The New York herald., 1872-10-20
THE CURSE OF IRELAND AND Mr.. RROUDE.
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To THE EDITOR OF the HERALD

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
On that unending argument OF Ireland, "the sore
that still breaks out from age to age, with still the
same result" perhaps you would allow few
words OF comment, apropos OF Mr.. Froades lecture.
That gentleman argues like an Englishman, and,
therefore, his argument never satisfy an Irish
man. He wanders In that Irish anarchy like so
many others, and disappoints those who thought
he would have made philosophical abstract OF the
whole question and shown himself o better histori-
cal critic.
The truth OF the matter seems to be, though the
wranglers on both sides lose sight OF 1t, that the
fate OF Ireland is due to her place the map DR..
brennan thought her position very fair One:-
In station twice blest.
With her back turned to Britain her face to the West
But he was msled by his poetry. Moore was
nearer the mark when he said it was "fate" tnat
wove the web OF her discords 1t was certainly the
fate oil her position; and she has hitherto labOred
under the curse OF her geography-a lesser island
under the lee OF larger. In this light we find the
logic Of her destiny legble enough. From this ex-
ceptional position-for you cannot find In all the
world another island SO situated-havc come the
two secondary agencies that have mainly helped
to make Ireland what she is. One Of these is the
remote isolation Of the country, which left iJ for
ages in the loose patriarchal condition OF all early
races The just and gentle Brehon laws gave every
man his place on the SOIL and to the people at large
those ideas OF personal right and independence
that had died out in the rest OF medieval Europe.
Literature was the glory OF such people and
lighting their pastime. Any one can understand
why they could not resist the feudasm that came
in upon them, harnessed and disciplined. The
Scotch had been well gathered up under kings and
had efs before the Plantagenets went up to attack
them-facts that enabled them to hold their own.
The comparative .'poortith' OF the country was
another good help In that cause In Ireland, as
have said, matters were regulated In another way.
For century and half before I'LL there had been
no crowned Ard-righ in the island, and the people
came with the Latin policy and the P0pes sanction
to announce that the world was on the march,
tyrant after the Continental sort, making fefs and
fortified cities, would have been the salvation Of
Ireland. But the tribes did not want any such
at the same time slowly. The Irish were not
brought to order before the time Of James |. l6O3.
Irish grew that other fatality OF the island divi-
sion, which prevented the expulsion OF the Eng
LIS ish: In the Catholic times It kept the tribes
undergo two raging religions, that same deadly
principle continued in fun force-just "a we have
seen It in our own times. II the Irish were of one
religion in 1882, all Ireland would have been in
dependent. The English always felt that, II the
people OF such an island were of one mind 1t would
be impossible to hold 1t, and they feared the Anglo
Irish even more than they feared the natives They
accordingly found the plan OF discord and exter-
That Is the style OF the worlds progress every
where. Civilization means "overrunning" for the
most part, as Red Cloud and Holen the Day would
readily testify.
1t may seem harsh with regard to Ireland to
argue In this way about the curse Of her geography
But she may console herself with the idea that
England Is under the same kind OF malediction. 1t
Is curse to be under the necessity las II is con-
sdered) OF worrying, manning and facilitating
the wretched sister at her side and of tearing at
every crisis that native rebellion or foreign inter-
yention may break the unnatural compact of the
hn N m Iv uyifh md
England is more afraid now than she was In 1882,
for numDer OF reasons that need not be enume-
rated here Indeed, 1t seems very probable that
Ireland Will be the state" of England, and England
can decide what that tate shall De Mr.. Froude and
all other enlightened Engshmen should expend all
their elOquence IN the task OF bringing their
high-handed mother country round TO the only
policy that can preserve and strengthen her. They
should advise that Catholic Ireland should be
treated like Presbyterian Scotland and tn at
Catholic Irishmen should be welcomed to all the
IS the way Of this he
are q very superstitious people, especially since
the Reformation. Mr.. Buckle offended the Scotch
when he said they were as superstitous as the
Spaniards; and he might have included his own
countrymen. But the superstltions are wtherlng
will yet be driven out OF England, leaving her
clothed In her right mind. In another generation
the equal partnership and predominancc OF Ireland
In that powerful empire OF the North Sea may be
one OF the worlds facts. An Irish Catholic may fll
the place now occupied by Mr.. Gladstone
and another OF the same persuasion may carry the
truncheon welded by the late Duke OF Wellington.
In such the old geographical curse OF a thou
sand years would be spelled backward and re-
pealed. and the fends OF hatred and revenge "in
the deep bosom Of the ocean buried"
Mr.. Fr0ude and others mistake when they think
the Irish people will be satisfied with some mate
rial concessions, such would benefit the agrcul-
turists and make them comfortable any
others OF their class in Europe. The malcOntents
have gone beyond that stage and have risen to the
level OF IAN ideai'-the idea o.. q long, grinding
tyranny and a thousand unatoned insults. Their
pride Is concerned. and the English rulers will find
II harder TO manage that than to manage their
poverty. The Irish need to be conclliated and IL
they are found to be the most placabe race In
the world they are also capable OF the most dan
gerous resentments growing keener as the race
itself grows more enlightened. This Is the con-
sideration that should weigh with all English
statesmen and all lovers OF England. They should
trust the Irish race, both in Ireland and in Britain
and allow them In all things that perfect equality
which belongs to them by every right Of nature
and genius. otherwise old England will still sit In
her old state OF shot water" qualified in chronic
way by the most contradictory and imbecile ter
r0rs ever known In this w0rld-terrOrs that make
her shudder alike at the idea of bringing poor Ire
land closer to her side and Of letting ner gOarther
or II that Is noble attitude Tor ian old and
naughty nation, proud in arms" let Mr.. Fr0ude
and the other English advocates say so.
NJ MUSKERRY.