PAR'NELL, CHARLES STEWART (1846-91). An Irish statesman and Parliamentl».y leader. He was born at Avondale, in the County of Wicklow, Ireland, June 28, 1846. of an old Protestant family. He was the son of John Henry Parnell and Delia Tudor Stewart, daugh ter of Rear-Admiral Charles Stewart of the United States Navy. Parnell was educated in the University of Cambridge, but returned to Avondale without a degree. After traveling in the United States (1872-73) lie became high sheriff of his county, and in 1875 he entered Parliament for Meath County. From the out set lie displayed remarkable ability for leader ship in polities and fur parliamentary warfare. Reserved and dignified, with few of the ordi nary graces of an orator, Parnell contrasted strikingly with the enthusiastic impulsive Irish debater of the type of O'Connell. But the very absence of these Irish qualities impressed upon the English the fact that now for the first time they had to reckon with a strong, ell-di reeted Irish opposition.
In 1877, in conjunction with Biggar. Parnell brought together the hitherto disunited forces of opposition in a compact party of Nationalists, whose object was TIonn. Rule for Ireland in all local affairs, including necessarily the restora- 4 t ion of the Irish Parliament. (See HONE RrLE.) The method of political warfare lowed by Parnell was hold and effective. lie adopted extreme tactics of obstruction: to delay all business as far as to make combinations with any party that might be in opposition in order to embarrass the Government : to use the balance of power in such a way as to secure concessions as the pried. of votes: and, in a word. to make all legislation extremely dif ficult until the demands of Ireland should he considered and accepted. For the support of this policy Parnell looked to the Fenians of Ireland and of America, and to the Land League, which he helped organize in 1879, and of which he was the first president. The object of the League was not only to secure fair rents and to transfer the ownership of the soil to the tenants, but also to bring about Home Rule.
(sec LAND LEAGUE.) 31eaDtillIC Parnell carried out his Parliamentary wartare with singular tenacity and persistence, against the bitter oppo sition of both of the great English parties. The conservative traditions of the House of Commons were speedily set at naught; it rule= were in geniously perverted to defeat their own objects; every important piece of legislation was at tacked, delayed, and in some cases defeated by the able combinations of the Irish party under its great leader. with some of the nlhrr elements of opposition. In IS77 and Nis; the Parnellites. a, they began to be called, persistently opposed the bill for the annexation of the Transvaal, the flogging clauses of the -Mutiny Act, and the Pris ons Bill; and, joined by Joseph Chamberlain and leading Radicals, they carried the bill abolishing flogging in the army. Sble by side with the de velopment of this new policy the lana agitation in Ireland grew and became a source (4 wide spread public interest. To aid the movement, and to relieve those tenants who suffered by eviction. Parnell in the winter of IST9 sn made a visit to America, where he raised large sums by popular subscription. On his return lie was simultaneously elected to Parliament front Meath. Mayo. and the city of Cork, the last of which he chose to represent. Ills claim to lead his party was formally ratified win n in May, ISSII, the Irish members of Parliament chose hint leader by a vote of twenty-three to eighteen. Supported by powerful social and political or ganizations, and at last by the Catholic Church, and controlling the words as well as the votes of his followers with a strong will and an iron hand, Parnell was now a formidable power in English politics. Continuing the land agita tion, he was arrested and imprisoned in October, ISS1,. on the charge of intimidation, and of ob structing the operation of the new Land Act. (See liusu LAND L.kws.) lie remained iu Nil mainham jail until April. ISS2., when he was released on Parole.