The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-04-02

book q description OF Emmett among MI
friends and associates, and we are placed
In which he took part, fully to appreciate
the extent and power of his mind, and the
grave aim plicity Of his soul. Hence thit
book is of great value, and, read in con.
junction with that Of DR.. Madden, helps IL
NO small degree to fill In phases of bis
character that have hitherto remained in
darkness. Mr.. Witty has thrown his
work into q narrative-form. The story
is told in the first person, and the plan
is as follows A young Englishman,
whose mother had been born in the
neighborhood of Enniskerry, comes over
to Ireland, q short time before the prema-
ture outbreak in 1903, for the purpose of
family. He is introduced to Emmett by his
uncle, and, after some while, is so wrought
upon by the stories of rapine and murder
committed by the soldiers and yeomen,
that, in the end, he enters heart and soul
into Emmet's designs. 1t appears by the
preface that large portion OF this work
was written and published at intervals in
the pages of a magazine almost fifty years
ago. These detached papers are now col
lected and woven together with much that
In new. The first forty pages OF SO are not
likely to awaken lively interest in the
reader, as they are not very closely con-
cerned with Emmett, but merely serve as
therefore, recommend any one who may
take up the work not to judge it hastily,
but to read it deliberately through before
forming an opinion as to its merits or value.
While yielding to this volume all the praise
which it undoubtedly deserves, we cannot
allow the political opinions pervading it to
20 unquestioned. The writer had evident
" two objects in view when he set himself
to work. The fret was to show that, what
ever Emmet's mistakes may heve been, his
motive was pure and, speaking from his
own point of view, unimpeachable. The
second was to indicate that, however this
country may have been suffering at the
means to adopt with a view to the amelio-
ration of its condition. Now, considering
the unarmed and disunited state of Ireland
at the beginning of this century, it would
not, perhaps, be difficult to prove that the
idea Of armed opposition to England was
wild and illusory. But, at the same time,
We are not to lose sight of the fact that re-
bellion is simply an active expression of
discomfort, and that discomfort then exist
ed and has continued to exist down to this
very day. Between the condition of Ire
land in 1903 and the condition of Ireland
At present, there is almost the difference of
ton has been Effected by force Of arms
during that period. Year after year Eng
land has relaxed her hold, not in following
out my abstract theory of justice, not in
obedience to any dictate of love OF mercy,
not in response to the request or pressure
Of any foreign power, but aolely and simply
Ia impossible, The 46 and '66 move
ments did more to shake the faith of the
Imperial Parliament in purely military
rule for this country than thousand petit
tions from the people of Ireland or the
peaceful expostulations of any European
State. All moral force must be able in ex-
fxemity to fall back upon physical. The
one is q promissory note for the other, and
if the gold Is NO longer in the bank, the
bank paper ceases to have any value. The
time may be coming when this state Of
things shall no longer exist. Yet, however
much civilization may deplore to see thai
in this respect society has not improved
European affairs to-day, We have very little
pfesage of that epoch of universal peace
which the poet predicts
.sWhea the war-drums throb longer. and the battle
In ne ' f Par Of man. the federation of tn,
We should like to quote from Mr.. Whit.
tvs volume, but az the debates on any
one subject are generally carried through
several pages, we could not give an ade.
uuate idea of the manner in which they are
conducted in the space at our disposal
We shall, however, make one extract from
description of Emmett: "The events o
the few weeks of my acquaintance will
Robert Emmett, and its results, are as en-
during as my memory. Regrets eternally
obtrude, but they never arise without
wildly recalling to my mind the person, the
uttered thoughts, the splendid converse
tions, the heroism, and what may be called
the fanaticism Of a patriot boy. All thai
was brilliant about him brightens, as il
were, In my very soul and will own
silly as it may be, that felt pride in being
connected with the fearful proceedings
brief, hut tragical. The persona
appearance Of Robert Emmett was pieasinI
rather than commanding. The immaturit,
of youth still hung about his figure. Hi
form was, in every particular, perfect
nothing was exaggerated, and his feature
when In o state of repose, were marked
but not attractive. When b
spoke his countenance became instantly IL
teresting.- His voice was clear, distinS
and very agreeable. When he was littl