Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1890-11-29 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

PARNELL'S LEADERSHIP.  ACTION OF THE IRISH PARTY.  REPUDIATION BY MR. GLADSTONE.  The Irish members belonging to the Home Rule Party held their usual meeting on Tuesday after the reading of the Queen's Speech, when Mr. Parnell was unanimously re-elected chairman. In accepting the position Mr. Parnell confined his observations almost entirely to the policy which the party should pursue in the House of Commons. The member for Cork subsequently had an interview with Mr. John Morley, who communicated to him the following letter from Mr. Gladstone: "1 Carlton Gardens, November 24th, 1890.  "My dear Morley, "Having arrived at a certain conclusion with regard to the continuance at the present moment of Mr. Parnell's leadership of the Irish Party, I have seen Mr. McCarthy on my arrival in town and have inquired from him whether I was likely to receive from Mr. Parnell himself any communication on the subject. Mr. McCarthy replied that he was unable to give me any communication on the subject,. I mentioned to him that in 1882, after the terrible murder in the Plicenix Park, Mr. Parnell, although totally removed from any idea of responsibility, had spontaneously written to me and offered to take the Chiltern Hundreds, an offer much to his honour, but one which I thought it my duty to decline.  "While clinging to the hope of a communication from Mr. Parnell, to whomsoever addressed, I thought it necessary, viewing the arrangements for the commencement of the Session to-morrow, to acquaint Mr. McCarthy with the conclusion at which, after using all the means of observation and reflection in my power, I had myself arrived. It was that, notwithstanding the splendid services rendered by Mr. Parnell to his country, his continuance at the present moment in the leadership would be productive of consequences disastrous in the highest degree to the cause of Ireland. I think I may be warranted in asking you so far to expWn the conclusion I have given above as to add that the continuance which I speak of would not only place many hearty and effective friends of the Irish cause in a position of great embarrassment, but would render my retention of the leadership of the Liberal party, based as it has been mainly upon the prosecution of the Irish cause, almost a nullity. . _ .  "This explanation of my own-view I begged Mr. McCarthy to regard as confidential, and not intended for his colleagues generally, if he found that Mr. Parnell contemplated spontaneous action. But I also begged that he would make known to the Irish party at their meeting to-morrow afternoon that such was my conclusion if he should find that Mr. Parnell had not in contemplation any step of the nature indicated.  "I now write to you in case Mr. McCarthy should be unable to communicate with Mr. Parnell, as I understand you may possibly have an opening to. nforrow through another channel. Should you have such an opening I would beg you to make known to Mr. Parnell the cmclusion itself, which I have stated in the earlier part of this letter. I have thought it best to put it in terms simple and direct, much as I should have desired, had it been within my power, to alleviate the painful nature of the situation. As respects the manner of conveying what my public duty has made it an obligation to say, I rely entirely on your good feeling, tact, and judgment. "Believe me, "Sincerely yours, "W. E. ULArToN.  "Right Hon. Jan Morley, M.P." A second meeting of the Irish members was held in the evening, at which Mr. Gladstone's letter to Mr. John Morley was read and discussed. Owing to the absence of Mr. l'arnell it was decided to adjourn the meeting until the following day.