The New York herald., 1922-12-10
GIadstone's Praise of HeaIy
On Irish Land Bill of 1881

Tim Healy permanently established
his Parliamentary reputation by his
brilliancy in the debates upon the
Irish land bill of 1891. a brilliancy that
forced the admiration OF his enemies,
including, notably, Gladstone, who
afterward said that Healy was one Of
the four only men who thoroughly
understood that highly complicated
measure. "And Of these four" said
Gladstone, "Healy was the only one
who gained complete mastery of all
the bills details" BY the famous
Healy clause, which he had inserted
in the bill In committee, a clause
which provided retrospectively that
the landlord could not benefit by any
of the tenants improvements, the
brilliant young member linked his
name with the noted bill through a
quarter of n century succeeding.
1t was the occasion of this land bill,
of 1881 which first showed Healy pub
licly kicking over the political traces.
While Parnell and his party, resolved
not to be content with this bill, pur-
posely abstained from attendance at
Westminster when ii was being ham,
mered out on the Parliamentary anvil,
Healy, in defiance Of the party order.
remained all alone to fight and work
over the BILL and incidentally win for
himself lasting Parliamentary fame.
OF course Tins most memorable
and most daring show oSfndependence
was at the notorious Galway election
Of 's6-where Parnell foisted upon the
ov.A Of
his paramour. On that memorable oc-
casion, when none else would take his
life in his hands and oppose Parnell,
Tim Healy and Joe Biggar. without a
moments hesitation, rushed to Galway
and publicly threw off their coats to
fight their leader. It was t. +.
O'Connor who, becoming first ac-
auainted with the shocking news OF
what Parnell was going to do upon
Galway. sped from London to Ireland
to start the opposition. In Dublin.
OConnor stirred and inflamed Biggar
and Healy with the intelligence. and
having seen those gladiators off to
Galway. sat him down then under his
considering cap, and came to the
prudent conclusion that II was maybe
wiser to line up on the side OF the
man with the big hatchet. So OCon-
nor Joined Parnell to go to Galway TO
canvass for OShea.
Healy and Biggar worked up Cal
way to a hot pitch. and got them to
put forward Lynch. a local man,
against O'Shea. They bluntly told
their audiences that Mrs. O'Shea was
parnell's mistress--that being the first
time the intrigue was made public.
The brutally frank Biggar wrote
telegram addressed to Parnell. say
ing: Mrs O'Shea viii ruin you.'
The somewhat more diplomatic Tim,
getting hold OF the message before 1t
was dispatched moderated tho infor-
nation into. 'srhe O'Sheas will ruin
YOU" When Parnell arrived In CAL
way with O'Shea, he was greeted by
the first frowning. growing crowd he
had ever encountered In ireland. II
Just forbore attacking Parnell. but
had II got Its fingers upon OShca II
would have torn him in shreds. Par
nell passed on to his hotel. with the
growing crowd dogging his heels,
summoned Tim and Joe to his room.
showed them that by their opposition
they jeopardized the party and jeop-
ardized the great Home Rule Bill then
pending. and warned them he would
not give up though the people should
kick him through the streets OF Cal
way. knowing his Parnell, Healy had
to resign himself 10 fate and advise
the withdrawal OF Lynch. But the
stubborn Belfast porkman refused his
compliance. "All work flor Muster
Lynch" Joe said, "if Am the only
boldly In all Galway to do it"
Parnell, addressing the crowd from
tho hotel window said: You want
to smash me? Well, hold a Parlia-
inent for you in the hollow Of my
hand. IL YOU smash me, you forever