THE PARLIAMENTARY TRADITION IN IRISH POLITICS – Daniel O’Connell and C. S. Parnell
Piggott forgeries Soon after, the London Times published letters in articles called Parnellism and Crime. These letters seemed to show that Parnell supported the Phoenix Park murders, when two high- ranking officials in the British government were brutally murdered by a Fenian group in 1882. Parnell said the letters were forgeries. And so it was proved by a Special Commission, which showed the letters had been forged by Richard Piggott, a journalist. Parnell’s name was cleared and his popularity was at its highest.
Timeline of C. S. Parnell and the parliamentary tradition
1846 1875 1879
1880
C. S. Parnell was born in Co. Wicklow Parnell was elected to Co. Meath
Land League formed for land reform Parnell as President Parnell addressed US Congress Parnell elected for Cork City
Parnell elected Chairman of the Irish Parliamentary Party Parnell’s affair with Katherine O’Shea began
1881 1882
1885
LSource 1 Parnell and Gladstone
1886 1887 1889 1890 1891
Galdstone’s Land Act
Kilmainham Treaty Phoenix Park murders Irish National League founded
General Election success for Parnell and his party
First Home Rule Bill Parnellism and Crime
O’Shea Divorce case began Parnell Split in Home Rule Party
Death of Parnell in Brighton Parnell buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
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HISTORICAL JUDGEMENTS
LSource 3 Parnell and Gladstone
1. What is the message of this cartoon in Source 1? Does it favour Parnell and Gladstone?
2. What is at stake, according to the cartoon?
3. What was Parnell cleared of by the Special Commission in Source 2?
4. What is the message of Source 3? Does it favour Parnell and Gladstone?
5. What did you learn about the use of cartoons as sources from studying Source 1 and Source 3? Explain your answers fully.
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LSource 2 Parnell cleared We entirely acquit Mr Parnell and the other respondents of the charge of insincerity in their denunciation of the Phoenix Park murders, and find that facsimile letter on which this charge was chiefly based as against Mr Parnell is a forgery. (Report of the Special Commission, February 1890)
