The great controversy between the
English and the Irish leader, which Mr. Chamberlain had raked up from
the almost forgotten past, took place at the moment when Mr. Parnell had
gone from town to town and county to county in Ireland, in the midst of
vast and enthusiastic receptions--imperial demonstrations--with salvoes
of cheers, enthusiasm, and auroral hope such as have taken place so
often in Irish history on the eve of some mighty victory or hideous
disaster. And, then, immediately after came Parnell's imprisonment,
which he bore so well--the suppression of the National Land League, and
the era of unchecked and ferocious coercion in which the good intentions
and kindly feelings of Mr. Forster finally were buried. To separate
themselves from Mr. Parnell at that great moment in his and their life,
was a thing which none of Parnell's old comrades could do; and when this
startling interruption came, it was the spoken utterance of many of
their thoughts brought back by Mr. Chamberlain's venomous tongue in
painful reverie over a glorious but dead moment, and a tragically
wrecked and superb career.
[Sidenote: Crocodile tears.]
There was a painful pause, and then came, however, an antidote.
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