Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1890 — LIME IN PARNELL’S EYES [ARTICLE]

LIME IN PARNELL’S EYES

IT IS PUT THERE IN THE COURSE OF A ROW. Tl>* *x-Lea«ler of the Irish Nat oimii.ts Hon*lily Handled at a Meeting In Kilkenny—Rival Factions Hold Meetings tat the Same Town and a Fight Follows. [Dublin (Ireland) dispatch.] The troubles between the Purnellltes and the McCarthyite! resulted in a free fight at BalllnaklU. A meeting was held there in the Interests of Mr. Scully, the Parnollite candidate. Mr. l’arnell was one of the speakeis, and when he made his appearance he was cheered by his supporters. While this meeting was being held another one In the Interest of Sir John' Pope Hennessy, the McCarthyite nominee, was taking place a short distance away, ut which addresses were made by Mr. Davltt aDtl Dr. Tanner. Mr. Davltt, accompanied by Father O'Halloruu, was the first of the prominent speakers that arrlvod, and he took his stand In tho higher part of the square near the church. Cheers and counter-cheers and partisan shouts woro vociferously htda-ged in by the assembled members of the two factions. Mr. Redmond began speaking simultaneously with Mr. Davltt. The advent of aw other party, headed by several priests, driving briskly through the crowd, pwt a temporary stop to the speeches at both meetings. The newcomers ranged themselves alongside of the car occupied by Mr. Davltt nmid a chorus of mingled cheers and execrations. Mr. Scully took up the speaking and- wasexpressing his views when great shouting announced the arrlvul of Parnell and Harrison and a number of supporters on horseback and in cars, Parnoll’s appearance beside Redmond was tho signal for cheers and yells of “Tally-ho, tho fox," and “Kitty's petticoat.” Amid the diu Mr. Parnellspoke to the group nrouud him as follows: “I come among you to insult no man. [Edward Harrington—No, and we will protect, ourselves.] I come to speak of the great national .crisis. I will not enter into a personal contest with any man. I regret that Mr. Davltt Is not ut my side [cries of •Down with him'] to fight for Ireland with, mo as strongly as heretofore. I will spoalt only about Ilennessy, the man who went to Parliament in 1861 ns a Tory supporter of Disraeli, and who now wants to go us uLiberal supporter of Gladstones In 1861 Honnessy defended In the House of Commonsthe evictions proceeding throughout King’s county. [Yells of ’To h with him.’] Will Kllkenney take a man who defended the extermination of these people? [Cries of •Never.’] Disraeli gave him a place and pension.”

Several men now made a strong effort to drag the wagonette into the midst of the anti-Parnell gathering, but were dissuaded and stopped. Mr. Parnell, resuming, maintained that the consistency of hi* public life had boen preserved amid Ms unceasing efforts to create and preservo an Independent Irish party. The enemy had boen unable to cope with them In the open Held. They were unable to’meet them with physical forco, so they sent this rat, Hennossy, to try to do by corruption what they liad failed to do by every other rnotbod. The infernal dissensions which wero destroying the party were not of his creating. Having made an unavailing fight at Westminster for independence, ho had boen forced to appoal to the people. [Mr. Hodmond—“We vtfll fight for you till death."] The pooplo were slack and cowardly. If they failed to come to a Just, true and patriotic decision Ireland's Cause was lost for all time. Mr. Harrison was about to follow Mr. Parnell, and Mr. Tunner was spoaklng, When a sudden conflict arose on the verge of.the crowds. A rush was made toward' Davitt’s car, and a general melee ensued. A forest of ashplant sticks and blackthorns arose and descended in the air wkero the dividing lines of the opposing factions met. Mr. Davitt leaped from bis car, wielding a thick hazel stick, and fought his way foot by foot straight towurd Mr/Varndll’s wagon, rocelving and giving numerous blows. He Anally reached the wagon hatless and with his faco badly marked ahd with a few of his men with him, who also boro traces of the severe usage they had recelvod In their desperate passage between tho two vehicles. Standing on the steps of Mr. Parnell’s wagon Mr. Davitt uttered a breathless and indistinct defiance, then turuod and pushed his way back to Ills own car, surrounded by his faithful supporters, amid the continuous yells and execrations of the two contending and wild y exciting factions, and with an exchange of a shower of blows. Mr. Davitt thou remounted his oar and shouted: "Men of Kilkenny: I come here In defense of the rights of public meeting and liberty of speech. Our opponents sent their blackguards to Interrupt the proceedings, but wo have beaten them back. I was never struck by an Englishman, but to-day I was many times struck by my own countrymen.” Those roinarks wore greeted with tumultuous cheers, after which the crowd began to disperse and tbd square resumed its normal aspect. Mr. Parnell and his friends drove to Castlecomer, Mr. Davitt and Mr. Tanner following in their wake. Mr. Parnell afterward spoke to a. small meeting. While other Parnellltes were addressing the crowd a number of Davltt’s followers, got together and began hooting at> the speakers. The Parnellltes closed around the vehicle from which their orators were addressing the peoplo, and the police appeared and tried to divide tho factions. The meeting ended In a scene of wild confusion. and Parnell and his friends, drove off amid a shower of stoues ujid mad. Frequent attempts to assail ibe members-of the party were made, and several bag* filled with lime were thrown at them. Mr. Harrington’s shoulders wero covered with lime, and a mass of dime struck Mr. Parnell full In the face, completely blinding him. This insult Infuriated Mr. Parnell’s, friends. Mr. Harrington turned, and advanced toward Father Downey, who, was- at the bead of Mr. Parnell's opponents, and shouted: “Coward, you are a disgrace toyour church!” The police here again interfered, and Mr. Parnell’s party,, who had left their cars, again took their seats and' finally got away. Mr. Parnell’s eyes, which* were quite closed, were intensely painful. He was soon obliged to stop Ms- carriage,, which he left and entered a laborer’s cabin In a fainting condition. A local doctor attended him. The limo had become caked beneath his eyelids, and the doctor w.aa only able to remove some of It by using a silk handkerchief and some half-oil he found in the cabin. The physician finally advised Mr. Parnell to drive Immediatelyto Kilkenny. 8o the latter re-entered his carriage and proceeded on his Journey. But the pain again became so Intense that, a second halt was made, this time at a roadside public-house, where the doctor made further efforts to relieve the terrible pain which Mr. Parnell was suffering. During his speech at liallinaklU Parnell' swung his cap and shouted, “Down with Hong Kong and English dictation! To b—L with Hong KonH” This extraordinary expression drew all eyes to him and caused many persons to wonder if be had not been drinking. He looked wild enough to Justify this. Mb. Pabnkli* who now calls Mr. Gladstone a “garrulous old gontloman,* pronounced him four years ago an “Illustrious Englishman who towers head and shoulders above all living meu, {or whose equal as a statesman and a philanthropist we have to search the pagos of history in vain.* Gkjj. Ciiablbs F. Thompson, at one , time a Major under “Old Rosy,” and subsequently made Brevet Brigadier General for gallant conduct on tho lield, has become insane In California through dU«R nation and liuancial embarrassment t