectively by the reception given 10
Parnel when, after the close Of the com
mission. he made his first appearance there.
-Parnell came In rather late that evening,
and the House was crowded. The moment
be made his appearance the whole Of the
Liberal party. then III opposition, rose up
~ welcome him, and many Of the members
Of the Conservative side sprsng TO their
feet and joined in the welcome il need
not be said that all the Irish Nationalist
members stood up and bore their part ia
this remarkable demonstration The cheer.
ing was again and agnin renewed. 1t was.
indeed, display Of many feelings on the
part Of those who paid their tribute OF
respect to the leader Of the Irish pnrty.
Men felt that, however they might differ
from Parnell in political creed, he had
been fully acquitted Of unjust charge.
and that II WINS due as well TO themselves
as to him that they should in this striking
fashion express their honest sentiments"
Our author thinks that IL tbs career OF
Charles Stewart Parnell had come 10 n
close soon after that memorable scene in
the House OF Commons it would have
been better for hiG own fame and for the
cause Of his country.