Press And Daily Dakotaian

Parnell's Illness.

A London special says:

Mr. Parnell is believed to be very seriously ill, and sensational rumors of more or less gravity are current. Fear is entertained that his career as leader of the Irish party will be brought to a sudden end at a crisis when it is specially important to both himself and his party that he should be in active health.

No definite news is obtainable just now and it is possible that the reports of his condition may be greatly exaggerated. The effect of them, nevertheless, is to cause great anxiety among his followers.

Cancer is named as one of his ailments and is said to be located in the stomach.

A friend of Mr. Parnell says that the latter is really suffering from an acute form of dyspepsia which may very likely be accompanied by organic mischief. This opens the way to the belief that a fatal result may be looked for at any time. Already, indeed, there are speculations afloat as to who will be Mr. Parnell's successor in the event of his death.

It is said that Sir John Pope Hennessy, governor of Mauritius, who lately returned to England at the request of the colonial secretary, may be invited to take the post of Irish leader if—owing to Mr. Parnell's ill health, or a more serious catastrophe—it should become vacant. Such a selection would reflect the greatest honor on the Irish party, as Sir John has been a remarkably able, independent and patriotic statesman all his life. He has won renown also as an author and scientist. He visited the United States about nine years ago, and during the civil war he supported the union. Sir John is now over fifty, and, although he has never been a home ruler or been engaged in home politics since the Irish home rule agitation has become a leading subject of debate, it is generally thought that he would willingly assume the Irish leadership on this basis, and would command the respect of all parties by his temperance and independence.