, 1872-10-19

His Speech at the Dinner Given Him
by His American Publishers.

FROUDE.
His speech at the Dinner Given Him
by His American p Publishers.
At the dinner given to James Anthony Froude,
the eminent English historian, BY his American
in New York, Oct. Is, George William Curtis,
who presided, made an address of welcome, to
which Mr. Froude responded as follows:
When, e few years since, an English squadron
was engaged with the forts on the Peyho, one OF
our ships ran On bank, and was suffering
frigate which WAS in the river came to her help
the commander saying briefly, that blood was
thicker than water. That blood was thicker than
water, sent Dr.. Kane into the Arctic Circle in
thicker than water, induced the chivalrous editor
Of the New York Herald to despatch Mr.. Stanley
into the heart of Africa to seek and ind David
Livingstone. The same feeling has created in
the English nation a more genuine delight IN
the success Of private enterprise Of an Ameri-
can citizen, than it Livingstone had been dis
covered and brought homo by the agents of our
own societies. -.
Ny literary career has been chaquered one.
Ihavebeen connected from the beginning with
subjects on which passion is still boiling Those
who handle hot Goals are apt to burn their fin
gers, and have now and then burnt mine. Lit
erature,, however, has also brought me many
pleasures. OF all these pleasures, not one has
given me so much qualification as the recogni-
tion which my writings have been 30 fortunate
as to receive in this country. Long ago your
Historical Societies at Philadelphia and Boston
we're among the firstto hold out 8 hand to me.
Your reception Of me here this evening. gentle
men, would have been the most agreeable expe-
rience in my literary life, we're it not that feel
oppressed BY your goodness to me, When see
myself here surrounded by the most brilliant
representatives Of American hteratuIe-by men
whose names have been household words
wherever the English language is spoken-1 am
which shall inevitably dsappoint. We are all
Of us so constituted BY nature that We can swal-
low q large measure Of fattery, but the digestive
power even here has its limits. know too we'll
the measure of my own eapaptp'es:, \ ten ahn maxe
bury" would 'twere evening, Hal, and all we're
we'll" Would it, we're fortnight hence, when
you have heard what / have to say to sou, and
your good opinion Of me had remained IN
changed.
Some eighteen months ago. alta London break
fast table, it WAS mentioned TINT ono of the most
prominent Fenian lenders was making tour IN
tho United states dilating upon English tyran-
ny. and the wrongs Of ireland. No doubt the
textis pregnant one, and it probably did not
suffer in the commentary. Irish patriotism has
many charge to bring against England, which
can be but toowell substantiated. England cnn-
not complain if Irishmen have long memory.
There are, however, features in the long tragi-
cal story which, if they do not palliate, at least
explain and make intelligible much TINT. We could
wish undone-~features which naturally enough
the Irish overlook, yet which should be borne III
mind, if an impartial Judgment is to be formed
on the controversy. l was aware how great
an influence America possesses in Ireland.
The Judgment of America has more weight in
ireland than twenty batteries Of English cannon;
and that Judgment ought not to be pronounced
said hastily, I think I will go over aud give somo
lectures on the other side spoke without serious
intention; but the idea having once presented
itself to me gathered form and tixity. am not an
Iriehmau. do not own all aero OF land III Ire
land. but circumstances, during the last thirty
wears. have thrown me much among the Irish
people. They are people who either attract
strongly, or repe1 strongly. myself had always
felt myself specially drawn toward them When
at college, ! ueed to spend my vacations Wander
ing ia the Irish mountaina. T have lived in
peasants' cabins for months together. I was
once laid up with severe illness in the wllds Of
Mayo. and the poor creatures treated me With 2
tenderness which I shall never forget. Their
interested me-. I knew Ireland before the
famine. knew it the famine. was in Ire
land afterwards, in 1913, in the Smith O'Brlen
insurrection. Since that time have been an
Irish tenant. Indeed, l may say am an evicted
tenant. I have been turned out of my holding.
the country, as was very unwilling to so. But
nv landlord simply wanted to live in his own
house, and attend to his duties. II all evictions
we're as innocent as mine, there would be little
to complain OF, and when go back I hope to
! find some other place, in the same county, which
will suit me as we'll.
When was writing my History OF England, I
Was led to look closely into the conduct OF the
English Government toward ireland in earier
times. When that book was off my hands, II be-
gan to examine into the action OF the celebrated
Penal laws OF the last century. had read what
very few persons hare read-the secret cores
pondence between the English and Iriah Admin
strations during all that period. fet, IN ehoII1
t},at had something of importance to say, and
I wished to say it. 1would not act in such q
matter without advice. consulted my friends,
and their answers we're generally unfavorable.
One said should be mobbed by the lrlsh.- an
other. that be supposed should tell the truth !;
| there was nothing 80 unpalatable as truth: had
| better let it alone. Others urged more grayely
| that it WAS unbecoming and improper to discuss
| questions Of our Own domestic politics IN for
! those who knew ireland best,-Whp said to me
| &C.," and my own instinct said 'Go." AS to
| the Irish have always been on good terms
/ with them, and believed always shall be. lhope
to spend large part OF the rest OF my hmle m
to me, they will have an opportunity at home
| Az to truth. it nav be unpaatable, but there ia
prejudice that little of it is not nnwholesome'
For the more grave objection, if l we're IN Par
lament, ii belonged to any political party, even
i 1
have weight. It might be supposed that vas
indirectly pursuing some party object. Bnt as
far as have any public character it is simply ae
a writer OF books address myself equally to
all English speaking people wherever they are
and there can be no possible reason why may
not address them as well with my tongue as my
pen Once for all, however, I insist that Eng
| land aud America do not stand to one another as
foreign nations--foreign in the sense that
| France or Russia is foreign to ua both. Pollti;
caiIy separate we may DO, but We cannot
shake of cur relationship. Sprung from
Ia common stock, with a common history
common language, common laws; chargee
as we both are by Providence viii
the carrying out of that grand principle Of or Or
dered liberty, on which, as We believe, the ameli
Grafton OF mankind depends, VIC may, be rivals
but rivals only as to which of us'shall represent
these principles most wisely and most effective
ly. ne may quarrel, and when We quarrel i vii
be with the peculiar bitterness which aist!n
Is iteelf an evidence of the closeness Of the I'll
which binds US. For the sting riees from tn
supposed absence Of the special goodwill which
each Of US conceive ve have right to look 70
from the other. Be our political position t
a,nl, ~ har 1rhat r. mav-nn1 for myEeI hop