New-York tribune., 1914-11-28
PARNELL
Katharine O'Shea's Defence
of the Leader.

CHARLES STEWART PARNEIL His Lovo story
sud Political Life. BJ Katharine O'SAea tNIrs
volumes $50 ~ wi. 2j9. 275. The George H.
Doran Company.
Published in England last spring,
Mrs. Parnell's story Of her share IN
the life and political fortunes Of the
great Irish leader, whose wife she was
for so brief span, created sensation
that made il undoubtedly the most I'M
portant biography published IN many
years. The question of the wisdom or
good taste of giving to the world this,
one Of the great love stories Of his
tory, was soon forgotten in the more
heated discussion Of the charges made
by it's author against more than one
English Liberal statesman, but chiefly
against Gladstone. the Grand Old
Spider" as, 1t seems, Parnell was wont
to call him. The charge brought
against him was that of hypocrisy, OF
tolerance Of the irregular relation eX-
isting between Parnell and Mrs.
O'Shes as she then was) for the sake
of political expediency. Gladstone
knew of the affair, Mrs. Parnell IN
sists; he knew that she was far more
to the Uncrowned King than his friend
and safe and discreet messenger 10 the
British Premier. His horror at the
facts when the divorce suit brought by
CAPTAIN O'Shea made all further con
cealment impossible was only pretend
ed for the sake of its effect upon the
Nonconformist conscience and It's
votes. Il was for this reason, not be-
cause he had ignored the true state OF
affairs, or was morally shocked by
them. that Gladstone threw Parnell ITO
the wolves" So says his widow; and
there the charge rests. II has not yet
been threshed out IN England. Like so
many other questions of the hour It's
discussion will have TO wait upon the
issue of the vital struggle for con-
tinued national life in which England
is now engaged
As for the question of the wisdom or
the good taste of the publication OF
this book. that may be dismissed as no
longer 70 the point. Il has been pub
II he'd, il now appears IN an Amer can
edition, and il only remains. therefore
TO repeat what has just been said, that,
with all it's barring OF things sacred
and intimate and furtive and repellant,
this will remain one Of the great love
stories of history. told with an intense
conviction Of the supreme right OF
love. with an acceptance OF MS IN
evitableness that carries conviction
the very conviction Of the guidance Of
the hand of fate which Parneil himse't
expressed % Mrs O'Shea 10 the early
days Of their companionship:
I had fought against our love;
hut Parnel woul rot fight, and !
was alone. had urged my chill.
dren and his work, but he answered
me. For good or for jll. am your
husband. YOUR lover your children,
your an. And ( viii give my life 20
Ireland. but 20 you | give my love,
whether it be your heaven or your
hell. Il is destiny. When I"st
looked into your eyes | knew
Mrs. Parnell broke the silence which
She had kept since her second hus-
bands death at the request of her son,
Gerard II. ". O'Shea, and Ir defence OF
the honor of her first husband Captain
o Shea VIII ch had been attacked by dr.
William O'Brien iu the cork Free
Press" "The Irish leader so d this
onetime follower of his, would have
been shown 20 be rather the Eict.m
than the destroyer of q happy home
This insinuation that Captain O'Shea
was q complsisant husband Mrs. Par
neU has erdeavored 90 dlsprove, but
with measure OF success that leaves
annie room tor doubt. That the cap
tain's political fortunes were very much
in her mind during the earliest Gays OF
her acdua ntance with ParneN is un-
mistakable In 1880. when she had only
lust met him. "he promised that me
would DO his best to keep Willie in
Parliament. and to Secure County care
for him should the occasion arse
Then there was the challenge 20 "a duel
or her account. which was recalled,
and thereafter repeated reliance on the
part Of the husband upon the help and
tn influence Of the leader.
Of Parnell the man his widow draws
an intimate picture. which, however,
leaves the outl ne of the worlds con
ception of his character unchanged. A
man who tolerated no intimates, who
apparently chose 20 have no friends,
who despised his followers and ruled
them with a merciless hand. He loved
Ireland and the Irish people, and
served them. but Of his affection tor
Irishmen no proof can be found here.
There seems to have been a trace OF
brutality in him. but, then, his brother
tells US that he was painfully shy
wherefore the brutality may have been
only an armor put on in self-detence
unit it could no longer be laid aside
at will. In his superstItions Parnell
seems 10 have been true son OF the
race, although nothing more un-lrlsn
than his fear Of gre as unlucky
could noeeiblv no imapined