Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1891 — IRISH POLITICS. [ARTICLE]

IRISH POLITICS.

Priests Worked at the Polls tc I Help the McCarthyites. Women Also Take Part. Showering Flow, ers on William O’Brien, and Laying Shawls for • Him to Walk Upon. < Friday was an exciting day in Cork. When the sun shed its first rays over tha city it found the streets already alive with K men, women and children who had determined to see as much OS possible of th e great battle at the polls before night,which was to decide whether the Parnellifts were to remain a power in Irish politics, whether the McCarthyites forces with the priestly champions were to “rule” Ireland, and whether or not there was to be union in the Irish parliamentary forces, for it wa 9 claimed if the Parnellites were defeated union was possible before the general election, while if they were victorious ; union was said to be beyond the bounds of possibility. _ In order to avert possible disorder the polls in the morning were strongly guarded by squads of police, who had come pre—pared for any emergency. The early morning voters were few in number and did not attract more than ordinary attention. Between 9 and 10 o’clock the polling became brisk, and people generally begaq to warm up to the occasion. That period of the day here (9 to 10 a. m.) is the workmen's breakfast hour, and consequently large numbers of them took advantage of that Interval of rest to deposit their bal- , lots. Many priests were stationed about the booths mingling with the voters and giving them final instructions or admonitions, or making final appeals before they entered-the- poffing booths. The rival members of Parliament of both parties were flitting hither and thither all over the city. The Parnellites and McCarthyites were all engaged in the last-skirmish-ing, hustling for the last voter, putting their finishing touches to the work already done. Both sides, early in the morning, were confident of victory, the McCarthyites being most, con fident, as an apparently unbiased summing up of the situation gave them a prospective majority of 900. The Irish leaders, throughout the early part of the day, were driving from house to house in jaunting cars cheering flagging voters, encouraging the weak-heart-ed, appealing fervently to those still considered to be on the fence. Unusual precautions were taken to preserve order. The chief of police had a strong force of constabulary in reserve for \ any outbreak that might occur. The military commander of this district had also taken extraordinary precautions to meet an uprising. As the day wore on matters became more lively, and consequently ~ more interesting. There were several exciting scenes in the northwestern part of the city, where the continual squabbling going on between the priests and the Parnellites were the main features of attraction. At the close of the polling Mr. Flavin was credited with victory. The boxes were escorted from the outlying districts by troops and police. The polling was heavy. Even the lame and blind were sought out and brought up to the polling places. It has been noticeable that in the many altercations between the priests and the Parnellites the women in most cases sided with the priests Mr. O’Brien received an ovation from the women, who presented him with flowers and divested themselves of their shawls for him tc walk upon. Tho supporters of Flavin claim a majority of twelve hundred for him, while the Parnellites believe that they carried the election by a majority.