“Parnell shares with O’Connell the glory of being the greatest of Irish leaders.  Like O’Connell he was a landlord and his family traditions were those of an aristocrat.  Like him, too, he was overbearing, even despotic in temperament.  But in all else Parnell was the very opposite of the ‘Liberator.’  The Protestant leader of a Catholic people, he won popularity in Ireland without being at all times either understood or personally liked.  In outward appearance he had nothing of the Irishman, nothing of the Celt about him.  He was cold, distant and unexpansive in manner and had more followers than friends.  His speech was not that of a great orator.  Yet he was singularly powerful and penetrating, with here and there brilliant flashes that showed profound wisdom.  A man of few words, of strength rather than breadth of mind—­his political ideals were often uncertain and confused—­he was better fitted to be a combatant than a constructive politician.  Beyond all else he was a Parliamentary fighter of extraordinary ability, perfectly self-controlled, cold and bitter, powerful at hitting back.  It was precisely these English qualities that enabled him to attain such remarkable success in his struggle with the English.  Pride was perhaps a stronger motive with him than patriotism or faith.”

We have here the opinions of those who knew Parnell in Parliament—­the one as his opponent, the other as, perhaps, his most intimate friend—­and of an independent outsider who had no part or lot in Irish controversies.  It may be perhaps not amiss if I conclude this appreciation of Parnell with the views of an Irishman of the latest school of Irish thought.  Mr R. Mitchell Henry, in his work, The Evolution of Sinn Fein, writes: 

“The pathetic and humiliating performance (of the Butt ‘Home Rulers’) was ended by the appearance of Charles Stewart Parnell, who infused into the forms of Parliamentary action the sacred fury of battle.  He determined that Ireland, refused the right of managing her own destinies, should at least hamper the English in the government of their own house; he struck at the dignity of Parliament and wounded the susceptibilities of Englishmen by his assault upon the institution of which they are most justly proud.  His policy of Parliamentary obstruction went hand in hand with an advanced land agitation at home.  The remnant of the Fenian Party rallied to his cause and suspended for the time, in his interests and in furtherance of his policy, their revolutionary activities.  For Parnell appealed to them by his honest declaration of his intentions; he made it plain both to Ireland and to the Irish in America that his policy was no mere attempt at a readjustment of details in Anglo-Irish relations but the first step on the road to national independence.  He was strong enough both to announce his ultimate intentions and to define with precision the limit which must be placed upon the immediate measures to be taken....  He is