The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-08-02


ut Nice. but after the death OF his father
in 1857 they returned to England and settled
at Torquay. moving later to Kingstowu.
Edward Saunderson was to come Of
age at IS (1se2). up to which time his
Irish property remained in the hands Of
trustees. In the year named he settled
at Castle Saunderson with his mother and
q sister and proceeded to enjoy life with
zest. In 1895 he married the Hon. Helena
de Moleyns. youngest daughter OF the
third Lord Ventry. Soon afterward he
stood successfully for his native county
(Cavan). and at the G Of 20 We fnd him
O Member Of Parliament. He was at this
time q Liberal, but he had no scruplcs
about voting against his leader when
his sympathies were with the Opposition
and he was generally associated with those
Liberals who were inclined to gather about
Mr.. Lowe in the Cave Of Adullam. In
1869 he voted against Mr.. Gladstone's bill
for the disestablishment OF the Anglican
Church in Ireland. For some time after
ward S~aunderson took no active part in
Parliament n In 1874 made up his mind
not to seek reelection. The Home Rule
movement, however. had begun to acquire
momentum, and he was persuaded to oppose
Its candidate. but was beaten. For some
years thereafter he led the life OF a country
gentleman, but In 1882. although still
nominally q Liberal, he became an Orange
man. He remained q member Of Brooks
Club until 1890. but in 1880 he Joined the
Carlton Club. 80 that for four years he
had q foot in each camp. In 1885 he was
an anti-Home Ruler first and everything
else a~fterward, and he seems to have re-
tanned that attitude until the end. In one
Of his last speeches. delivered at Portadown
in January. 1905. some. ten months before
he died, he said that he did not coma
as O Tory. for he never was q Tory; nor as a
Conservative, because he never was one:
nor as q Liberal. because the word had
no meaning for him. He came there as a
Unionist.
At the general election Of 1885 Saunder-
son stood for North Armagh and was
elected. In the ensuing Parliament he
assumed the position by which he was to
be distinguished. He appears forthwith
TO have taken unchallenged the Leadership
OF the sixteen enti-Home Rulers returned
from Ulster. He often said in later years
that he had been induced to 60 back to
Parliament by his observation OF the lack
OF debating power on the part Of the Irish
Loyalists and by his conviction that he
could supply the deficiency. At the general
election OF June. 1885. his own seat was safe
and he devoted most OF his energy to Bel
fast. We need not follow Col. saunderson
through the remainder OF his Parliamentary
career, during which he never swerved from
the attitude Of vehement opposition to the
legislative Independence Of Ireland. In his
b%iographer's Judgment 1t would have been
well IL the Colonel's political record could
have come to an end in the summer OF 1902.
had been upon the whole In hearty accord
with the English leaders of the Unionist
party. For the few years left to him 1t was
his fate to be involved In constant conflict
with the friends Of his own political house.
hold and to watch with angry apprehen-
sion not only the Vaccinations Of the United
Irish League but the policy Of the Unionist
Irish Government. Owing to illness he
was unable to take any part in Parliament
during the early months Of 1905. Q fact which
in his biographer's opinion oannot be re-
GREETED. The tension between the Ulst,r
party and the Unionist Government was
then at its highest pressure,
When he returned to the House Of Com
mons on June /, 1905. his ~reappearanoe was
the signal for q general cheer. In which his
Nationalist foes joined cordially. Never
theless, before tho evening was over he was
attacking them with his old spirit. After
Mr.. Walter Long. however, became Chief
Secretary for Ireland. q sincere ~reconcilia-
ton between tho Ulster members and the
Unionist Government took place. In tn,
general election OF December, 1905. Saun-
derson was returned nopposed. He had
first entered Parliament forty years earlier
in the old days Of Wing and Tory. while
Palmerston was yet alive; before Home
Rule was a watchword, or q Labor party
had entered into the mind Of man. Never
theless. he told the electors Of Portadown
in january. 1908, that to his mind the gen.
eral election then drawing to a close was
the most important 80 far as tho destinies
Of Great Britai in were concerned that he
mad ever taken part in sine 1895. In the
ensuing February he moved an amendment
to the address expressing the alarm in.
spired in his Majesty's most loyal subjects
by tho promise Of interferer oe with the
system Of government in ireland. 1t was
the last Of his set speeches against Homo
Rule. In a letter which appe-r,1 in h,
Times on October 20. 1907. tia day beforo
his death, he reasserted his determination
to resist any step in tho direction Of Irish
independence, and said that tho result n
county government in Ireland Ind b"ca
to remove all Protestants and uniof!st7.
himself included. from local administration
and to install Roman Catholics and National
lists instead.
No one would pretend that as an orator
Col. Saunderson evinced tho genius which
ono associates with the name OF Sheridan
or Burke or Richard Labor Shell. Never
theless no was ono Of tho most forceful
speakers Of his own generation. Ite vas
essentially a man Of action and indlsputably
impressed oil those who camc near him In
a remarkable manner. and loft them con-
scious Of some extinction Of vitality whom
thoy knew that they should sec him no
more. In Ireland his name will not DO for
gotten: and the statue which IL to be raised
Portadown to commemorate the work
which he performed will serve as an exam
pie to generations Of loyal fishermen.
ICE FOR THE CHOCOLATES.