Mr. John Redmond, who is to contest the vacancy in
Cork, caused by Mr. Parnell's death, is declared the new head of the Parnellite Party. So far as we can judge, that is not a strong appointment. There will be two elections in Ireland in the immediate future which will test the strength of the Clerical Party. Mr. Jobn Redmond, as we have said, is selected by the Parnellites to stand for Mr. Parnell's seat in Cork; and Mr. Michael Davitt is selected by the priests (though, as he is only on his way to Ireland, it is not certain that he will accept the nomination) to stand for Sir J. P. Hennessy's seat at Kilkenny. Of course the Clerical Party will oppose Mr. Redmond with all their might, and support Mr. Davitt. Mr. Davitt, though he has com- mitted himself to carry on the struggle in a constitu- tional manner, has always kept up friendly relations with the leaders of the Clan-na-Gael and the old physical-force party in America ; so that the priests, in making him their candidate, are not apparently very anxious to identify them- selves with the views of the Court of Rome and the moderate party who preach against giving any sanction to a policy of defiance.
