New-York tribune., 1918-03-08
By P. w. Wilson
t The London DniLu Nelrs

W NC EOUltOU DuttU 1NcWc
What startles us in John Redmond's
death is it's apparent suddenness. Yet
he had been ailing a long time, and
when l last saw him in the House Of
Commons his face had grown thinner
it had, as it were, fallen from its
old fresh fulness. The fact was that
he had become so obviously an insti-
tuition that, as in the case of our
present Speaker, Lowther, people could
not imagine the landscape without
him.
Broad and massive, he stood four
square to all the winds that blew,
whether blasts from Ulster, hurri-
canes from Germany or sharp gusts
from Tim Healy. His shoulders seemed
to be big enough for all the burdens
Of Ireland, and at the worst Of times
he never staggered. Yet he died of
a broken heart.
For years his friends knew that he
had a presentment that he would never
see Home Rule carried. And so it
has come about. There has been the
provcrbial slip between cup and lip.
The story Of Redmond is, of course.
that as young man he took his scat
in Parliament. made his maiden speech
and was suspended on one day. hat
foreshadowcd stormy career which
seemed likely to be fulfilled when
Redmond followed Parncll to death
and aftcrward led party of eight
against the majority of Nationalists.
An Oratorical Triumph
Then it was that | first heard him
speak at the Cambridge Union Society,
where great gladiators made sport for
us undergraduates. Redmond fully e%-
pected that We would howl him down,
which was not our way with honorcd
guests, and before the evening was
over he mad achieved one OF the big
gest oratorical triumps Of his career.
Feeling was so strong against Home
Rule at that time that Lord Crcwc him
self. visiting n debating club at one
Of our big schools, Uppingham, could
only get one boy to vote with him,
and he was the youth who, against his
convictions, had been put up to second
! the motion. Yet at Cambridge. Red
mond polcd 1870 votes to 220 for the
I hated bill losing by only 40 in a
house Of 400
Gradually he became the leader oc
and EIcaly always on one flank, while
/ the Orangcmcn were on the other. AS
years passed it became clear, even to
Ulster, that Redmond was not rebel
or radical, but simply small land
owner who happened to be Roman
Catholic, and TO believe in a leglsia
turc for his own country. His states
manship was as cautious as Mr.. AS
quiths or Lord Salisbury's, and as he
travelled his view broadcned, until he
became, in the best sense, imperial.
Disarmcd the Critics
His speeches were carefully prepared
and delivered from full notes, though
with fine manner which completely dis
armed the critics who hinted that he
read. He always commanded good
house. He was always important
And he leaves US at the zenith Of a
great parliamentary reputation.
| am not one who thinks that this
great man has failed. When his leader
ship began. twenty years ago, Hon c
Rule vas forlorn hoIc, dscrcditcu
and some would say almost disgraced
while Gladstone, its champion, had
ceased to be. Redmond leaves Homo
Rule on the statute book, the accepted
policy Of all responsible parties and
statesmen impossible TO annul, to can
eel or TO revoke.
Historically it. will always be n .ques
ton 1yhether in 1914 he ought not te
have Insisted then and there on self
government coming into force. iliI
view would bc. think. that delay
which brings in Northeast Ulster b,
her own consent. is fully worth while
} and IN any event hc wea not prepare