The New York herald., 1872-10-26
FRoUDE. z
The Union and the ireland
OF To-Day.
An IniquitOus Land Tenure the Grand
Evil Of the Irish People.
REDRESS AND HOPE AT LAST.
THE PRESENT DUTY OF IRISHMEN

~. James Anthony Froude last evening DE-
1Sered the nth and last OF his course OF lectures
- Irish history, taking as his special subject 'The
Union and the Ireland OF To-day.n There was as
large IN attendance, or even larger, than at the
asss lecture, owing, probably, to this being the
1nst appearance In New York Of the great his
ssan. the lecture itself was far the most interest
ING Of the course, and was frequently applauded,
~. vroude giving sunicient time for the points to
tell on the popular The platform, by the way,
was crowded with an unusually distinguished array
~ oiergymen and men OF letters.
Mr.. Froude began by alluding to slight mac
curscy he had made In his last lecture In quoting
Gtom Mr.. Grattan's speech. This was, however.
simply an error of arrangement, not OF fact. He
vent on TO say that forms OF government should
not be so much kept In view as the spiritual and
material condition OF the people. Aristocracies
were only bad because they were more liable to be
distorted by selfintercst.
JUST LAWS
we're the first requisite OF q good government, and
n was only when the government governed badly
that the constitution should be attacked. But re-
verse this law and begin political agitation before
you had clear idea OF what you wished to destroy
or to build up, and your efforts were worse
than useless. The Irish had fallen into this
mistake almost invariably, and scarcely had
practical reform than they had been thrown hack
again by foolish political agitation. Just before
the insurrcction OF 98 all OF Irelands grievances
were In course OF rearess; but these concessions
were simply interpreted by the Irish as meaning
that England was afraid OF them. In 1862 the con-
sttuti0n that succeeded the Union was fairly
~ work. Three-quarters OF country more
fertile than Scotland and as fertile as
the best parts OF England was almost
desolate wilderness. The lands were untitled, and
the peasantry dwelt in miserable cabins without
windows which they shared with theirpigs. Their
holdings were perhaps only an acre or two, cult
waited with potatoes, for which they gave the old
ruinous rack rent And yet the people were
NOT UNHAPPY; ".-ses = -
their only fear was lest some neighpor might bid
higher rent and the landlord should drive
them away to starve in the nearest
ditch. The landlords were Of several
kinds, the main classes being the great magnates
who lived in London, and the squires and
Squireens, who gambled and drank and fought
duels and ruined their tenants. 1t was remark
able. however, that this last was the most popular,
while the improving landlord was hated in
senseiy, BECAUSE, nnurng Rls ls9a Uttered With
paupera ne removed them to make way for
xthriftJ Ind Industrious Scotchmen or English
men, After ALL these paupers, or vermin, as they
fu that they should retaiate by the murder Of the
Improving landlord or OF the improving landlords
agent or bailir2 Such was Ireland after six nun
dred years Of English rule. The law had invariably
been the enemy OF Irishmen, and they were there
l0re lawless. more powerful police was the next
thing called for. But it was OF good reorgan.
se the police unless the iniquitous laws that had
led to crime were abolished. Then, again, the re-
h&1ous question came forward The Established
r9iO
Of Ireland yet f0ur-dfths of the
PEOPLE WERE CATHOLIC,
and would remain so, while OF the PrOtestants less
than half acknowledged this same State establish
ment He (Froude) did not think, however, that
greatest Of England's wrongs. He, for one, recog-
nized the immense influence for good OF the
IN eland ana shmen showed decacy anne
modesty OF character, which was undoubtedly
due TO to the influence Of their religious teachers
ter SO long as the popes retained hope OF re-
covering their Old power no Catholic was per
against the reformed religion. Could England,
power in Ireland any more than Prince Bismarck
could to-day allow the Jesuts 10 undo the German
COnfederacyY The Irtshman for centuries looked
upon his allegiance to the Pope superior TO his
English sovereign. Far more blame was due to
England for her cruelty and oppression to the Irish
Nonconformsts than for her treatment OF the Irish
Catholics. After the peace Of Utrecht politics as
sumed
1t ceased to be the avowed duty OF the Catholic
70 never recognize the authority OF a Protestant
prince But for the United Irishmen and the re-
bellion OF '9s Catholic emancipation would have
been at once passed as a Just and necessary law,
achieve it by long and tedious strug-
gle. But much remained to be done after
worse ofY than ever Ills landlord was generally
aProtestant and said to him. "You must vote as !
DO or yu win turn you on my Land !, while the % priest
communicate you" O'Connell II he had wished
instead OF clamoring Tor repeal, which he knew
he would never get might have secured many
JUST LAND LAW,
such as Mr.. Gladstone had recently passed. The
English reformers such Sir Robert Peel, had,
however succeeded In giving the Irish satisfactory
@ o. a out ~ TINS ms nad seen gsea
sired that the sheep should be separated rom the
goats on this as well as on the other side OF the
day Of Judgment. The great evil OF Ireland after
emancipation was the land tenure. The landlords
for the most part were impoverished and out at
elbows, while the peasantry multiplied exceed
ingly, owing TO the encouragement OF both the
priests and the landlords, the former IN order TO
people there were the higher rose his rents. In
i846 there were 100000 OF people, 100000 Of
whom were beggars, and all living on
THE ETERNAL POTATO.
We most OF us remembered how sadly all this
ended. The note OF warning had long been sounded
Cobbett had shown the folly OF allowing an Inn
mense population to spring up, trusting for support
TO one single precarious crop. The. potato iailed
and there came the famine. The Irish bore the
calamity with a patience and herosm that could
not be too highly admired. quarter OF
. million OF them perished OF sheer hunger.
As fast as 1t could be done supplies were
sent by England, and the government voted ten
millions OF money, eight OF which ne believed had
been stolen. America also forwarded magnificent
contributions, and from all parts OF the world there
came help and succor. At length the famine was
stayed, and as usual the blame was thrown on
THE WRONG SHOULDERS.
Political economists upbraided the Come
mara peasant because he was not sum
rientiy well up In 'Matthews on Popu.
iati0n.,' The first result OF the famine was the
revival OF political delirium. 0Connel preached
repeal as the spring OF frelands misery Just he
had previously preached the same thing about
emancipation. Then suddenly came the report
that 400, 900 Irishmen were prepared for revolt
He tFroude) mad himself gone to ireland, believing
that the day OF Judgment had indeed come AZ last
But how mseraby 1t all ended scufne In