PARNELL AND DAVITT.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 571, 17 February 1891, Page 3

PARNELL AND DAVITT.

MR STEAD’S ACCOUNT OF A MOMENTOUS INTERVIEW. In the ‘Review of Reviews’ Mr Stead gives an account of how Mr Parnell deceived Mr Davitt. Captain O’Shea told Mr Stead of his suspicion of Mr Parnell, and that he meant to institute proceedings in the Divorce Court. Michael Davitt, who disbelieved tho statement of Captain O’Shea, said at once, that if it were proved to be true there was ’an end of Mr Parnell’s leadership. The Irish people could not, and would not, follow any man who had offended against one of the most cherished principles of their race. But he said he would not believe it was true until it was proved ; it was too great a disaster for the Irish cause to contemplate, and he would cling to the hope that Mr Parnell was falsely accused. He came over to London to diecues the matter, and was profoundly impressed by the statement which I repeated to him. Shortly after this, when I met Mr Davitt at Mr Thaddeus’ studio, I found him radiant with joy. ‘ Don’t distress yourself,’ said he cheerily. ‘ Don’t distress yourself,

CHABLIE IS ALL BIGHT. There is not a word of truth in all that story Captain O’Shea told you. It has been a great load off my mind.’ ‘But,’ said I, ‘ how do you know ?’ ‘ I know,’ Said Davitt, ' because Mr Parnell told me, and Parnell has never deceived me in his life. Over and over again in these last 10 years I have been in difficult positions with Mr Parnell, when it might have been very much to his interest to have misled me. I never knew him to say a word that was false. I trust him implicitly, ’and when Parnell has given his word, I am quite sure that he speaks the truth.* ‘ Then,’ said I, ‘ you have seen Mr Parnell ?’ ‘ Yes,’ said Davitt, ‘ I met him yesterday, and he came to my hotel—the Arundel Hotel—and remained in my room for nearly three hours. We had a long talk over the whole situation. I told him what you had told me about Captain O'Shea, and he said to me that there was no truth in it. He was most emphatic, most emphatic. I never saw him in better spirits. He told me that the whole thing was

AN INFAMOUS PLOT

on the part of the Times: that he had got evidence to prove that Captain O'Shea was paid by the Times to bring this charge as a tsvenge for the discomfiture that had overtaken them in the case of Pigott; that he had |U his proofs ready, and that, when the case came before the Courts, there would be an exposure of the conspiracy of the ‘ Times ’ and of the enemies of Ireland that would oast i ito the shade even the enormous gain that hid been secured by the exposure of the forged letters.’ I said I was very glad to hear it, but it seemed too good to be true. 1 No,’ said Davitt, 1 there is no doubt about it, Mr Parnell said to me, when I told him I was going over to Ireland, ' You can tell your friends that they need have no fear. Be quite tranquil about this, I will come out of this case

WITHOUT A STAIN UPON MY SAMS and reputation.' ‘And I believe him,’ said Davitt; ‘he has never deceived me yet,' ' Well.’ said I, ‘it may be so ; but are you quite sure that Mr Parnell did not mean that be was going to prove connivance on the part Of Captain O’Shea, and that he was going to marry Mrs O’Shea after the divorce ?’ Then ■aid Davitt, emphatically, ' Nothing of the kind. If Mr Parnell has had anything to do with that woman, if there has been any criminal intimacy whatever, then the worst that Captain O'Shea could say about Mr Parnell’s capacity for falsehood is not too ■trong. You remember that in your character Sketch of Mr Parnell you quote two opinions about his truthfulness. One was by a friend, that was myself, who said Mr Parnell had always spoken truthfully, and bad never deceived him, the other was by an enemy (that was Captain O’Shea), who said that he was the supreme liar of the world. All I can say is this, if Mr Parnell has had anything to do with that woman, then the friend and the fee are of the same opinion. I could never believe that man again.’ Confident in hie belief, Mr Davitt went about in London and Dublin,

BLITHELY REPEATED MR PARNELL’S POSITIVE

ASSURANCE

his complete innocence. He communicated them to Mr Morley among others, and then crossing to Dub in be filled the heart of Archibald Walsh with joy, by repeating to him Mr Parnell’s solemn and reiterated assurances of his stainless innonence. Mr Davitt did not find everyone so ready to believe no evil as the Archbishop, but he convinced everyone of one or two alternatives : either that Mr Parnell was innocent, Or that he had deliberately, cruelly, and wantonly deceived one of the most faithful and upright of men, who more than any Other man among his supporters had a right to be spared the humiliation of being made a victim of such deception.