We should like to have a glimpse behind the scenes
of the Irish Party. What in the world is the meaning of all this talk about the compromise which it is supposed that Mr. O'Brien's conference with Mr. Parnell in France is to bring about ? We do not see what Mr. O'Brien has to offer, on the Anti-Parnellite side, in return for Mr. Parnell's abdication of his present position, nor what pledge Mr. Parnell could exact that any such offer would be made good after he had temporarily retired, and so lost the leverage by which any bargain could be enforced. Mr. O'Brien may possibly represent the money power of the Irish-Americans, though we very much doubt it, as that party seems thoroughly devoted to Mr. Parnell ; but does Mr. O'Brien hold the _influence of the Irish priesthood in his hand ? And if he does not, how can he commit them ? We should have thought Michael Davitt was a much greater power in Ireland, as well as a much stronger man, than Mr. -O'Brien, and we do not believe that Michael Davitt is in the least disposed to restore Mr. Parnell on any terms to his -old leadership. There is something of which the general public hears nothing in all this mysterious talk of negotiation between a man who seems to us to have no power, and a man who, even by his professedly temporary retirement, would practically surrender all the power he still has.
Previous page
