Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-10-26
MR.. FROUDE AND FATHER BURKE
The controversy about ireland.

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The New York Tribune says:
In the turmoil of politics and the ex-
citement of the last days Of the great
canvass, we must spare few moments
for a neat little controversy which has
broken out in this city between two OF
our distinguished guests, one the most
famous Of living English historians, the
other perhaps the most brilliant OF living
Irish orators. The battle began sud-
denly and sharply, and it promises, if
all 90 we'll, to result in poiemical en-
gagement of the most dashing and enter
tanning character. When Mr.. Froude
came here to discuss the relations be-
tween the Irish nation and its English
eonquerors, everybody who had read his
book scented battle from afar. We
knew that he would be-if not the apol-
ogist of his own people-at least an un
sparing critic of the sister island. We
knew that with the vehemence of strong
convictions he united boldness in up
holding unusual opinions which was not
unlike the Irish fondness for a fight.
But the man who should mount o plat
form in the city of Dublin, and tell the
public that Ireland had chiefly herself to
blame for her own misfortunes, and that
English rule was probably the greatest
blessing that could be granted her, would
not be more certain of trouble than the
Englishman who came into this half
Irish city Of New York, and sought to
convince US that our sympathy for Irish
rebellion during 80 many years had been
sadly misapplied.
1t happened that the very night after
Mr.. Froude's first lecture the brilliant
Dominican preacher, Father Burke,
whose eloquence gave celebribity TO one
of the foreign pulpits of Rome, was an
nounced to speak at the Academy OF
Music on the Irish Volunteers Of l7sa.
If Mr.. Froude has no power to hold his
peace when he has a thought which he
believes the world ought to be told,
Father Burke is equally unable to re.
strain his oratory when his patriot in
stincts have been wounded. He devoted
a large part of his lecture to a courteous
but impassioned answer to the learned
historian. He questioned his state
ments of fact and denounced his logic;
and in reply 80 the assertion that Pope
Adrian had authorized Henry III. to un-
dertake the conquest of Ireland and use
bis Norman soldiers to keep the peace
in that distracted Island, the Dominican |
impugned the truth of the story, and
declared that he believed it to be from
beginning to end a humping English
le;' whereat, OF course, his hearers
were very much delighted. Now this
off.hand way of handling historical |
points may be effective so long as one
hears only one side; and probably very |
very few Of Father Durke's audience |
stopped to reflect that there really was |
a bull from Pope Adrian to Henry H., |
though historians differ as to its pur-
port. In like manner, Mr.. Froude's re-
joindeF, given the following evening, was
sharp and at first sight eonclusiyei for
he begged Father Burke to look at a
volume of papers recently published by
Fheiner from the archives OF the Vati-
can, where he would find, not, indeed,
the bull of Adrian, but bull by one of
Adrian's successors confirming it. But
al! this does not prove what the bull
really granted and that is historically !
the essence Of the discussion.
The most significant part, however,
Of Mr.. Froude's answer was addressed
not TO the questioned the bill, but to the
Reverend Dominican himself. If the
story was humping English lie, said
he, il must have been Norman lie; and
that is sad thing for Burke to say
because there is 10 purer Norman blood
anywhere than that of the Burkes of
Ireland. What severer blow could be
dealt an Irish adversary than saying he
was not an Irishman2 Here spoke the
true Intellectual gladiator; not the histo-
rian, not the political philosopher, not
the oontroYersialist, but the keen, cour-
ageous fighting man, who loves a battle
for the excitement Of the combat, and
rejoices more in the fray than in the vic
tory. What the distinguished preacher
win do 10 return vs wait impatiently to
see. There is little doubt that Mr..
Froude has met his match in combative-
ness and in daring and that Father
Burke will soon find an opportunity OF
resumiDg the contest which has thus
vigorously opened. However the palm
moy fall, the public will observe the dis
cussion with the deepest interest," and
error, let us hope, will be the only suf-
ferer from the blows which are likely to
be exchanged.