Mr. Parnell is evidently trying to secure followers of a
new type. His nominee for North Donegal is Mr. Rochfort Maguire, a Protestant, who took a double-first at Oxford, went to South Africa, and managed the negotiations between the South African Company and Lobengnla, the ruler of Matabeleland, conspicuously well. The story goes that he conciliated the barbarian chief by teaching him all manner of games of cards, and taking care not to win too often. He is consequently greatly in favour with the South African Com- pany, and will probably in the House defend their interests as well as Home-rule. If Mr. Maguire, who is not thirty- five, can speak well, he will be the most valuable ally Mr. Parnell has yet secured ; but the new policy is a little risky. Thoroughly cultivated men make indifferent private soldiers, and it is Mr. Parnell's dictatorship which has made his party as strong as it is. As the Arabs say, one builds with clay, not with diamonds.
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