DEATH OF MRS. PARNELL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 February 1921, Page 6

DEATH OF MRS. PARNELL.

LAST DAYS OF KITTY O’SHEA! The death of Parnell’s widow recalls the unfortunate episode in the career of the Irish leader which led to the virtual end of his Parliamentary career. In December, 1889, Captain O’Shea, who had had been 1 a close associate and fellow worker of Parnell, filed a petition for divorce, naming Parnell as corespondent. No defence being offered, a decree of divorce was pronounced, and in 1891 Parnell and Mrs. O’shea were married. At first the Irish party determined to stand by its leader. But influences adverse to this decision were speedily at work. A meeting oi the National Federation at Sheffield, in November, 1890, privately decided that Parnell must resign. After several attempts had been made, through Mr. John Morley, to convey this determination to Parnell, the day before Parliament met Mr. Gladstone wrote to Mr. Morley the famous letter which precipitated a crisis. In it he declared a conviction “that, notwithstanding the splendid services rendered by Mr. Parnell to his country, his continuance at the present moment in the leadership would be disastrous in the highest degree to the cause of Ireland. The continuance I speak of would not only place many hearty and effective friends of the Irish cause in a position of great embarrassment, but would render my retention of the leadership of the Liberal P'arty based as it has been mainly upon the presentation of the Irish cause, almost a nullity.” This letter was not -published until after the Irish Parliamentary party had met in the House of Commons, and re-elected Parnell as its wihout a dissentient voice. As a consequence this decision was reversed, and Parnell’s career was virtually over.