South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-06
BEHIND THE SCENES
With Rulers and Leaders of Wartime Ezrope
By the Princess Rddziwin
Copyright


much respected. even by his politi-
cal adversaries. and ne was never
the object OF the blind alteration and
equally blind criticism such as was
bestowed on Parnen. One liked
him, too, in parliamentary circles.
in spite Of a certain vehemence from
which he never could quite rid him
self whenever he was deeply moved
by something or other. when he
suddenly became scornful and bit
ter TO an extent he perhaps did not
realize himself But even at such
times, Redmond remained truthful.
and the great sense Of justice which
was one OF his characteristics never
left him, however. much he may
have been excited or irritated. He
disdained eliminating his adver-
saries, and contented himself with
Staying them whenever he found the
opportunity for doing so.
IL was said that he had tried very
hard TO separate Parnell from Mrs.
O'Shea and that the latter had
never forgiven him for doing so. She
did not send him an invitation 10 be
present at the funeral Of the great
Irish patriot, a fact which he Bit
terly resented. but which he abb
stained from blaming in ublic. out
Of respect for his friends memory.
This last was in accordance with the
general kindness of his character.
bat unfortunately it was not appre-
ciated as it ought TO have been.
last Events i'm Ireland.
The last events o. which Ireland
was the theater profoundly affected
Mr. Redmond. a fact OF which ne
made no secret. Before dying he
is reported to have said that his
heart was broken, and one can well
believe it. because all his hopes and
aspirations were ruthlessly slain by
the course which events had taken
in relation TO his beloved Erin, of
whose future he owned that he
sometimes despaired. The Dublin
riots had shattered his constitution.
and the treason of Sir Roger Case
ment had also deeply grieved him.
In his way John Redmond was as
sincere an English patriot as he was
an Irish one. and the imperiaIistic
idea had found a willing echo in his
heart. He accepted the war with
all the sacrifices that il naturally
entailed from a purely English point
OF view, the point Of view of an
English citizen, not of an Irish pa
triot. and therein lies the great
difference between his character and
those of other Irish agitators.
Mr.. Redmond was not an agita-
tor, and he had no disposition at all
&c become a demagogue. in spite of
the eloquence of his appeals for
liberty to be granted TO the Irish
people. He had far more practical
| sense of the realities Of life than
( most mer of his generation and
he Tut it TO good Use during all the
vicissitudes OF a political career.
which, If only on account of the
number of years during which il es-
= blished itself, had contrived TO
command the respect of friends and
of foes alike.
It will be most difficult TO fill his
place or to find for the Irish party
a leader in possessions of the great
authority he had al length acquired
over il. Without the briIliancy of
Parnell. without the genius Of Lord
Russell of Killowen, without even
any Of the qualities possessed by
most members of the Irish party.
/ Redmond found himself more pop
ular than any of these two men. I
will add that he was human with a
! sense of humor, and this is indeed
the secret Of many of his successes.
successes which were. always de-
| served. even when not sympathetic
TO the feelings of the majority.