THE IRISH LEADER. (Per Press Association.) London, December 2.

Otago Witness, Issue 1920, 4 December 1890, Page 23

THE IRISH LEADER. (Per Press Association.) London, December 2.

At the meeting of the Irish party yesterday Mr Parnell declared that no member of the Gladstone party was to be trusted, and Mr Gladstone himself was a garrulous old gentleman. Mr Parnell accused a certain section (including Mr Sexton and Mr Healey) of conspiring with Mr Labouchere and Professor James Stuart to oust him from the leadership, He also accused Mr Gladstone of provoking the present situation of affairs, and called him a "leaderkiller," who had stabbed the late Mr Isaac Butt in the back. The Irish leader admitted that he had erred in keeping the pledge he had made to Mr Gladstone and not revealing the Hawarden proposals to his colleagues, but said that the party had virtually agreed to decline Home Rule for Ireland on the basis sketched at Hawarden. The meeting was attended by 74 members.

Archbishop Croke denies having made use of the statement that Mr Parnell's morals were a matter between him and his Protestant bishop.

Mr Parnell's friends in Dublin are confident that their leader will come out of the present trouble triumphant.

The Irish league in London have unanimously declared in favour of Mr Parnell. The branches at Glasgow and Liverpool are divided on the matter, but many of the leading branches in Ireland are in favour of Mr Parnell retaining the leadership.

Mr Parnell's speech at the meeting of the Irish party to-day was very passionate, and as he disallowed any reference to be made to the recent divorce proceedings, this led to a series of hot encounters between him, Mr Healey, and others.

Mr Parnell dominates the meeting of Irish members, and his bold and brilliant tactics for the purpose of securing delay and enabling the Irish people to influence his party extort admiration from his opponents.

Excited meetings have been held in Cork, at which cries were raised of " Gladstone is a slippery devil," and both Mr Gladstone's and Mr Morley's names were hissed. The partisans of Mr Parnell shouted, "To hell with Dillon, O'Biien, and Davitt."

The Dublin Nmional League is pJraosfc unanimously in favour of Mr Parnell. A priest seconded a vote of confidence in him.

Mr Harrington, secietary of the National League, is at Chicago organising strong support for Mr Parnell. Many Irishman threaten they will never subscribe again unless Mr Parnell is retained in command.

The machinery of the National League is being moved in Mr Parnell's interest. The Corporation of Edinburgh have remitted the question of withdrawing the freedom of the city from Mr Parnell to the Provost's Committee.

At a meeting of Irish members to-day, the proceedings were of an excited nature. The delegates' manifesto was cheered. Mr Healy

complained that Mr Parnell's friends were obstructive. Mr Pai-nell, in a passion, replied that the remark was insolent, at which there was some cheering. A counter vole will be taken to-night. Mr Gladstone is convening a meeting of the Liberal party. December 3. Mr Dalton supported and Sir T. Esmond and Mr Deasy opposed Colonel Nolan's motion at the meeting of Irish members. A compromise is being proposed. The American committee of the Irish fund is hostile to Mr Parnell. At a meeting of Irish members last night Colonel Nolan's motion to adjourn for a fortnight and resume at Dublin, was rejected by U to 29.