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

so far as TO say, in the words OF Macaulay,
that nothing can be more ridiculous than
the British public In one of its periodical
fits of morality, we could not doubt that
many a British voter would find Il Conscien-
hous excuse for not giving any support
to that Irish national cause about which he
had at no time felt any particular enthusi-
asm." 1t Is well known that Gladstone's
view OF the matter is given in letters OF hts
which John Morley has lately published IN
his life Of the great statesman In one of
these letters, written just before the re-
assembling Of Parliament, he says while
clinging to the hope Of a communication
from Mr. Parnell, TO whomsoever addressed,
/ thought 1t necessary, considering the
arrangement for the commencement Of the
session Tomorrow. to acquaint MIR, McCar
thy with the conclusion at which, after
using all the means of observation and re-
Election in my power. | had myself arrived.
1t. was that, notwithstanding the splendid
service rendered by Mr.. Parnell TO his coun-
try. his continuance at the present moment
in the leadership lof the Nationalist partyl
would be productive of consequences dis
astrous in the highest degree to the cause
Of Ireland There has been a good deal
of discussion about the communication
made 10y Gladstone 10 Mr. Mccarthy and
about the course the latter adopted with
regard To it, lie tells us that sat the
earliest possible opportunity made Parnell
acquainted with Gladstone's views and
wishes. and | took some of my leading col
leagues into my confidence on the subject.
Our great difficulty was TO avoid impressing
on Parnel the idea that Gladstone was
assuming toward him something of a dcta-
torial position, which certainly was not In
GladstOne's mind, but which, II too much
pressure were brought to bear. Parnen
might regard in such light and be dis
posed 10 resent" For a while it was not
easy 20 come 10 any clear idea IA to the
policy Parnell meant TO adopt but sud
denly he informed our author that it was
his intention TO issue manifesto con
demnng Gladstone, the Liberal party in
general. the British Noncomfornists in
particular. and the whole British public
more or less. for a course Of action which
he declared 70 be directed against the
independence of the Irish party and the
Irish people. Mr. Mccarthy. on his part,
was convinced that If such manifesto
were issued on the authority of Parnell
ana tnt lew fDltuBNfH VIM tfoh ms wow
on the subject the result must inevitably
be an immediate break up in the Irish
Nationalist party.
He pressed these opinions on Parnell as
earnestly az he could but fall his efforts
could secure no further concession than
a consent TO postpone the issue Of n mani
festo for twenty-four hours. He says:
during that short intervening period |
saw Parnell more than once, and | believe
some OF my colleagues also saw him and
tried to impress upon him their opinions.
which were the SAME as my own Nothing
came Of our efforts and the manifesto was
given TO the world The effect was con-
elusive so far as the unity of the party
was concerned. for the time, The large
Of my colleagues felt a. | did
that We could not consent at such moment
to follow n leader who had. without any
attempt TO obtain the concurrence of the
whole party, taken a step which seemed
fatal TO all the present hopes of the Irish
cause Then followed the meet
ing of the Nationalist members Of Parlia-
ment in Committee Room Fifteen" which |
resulted in the selection OF Mr.. Mccarthy |
AZ the leader of the larger section Of the |
Home Rule organization.
Looking back upon the painful story. |
it is Mr. McCarthy's firm belief that If /
Parnell had only been prevailed upon to |
keep out Of public life for a time, even al |
though he had still remained the nominal /
leader OF the Irish party. there would have |
been NJ division in the Nationalist ranks or in |
The country, and the progress of Ireand's !
great cause would have met with no in |
A. ,,I. II
interval Of rest might have enabled Par |
nell to keep his strength and health. to |
return TO public life after his marriage, |
aud 10 succeed In carrying that cause he
mad done 80 much 10 advance, and TO re-
oice over its triumph. II was not or
iained that events should take so happy |
1 course. -Parnell followed his own ideas,
walked IN his own wild road whithersoever |
hat led him. and it led him 10 his death. l |
Jaw him for the last time scarcely three /
weeks before he died. He called on me |
-ather late one night at my house in Cheyne
iardens Chelsea, and we had long talk !
,ver political events and prospects, and on
many other subjects and we talked as
trends for all that had come and gone
,lr Mccarthy goes on TO testify that he
ias always regarded Parnell as one Of the
greatest statesman of his time. One work
# unspcakable value which he accom-
,iishcd was that he taught the Irish
people not to waste their strength their
ropes and their lives in futile attempts
o maintain an discretionary struggle
gainst the overwhelming force Of England
md showed them how the English consti-
ution itself supplied them with tue best
under the guidance of such
nan as he. for accomplishing the triumph
# their national cause No Irish party
II the House Of Commons ever had any
hing like the strength and the efficiency
which the Irish party under Parnell's leader
hip enjoyed for 20 many years, enjoys
nee again, now that it is again united.
nd nigh, never have enjoyed II Parnell
lad not come up to show how the work
vas 70 be done. His name will he remem-
,ered forever in the history OF Ireland
VIII.
IL Will be remembered that on the first
4 March 1924. Mr. Gladstone delivered his
asst speech in the House Of Commons
hat speech did not distinctly announce
hat his resignation Of his seat in Parlia-
nent was to follow at once, but some mem
,ers Of the House had already reason to