MR. JOHN REDMOND DEAD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 145, 8 March 1918, Page 5

MR. JOHN REDMOND DEAD

LEADER OF IRISH NATIONALIST PARTYj London, March 6. Tho death is announced of air. John; Redmond, Leader of the Irish Nationalist Party.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. j DEATH FOLLOWED SEVERE OPERATION. London, March 6. Mr. John Redmond's health had been falling for some months. His death followed a severe operation which jvbs imperative owing to intestinal obstruotioii. Hβ made Batisfac-. Tory progress for a few days, when . heart failure supervened.—"Tho j Times." Mr. John E. Jlcduiond, Leader of tlio Irish Parliamentary Party, was born in 1551, and educated at East Ciongowos College, Kildare, and later at Trinity College, Dublin. After leaving the University he entered the i Civil Service, and was at one tiino ! clerk in tho Vote Offico at the House of Commons. Ho was called to tho English bar, at Gray's Inn, in 1886, and tho following year was called to : the Irish bar. For a few yeart ho | held briefs in important political cases, but invariably refused to accept fees, tlio sums' marked in his briefs being returned to tho Irish Campaign Fund, j He entered the House of Commons in 1881 a s M.P. for New Ross, which con-1 stituency he represented until 1885, when he was elected for Wexford North. Id 1891 ho was returned for Waterford City, and had continuously represented that constituency over since. On first entering Parliament t>b attached himself to the Irish Na- • tional Party, a small body which had ; been organised not long before under the leadership of Parnell. Part of Par-, fell's policy was to institute a powerful Home Rule League, having bianohes in all the principal cities. Speeches, ho tli indoor and outdoor, were regularly delivered, and by these and other moans a vigorous propaganda. on bohalf of Ireland's demand for self-gov-ernment was organised. One of the most ablo organisers in this movement, and ono of tho most eloquent advocates ■ on behalf of its aims, was John Red-' mond. During his earlier sessions J Redmond was not a frequent speaker, ' although the House was already aware that the Irish Nationalists had in their rauks an orator of genuine eloquence. His figure in these days was slight, and suggested nothing of the man's innate powers as a brilliant platform speaker. Hβ possessed a magnificent voice, rich, resonant, and penetrating to the farthest limits of the largest •ndiences. At- .that time he acted as Parliamentary Whip for his party, and j carried out his duties —not very heavy then, tho little party numboring not more than a dozen members —very successfully, and his services were of inestimable value in maintaining the fighting strength of his party. Not many years had passed before Redmond was one of tho Whips of an Irish National Party of nearly ninety members, an increase in strength due in no small degree to his ability and infiuenco as an organiser. Iu addition to his duties as party Whip, Redmond devoted considerable time and energy to the fostering of the Home Rule spirit both at homo and abroad. He toured tho United States, Canada, and Australia, and the result was shown later on in the immense amount of Bympathy and practical support from American and colonial Irishmen. In Australia alone he raised £10,000, whilo £18,000 camo from America. Then camo tho supreme crisis in the affairs of the Irish Nationalists. Tho untoward development of the Parnell divorce caso made it impossible for Mr. Gladstone and the Liberal lead- ; ors to carry out successfully any meai suro for Home Rule so long as Par-, I nell retained the leadership of his J party, it being seemingly an impos- | sible matter, owing to the public state i of mind, to entirely dissociate ■ Paruell's political importance from his private affairs. The cause of Ireland demanded that, such being so, he should resign. This he refused to do, and the party was rent by internal dissensions. The majority declared that they could no longer follow Parnell, reconstituted themselves, and elected a leader; the • minority, of which Redmond was one, decided to stand by him. On the death "of Parnell, Redmond became leader of the shattered' remnant of the Irish Nationalist Party, and very soon evinced unmistakable signs of tuceossful leadership, and, even of statesmanship. The split in the. party led, of course, to a split in the country, and it was not until Parnell 1 s death'that the opportunity offered for reuniting, the Irish Nationalists. The magnanimous decision of Mr. John Dillon, leader of the new party, not to accept re-elec-tion as chairman, led to a revision or the situation in 1900, with the result that Mr. John R«dmond became leader of the United Irish Nationalists, 'an independent body, ready," he decared, "to ally 'itself with any English party that would help it towards its Jroal-tho creation of an independent Irish Parliament." His leadership or the party was conspicuously successful Ho was one of the few Irishmen in the House who knew when to hold his tongue—an interesting compliment, when it is remembered that his maiden speech, years ago, ended in-a Parliamentary scene" which led to his suspension within six hours of his taking the oath!

TRIBUTES IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

"THE WHOLE EMPIRE IMPOVERISHED BY HIS LOSS.". (Rec. March 7, 10.15 p.m.)

London, March 6. ■In tho House of Commons, Mr. Lloyd George said that he would move the adjournment of tho House in connection with Mr. Redmond's_ death, but it was an urgent necessity to carry on business. There was no difference of opinion regarding the ability, genius eloquence, judgment and dignity with which Mr. Redmond had advocatedthe Irish policy. It was a tragedy that ho should bo cut down before he 1 had achieved the great purpose of Ins : lif e "When I saw linn last, con--1 turned -Mr. Lloyd Georgo, "he was a I broken man. Death was written on his face His last words were a. plea for concord between the two <iountrMr. Asqnith said Mr. Redmond's death wns an indescribable shock. Mr. Redmond was a great parliamentarian and a true patriot The House of Commons, Ireland, Britain, and the whole Empire wore impoverished by his loss.—Aus;-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE IRISH CONVENTION'S ' TRIBUTE. (Rec. March 7, 10.15 p.m.) London, March G. Tho Press Bureau states that the Irish Convention passed a resolution expressing sorrow at Mr. Redmond's death, and paying a tribute to his invaluable services. Tho Convention adjourned until alter the funeral.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-lteuter. TRIBUTES OF THE NEWSPAPERS. (Rec. March 7, 7.40 p.m.) London, March G. Mr. Redmond's death is generally deplored, particularly at the present critical situation in Irish affairs. Newspapers of all shades pay a tribute to his work and sincerity, and sorrowfully comment on his departure on the eve of tho accomplishment of his life work—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.