New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-07-22
Irish Character.

To fts Edu0r u The ITlbnrt.
In an article in this mornings Tribune. upon the
Irish Characier-dic,aied by motives for which. a
proud, however unworthy, parakerof that character,
am truly grateful-there occurs an error or two
which may be permitted to note for correction, a.
tending think to thwart the benevolent design OF
the writer
The error, evidently has proceeded from want OF
personal acquaintance with the subject at least IN
the aspect OF il sought TO be described or TO be defend
ed In answer to the impuiation upon the Irish
serving class of propensity 10 ngratitude and Lying
their ess cautious than kind advocate pleads guilty to
10Th the charges-iasisn- that STILL they should be
.rea;ed by Americans upon certain principles OF love
and goodwill which presuppose the complete establish
ment Of Association the advent Of the New Jerusa-
lem.
As to the lying will no, deny it though think il
might be much exienuaied by explanations which would
be too long for both you and present. The IN
gratitude do, though. deny-peremptorly Indeed /
have never heard sobery imputed save by the Lon
don Tins who think that the Irsh ought to be
extraordinarily grateful, because they are no longer
butchered with their wives and children around me ma
tive hearth and John Bull drre 70 coR'eHf himself with
only fingers instead Of the entire paw IN their poe
kets And hence possibly, the notion with the ans
~ be an oracle upon lri-h character and affairs.
l. not Irish gratitude in fact provernia Accordingly
II remember rightly. Il was mentioned auons 'h,H
distinctive virtues in previous afhcie IN me TwAt
under the same signature -he present an article ny
he WAY in correctness Of conception much the wOrihier
Of the subject and may say also oi the writer indeed
the thinr plain from principle independently Of all par
ticular observation cIrcum-ance which renders Inc
oversight the surprisingly thinker Of course ac-
quainied with the history OF the lrish.
To ascertain what It Is 70 be ungraeiul, Il viii be well
20 define gratitude Ii is, think, briefly an emotion or
,fim,n Of bfnerOcf for the donor ola disnfrsted ben
H. Upon this be pleased 70 remark. that the benefit
and Of consequence the degree OF gratitude Il always IN
ratio directly the necessities Of the recipient and IN
vercy the selhshncss real or suspected OF me Vei
Apply this to the circumstances OF the lrsh and II Will
FURNISH YOU proof would be out Of nature tor them
10 ungrateiul It will also suggest why notwhstand-
ing they may appear 10 those (how many ? VINO do
not think You may say this account of the matter l.
not very haiierng 10 my counirymen. am quite con
scious OF IT, but have here to deal with truth not euiogy
vIndicaiiOn.
Where the wants Of people are many and favors or
friends 10 them few benefit OF Itself particularly va
ued il still enhanced By the novelty Of the occurrence.
On the other hand innaicy selfish Is manor 20 vain
which selfshncss floating irOtbke on the surface
that the very frequency viii 10 him turn avors INTO dues
Now these conditions positive and negative were per
hans never combined N more intense activity than IN the
situation Of the Irish who especially when their eryid
,cmperament is considered additionally ought, there
fore 10 be the most grateful OF people And such re
spectillv contend IL the fact If appear otherwise
et US to principle in the absence OF unquestona
bic proof. ,
people hsbitually piundered for ages and who had
known kindnessl from those
above them only a mask for fraud where force was
nappicable-such people, say, must come 10 suspect
the most generous avors meant to ensnsre them or
conceded best unacknOwledged night for which
they owe no gratitude. But the situation Of the lrsh
domescs and abOrers is different here you say How
They sill behold spendor and wealth on side. and
the other degradation, poverty servitude as ever
Where then the difference in the relation There may
be some vain distinction meiaphys but unfortunately
those poor people male female know little about tneo
RES of the Rights of Man what smore deporabe, no
doubi-of the Rights OF Woman. Accordingly, their
employers are them "Geeks still and are naturally
disrusted II dOHa ffrffs This dstrust OF mankind i.
you may urge Itself But il would be called Wis
dom in philosopher and for my part, thnk-rghtly.
These reflections may trust. lead at least 10 recon
icraion of that odious mputaton-lngratitude-
under which these unfortunate people have been loit
reluctantly by your Correspondent The suggestions
need Development and of them light a iperceive
upon pcrusa But you sir will be ndulgent - lapse
into and our starry friend may lhopeo
will mend by returning 10 The rish Character with
something of the combined delcacy and depth OF touch
which delighted u.s. the other day in the dissection OF
COckney.
Tuesday July 18th. l7i5 J. &c