The Irish standard., 1910-11-05

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When one considers the temperament
Of British parliament in those days,
1t becomes an object of wonder that
Daniel O'Connell was able to pass his
emancipation bill in 1929. He, too,
would have failed had it not been for
the trouble that England had abroad.
O'Connell saw the dilemma England
was in and took advantage of it. He
was arrested and threatened in every
conceivable way by the government
and whenever he addressed an Irish
audience scores of paid government
reporters mingled with the people. So
anxious was the government to secure
evidence against him that he was con-
stantly Swallowed by these unscrupu-
lous hirelings. A good story is told
Of how O'Connell fooled a large num-
Der of London reporters. 1t was an
nounced that he was scheduled to ad-
dress a monster meeting in the west
Of Ireland, and the whole country for
miles around was billed" for the great
gathering. When the day set for the
meeting arrived and the gathering
called to ORDER O'Connell bowed to
the chairman, then the audience and
for several hours he addressed the
people in Gaelic on the question Of
emancipation. Needless to say the
London newspapers of the following
day did not contain one word of O'Con.
nells address on that occasion. Isaac
Butts efforts in behalf of Ireland were
not as successful as he had hoped for,
but he laid the foundation for home
rule, and on that foundation a great
edifice has been constructed. Younger
and stronger hands were needed to
take up and continue the work, and
in 1875 Charles Stewart Parnell en-
tered the house of commons as a mem
Der for Meath. Butt died in 1878,
and the leadership passed for a time
to William Shaw, member for County
Cork, an intelligent, able man and a
good leader. The quiet attitude of
the home rule party was changed to
something more aggressive and as
Mr.. Parnell was the champion of the
change he was selected by his party
as their leader. He was only 81 years
old when he entered parliament.
Charles Stewart Parnell was born in
1846 at Avondale, County Wicklow,
and came of a most illustrious family.
He was descendant of the English
poet Parnell and of the two Parnells,
father and son, John and Henry, who
stood by Grattan to the last in the
struggle against the union. He was
a grandson of Sir Henry Parnell, the
first Lord Congleton, the advanced re-
former He was Protestant and a
member of the Protestant synod. His
maternal grandfather was Admiral
Charles Stewart, the historic COM
mander of the American frigate Con-
stitution. He was educated at private
schools in England and Magdalen COL
lege, Cambridge. On assuming the
leadership of the Irish parliamentary
party Parnell and his noble band of
followers resolved to carry on their
fight for better government in Ireland,
independent of either the two great
English parties. Whenever they found
themselves in position to do or say
much for the advancement of their
own cause they entered into the spirit
Of all debates touching English legisla-
ton. They determined to obstruct the
government at every step, and so we'll
did they succeed that days and even
months were spent on measures pure
ly English without accomplishing any
thing.
The obstructive tactics proved a
thorn of poison in the government
ranks. Parnell often warned the gov
ernment that his party would do all
in their power to battle English legis-
lation as long the government per-
sisted in ignoring the demand of Ire
lands representatives. 1t must not be
supposed that Parnell and his follow
ers opposed every English measure in.
troduced in parliament. On the con.
trary, whenever an opportunity pre-.
sented itself to help a worthy meas
ure along Parnell and. his party were
as much in evidence as those who
sought its passage. In this connection
it may be said that no member of the
house of commons worked harder for
the success of the factories and work
shops bill in 1873 than Mr.. Parnell
Associated with Mr. Parnell were
many true men, whose lives are fitting
example Of undying fortitude and
courage. Love of country was para.
mount in everything. Prison cells had
no terrors for them. They were ready,
If necessary, to lay down their lives
for their country. Chief among these
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