The Life Of Charles Stewart Parnell - Ii

364 CHAELES STEWAET PAENELL
" I am glad to hear it. I do not think you need fear anything from us." "Well, I got Parnell and Sexton put on a committee which was appointed to consider the subject. Nothing could be better than Parnell's conduct on that occasion. He showed the greatest skill, tact, and ability, and gave me the most efficient help at every turn. I always felt that I could rely on his word.'
* Were there any of Parnell's followers whom you would place with him ? '
Mr. Gladstone. ' There was no one in the House of Commons whom I would place with him. As I have said, he was an intellectual phenomenon/
'Who do you think was the cleverest member of his party ?'
Mr. Gladstone. ' Well, Healy was very clever; he made very clever speeches. I do not know what has become of him now, but under Parnell he was admirable. Of course, I have the profoundest respect for Justin McCarthy and Mr. Dillon. Dillon was useful, but Healy was very clever. I have heard Healy reply to a Minister on the spur of a moment—not a note, not a sign of preparation that I could see, all done with the greatest readiness and the greatest effecfc. The Land Bill of 1881 was a most complicated measure; only four members of the House understood it. Gibson understood it ; Law, the Irish Attorney-General, understood it; Herschell, who was English Solicitor-General, threw himself into the subject with great zest and acquired a sound knowledge of it. But no one gained so complete a mastery of its details as Healy. He had them at his fingers' ends.'
' May I ask, when did you first turn your attention to Home Eule ?'h ]>olicy which bun HI sanction of lito niasscn of thii Irish people/1 anu)H mihwonul an usual in it. f«w words, lie said :