The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY, AND Saturday Morning. Saturday, October 10, 1891. OFF THE SCENE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 670, 10 October 1891, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY, AND Saturday Morning.

Saturday, October 10, 1891. OFF THE SCENE.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim’et at be thy country’s, Thy God’s, and truth’s.

The hand of Death has within the past few days made its mark severely felt in the domain of politics. First, on the Conservative side, we have word of the sudden death of Mr W. H. Smith, the leader of the House of Commons; then of the equally sudden cutting off of Mr Charles Stewart Parnell, the great champion of Home Rule for Ireland, and following closejupon the same news comes word of the death of Sir John

Pope Hennessy, the man who recently defeated Mr Parnell’s nominee in the great Kilkenny contest. That contest was generally considered the deciding point in Mr Parnell's career, and to be a proof whether or not his popularity could survive the shock which had been given it by the O’Shea scandal. The election was one of the bitterest that has been fought in recent times, and recalling it now, when the two principals—Parnell was really a principal—have quitted the scene for ever, one has much to reflect on. Mr W. H. Smith, the leader of the House of Commons, was a man in strong contrast to Mr Parnell. He did not secure many enthusiastic admirers of his taients, for he was possessed of no brilliancy, but what he lost in one respect he gained in another—he had few, if any enemies. He was of the quiet plodding sort; had worked his way up from a publisher, and though he had acted as Conservative leader of the House during some very fierce periods in political warfare, he kept on the even tenor of his way, believing more in the effectiveness of silence to overcome a turbulent opponent than in joining in the wordy warfare. He was no match in debate for such men as Parnell, but he nevertheless made an excellent leader. When the Times says that he cannot be replaced, it is uttering nonsense, but he had qualities which specially fitted him for the position, and succeeded where a cleverer man might have been a rank failure. Mr Parnell's history is familiar to everyone who has taken an interest in politics. He first sprang into notice when he joined with the late Joseph Biggar, the dogged Irishman who cared not a jot for the ignominy sought to be cast on him by the other members of the House of Commons; they felt that Biggar’s very presence in the House was a detestable thing, and their rancor became more pronounced as the brilliant young Parnell and Mr Biggar soon made themselves masters in the art of Parliamentary warfare, and could at will almost paralyse the business, and thus extort many concessions to their side. As the pair drew many recruits to their little party, the anger of both the great political parties could not be concealed, until in course of time the new power had to be recognised, Irish grievances at least got some sort of a hearing, and big bids were - made for the solid Irish vote in the House.

Parnell’s father was an Irishman, and a descendant of Parnell who steadily stood by Grattan, His mother was the daughter of the American Commodore Stewart, better known for his bravery as “ Old Ironsides." Parnell bore a strong resemblance to his American ancestors, and partialy owes to them the even temperament, the cool judgment, the unflinching courage, and dogged determination which was the secret of his success. Born in Avondale, County Wicklow, in 1846, he was educated in England, and travelled in America until 1871, when he returned to Avondale. In 1875 he was elected for Meath. In 1879, in the ace a threatened Irish famine, the Land League was formed, and Parnell elected as President, and he was sent to America to collect funds. While in Montreal he heard of the fall of Beaconsfield’s Government. He immediately rushed back to Ireland, and fought the election on the Land League platform. Sixty-eight men were returned as nominal Home Rulers, of whom Parnell was elected leader. It was about this time that Gladstone uttered the now historical words that Parnell was “ marching through rapine to the dismemberment' of the Empire." In 1881 followed the famous arrest of Parnell and other leaguers. Then came their release, closely followed by the Phcenix Park tragedy, which came as a crushing blow to Irish hopes. The year XSBS found Mr Gladstone converted to the Irish cause, and from 1886 Parnell’s Nationalists steadily increased. In 1887 came the famous Piggott forgeries, followed by the historical Parnell Commission, y/hich only recently finished its labors. The rest is well known. No man since the union had brought Irish hopes pf independence nearer to fulfilrrjerjt, when the work of a life time was thrown away by one false step. Parnell, after scenes unrivalled in history, was sorrowfully dethroned, fighting bravely all the while against his fate: then Death declared against him and the battle was lost, It is a true saying that a man may outJive his fame, The death of Charles Stewart Parnell twelve months ago would have left him a name which would have electrified Irishmen whenever It was spoken, Among Erin’s patriots he would have held a piace equal to her greatest, With all hia faults he has still a warm place in the hearts of Irishmen the world over. It remains to be seen whether his sympathetic countrymen will not in his sudden death see an obliteration of the great mistake of his life, and forgetting that he ever erred will look only on what he has done for his native country and judge him accordingly. Parnell the patriot and lover of his country was a man among men. He found his country distracted and the jlrish party despised for its insignificance. When he fell he had become a magnet around which Irish patriotism centred. Under his influence the scattered units of the Irish race had beep collected. The Irish party was a strong' phalans 0 nearly too members, while he had

brought over to the Irish cause Gladstone and the great Liberal party. Around Parnell’s name many great historic associations in Irish politics will ever linger.