New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-09

if often liable to defeat returns to still further
plague the oppressed and it is not worth the exercise
where Justice is to be wrought iRto expectancy by
the special plea of cool thought anu persistent
reason. Even in revolutions those OF out
right hatred seldom attain good OBJECT
The most successful modern wars were
the war Of independence In which the American COLO
MES rebelled not from hatred Of Engishmen, but from
intelligence of rinciple-and the war against slavery
in which small amount of merely personal hatred on
ono side was obscured by spirit of humanity and
charity. Those who have shown most hate have pol
soned themselves with their own bitterness, and some
of them may yet die by biting their tongues.
Wa ara far from saving that Irishmen have been
without cause quadrupled for anger. Few races have
had such justifable gall to make their oppression
bitter. But the failure of the most promising Of Irish
revolutions, and the abest of Irish revou.onists,
shows that the day Of for spirit so intense has
expired By limitation The justice of the cause OF rev.
olution narrows down to question of success and OF
success there is no reasonable hope. 1t is opposed by
the predictions of large number OF lrshmen ana
by the very spirit of reconciliation which the interim
of attempted revolutions has allowed to grow between
Irishmen and Englishmen. Mr.. Stephens's two or
three hundred thousand consprators, aided BY jail
deliverers, may be formidable organization II
one way or another, but is powerless for rev.
oiutinn., which would require an armament equal
to that with which the South began its terrible fall
ure. British minions may deserve contempt, but
the armed ron.clad British majority is worthy OF
certain respect not ill-comporting with the wisest
and, indeed the noblest and least selfish nicernian
patriotism But if the of revolution is hopeless
that of reform is hopeful Ireland has no cause but
what its earnest English friends are making their own;
and we are certain that far will be done for both
countries as tho industrious masses are franehsed.
Mr.. John Stuart Mill has made better argument for
Ireland than Mr.. James Stephens. Assuredly, John
Bright is worthier leader of intelligent lrishmen
than Stephens, O'MahAG, or Mitchell. The associa'
ton of the last named among Irish leaders only serves
to point out rank Of Irishmen, who, however fond
of their country and themselves, have small nteili-
gencc of principles, and care little for any race other
than their own. ASsuredly, man who deliberately
fights for Slavery cannot strive for true liberty ana
does not seek it. The man who, on this side OF
the water denies Impartial suffrage does not compre'
bend the the purpose value OF extending 1t TO his
countrymen OIL the other That Irshman who Will
help Ireland most will be as willing to help English
men and coored Americans as well.
The Irish movement ought TO mean reform, and
not revolution Conscious of the strength of some
national spirit it can well afford to refrain from the
tragedy of an overt act, waiting and watching the
progress of the reform question and abolition of the
Church ndowments-content, in short, to be more
peacefully what the armed English ieudalsts were
once upon a time" Good lockers on in Ireland
If the Church and Suffrage questions are likely to be
successful it ID quite likely that Mr. Luby and bis
compatrios will come out of prison before their time,
and that Emmet's epitaph can be written without
blood.