The Life Of Charles Stewart Parnell Vol - I

348 CHARLES STEWART PARNELL [1882
power to stop it. We, apparently despairing of restoring order ourselves, let them out on condition that they •will help us and will refrain for the future, not from the conduct for which they were imprisoned, but only from the more outrageous policy to which they have afterwards committed themselves, and even this they are only willing to do in return for fresh legislation in favour of the tenant.
* There may be another side to the question, but, as I am not able to grasp it, you will understand my objections to being the instrument of their release.
' Yours very truly,
' COWPEB.'
Mr. Gladstone wired immediately :
* Your signature, if required, as it would be after resignation, would be merely ministerial and without political responsibility. When do you come to London? I quite understand your letter, as it shows me, to my surprise, that you have had no previous information.'
This terminated the correspondence.
.Lord (Ynvper immediately signed the order of release, and Parnell (with his colleagues, Mr. O'lvelly and Mr. Dillon) walked forth a free man once more. All Ireland, outside the. loyal corner of Ulster, hailed the liberation as a national triumph, and a shout of victory went up from one, end of the land to the other. The Irish Executive had been beaten. The Prime Minister, who but seven mouths before had announced ParnelTs arrest with such dramatic effect to an excited English meeting, had now Hung the Irish agents of tho Government over and made peace with the invincible agitator. Mr. Forster, rightly appreciating