Events in Ireland point unmistakably to a fresh and serious
cleavage in the Parliamentary party. Mr. John Redmond, M.P., who has recently returned from his mission to the United States, has lost no time in expressing his unqualified approval of the "magnificent work" done by Mr. William O'Brien and Mr. Dillon in his absence, in avowing his direct responsibility for the policy of the party, in uttering a veiled but unmistakable protest against clerical interference, and in openly warning the country against those who " under the guise of a desire to safeguard Roman Catholic interests, thought they saw the opportunity to come out from their lairs and attack the unity of the Irish party." The warning is clearly aimed at Mr. Healy, who is credited with the intention of assuming the leadership of, or at any rate of joining, a. new party of seceders organised by Mr. Carew, Dr. Thompson, and the redoubtable Mr. Tully, who has recently developed a talent for picturesque invective second only to that of Mr. Healy himself.—His description of Mr. O'Brien as alternately " brawling " and " crawling " deserves to rank with Mr. Healy's already classical gibe at Lord Rosebery as a man with whom be would " go tiger-shooting at the `Zoo,' but, as the lawyers say, not further or otherwise."—It is noted as a curious coincidence that the number of seceders from Mr. Redmond's leadership is identical with that of the party led by Mr. Redmond himself after Mr. Parnell's. death.
Previous page
