THE SITUATION IN IRELAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 12, 19 December 1890, Page 17

THE SITUATION IN IRELAND.

F telegrams are to be believed, Irish Home Rulers are to be pitied, not indeed through any fault of their own, as a body, but in consequence of the foolishness of their leader. We are not disposed to believp. all the statements of the cablegrams which have been published in the New Zealand

papers lately in reference to Mr. Parnell, but one thing appears certain — that the Irish Parliamentary party, as represented by its majority, has withdrawn from his leadership and elected Mr. Justin McCarthy leader in his stead. Bishop Moran, of Dunedin, has received a cablegram from the new leader and the two newly-appointed whips to this effect ; and of this fact, therefore, there can be no reasonable donbt. Under these circumstances we feel bound to range ourselves under the guidance of the newly-constituted Irish Parliamentary party and withdraw ourselves from Mr. Parnell's leadership . We do this with great regret and great sorrow. In common with all Irishmen, we recognise the ability and power of Mr. Parnell's leadership, for which we, as they, are most grateful, and shall ever be. But much as we appreciate his talents and sacrifices, we can follow him no longer, and we think almost all, if not all, Irishmen coincide with us in this determination. And, further, we think that the regret and sorrow we feel are fully shared in by all who love old Ireland. Bat great and glorious a virtue as patriotism is, there is still something higher, something still more valuable ; and, with pain we say it, higher and more important considerations call upon us to transfer our allegiance from Mr. Parxell to Mr. Justin McCarthy. Irishmen never hitherto fa led to prove to Mr. Parnell the high value they placed on his great services to Ireland. This is notorious, and needs no proof, as the proof is evident to all, and it must be obvious to everyone that nothing but the most profound and overwhelming sense of duty would induce Irishmen all the world over to withdraw themselves from his leadership. We bitterly regret that Mr. Parnell did not see it to be clearly his duty after the result of the O'Shea trial became known to withdraw voluntarily from the leadership of the Irish people. Had he withdrawn himself, the

Irish people wonld have known how to value such an act, and by so doing he would have given them au additional reason for confidence in his judgment and political sagacity, uere we feel outselves compelled to stop. The subject is too painful for furtiiet comment, and we venture to express the hope that Irishmen everywhere will also drop the question, and, whilst ranging themselves under the banner of Mr. Justin McCartby and Mr. Gladstone, make up their minds to^ discuss no more the sorrowful incidents of Mr. ■Farnell's latest developments. Little said is easily mended, and as Irishmen cannot possibly, with honour to themselves or loyalty to the cawe of Home Rule, now follow Mr. 1 arnell as leader, they will wisely abstain from all discussion, which cannot result in any good to that cause, and can only do mischief to the best interests of Ireland, and their own good name. It is deplorable it should be so, buUhe fault lies with Mr. Parnell Himself, and not with the Irish people or any of the friends of Home Rule. We said m the beginning that we had little confidence in the cablegrams, and we think any attentive reader of these must coincide in this opinion. Not unfrequently these cablegrams are contradictory; sometimes they make statements which we know to be contrary to fact. For example, only on Tuesday last a cablegram told us that the Limerick Bank was to honour cheques on the Parliamentary Fund. Well, the fact is there is no Limerick Bank ; and this is not a solitary instance. It will be wise, therefore, to wait till the newspapers belonging to all parties arrive before coming to a final decision on all the circumstances of Mr. Parnell's case. Meantime we may consider ourselves safe in believing that the majority of the Parliamentary party has seceded from him and elected a chairman in his stead. And this is sufficient to show us on which side we should range ourselves. We shall never, however, cease to feel extremely grateful to Mr. Parnell for his great services to Ireland and extremely sorry for the misfortune that has overtaken him.