The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-10-26
mir. FROUDE'S LECTURES IN THE
UNITED STATES.

HE III EGlkEB OI ISbIAC Ia AA1 w.
the United States. Five of them are to
be specially devoted to the connection
between England and Ireland, as far
back as history goes.
Heexpresseshimse thoroughly posted
on the subject as he has had access to a
mass Of secret correspondence, and says
the Chancellor of Exchequer told him
in connection with these lectures, It's
no good, Froude, for you to attempt to
lecture ON the subject, for you are sure
to tell the truth, and the truth is always
unpalatable."
Now this telling the truth, is precisely
what Mr.. Froude does notsdo. He is re-
liable enough in his statement of facts,
but his commentaries upon them are
marked with the bitterest prejudice, and
sometimes quite equivalent to~falsehood
from their malice and uncIlaritableness.
II he ia as harsh in dealing with Ireland
as with Mary Queen of Scots, we do not
think his lectures will tend to encourage
kindly feelings between the nations.
Perhaps his prejudices may set in the
other way though in either case he is
certain to be one-sided. .sa-":zH Ft
We are agreatadmirer of Mr.. Froude's
clear, forcible style, and picturesque
groupings. Where it is possible for him
to besunbiassed and dispassionate, he is
without exception the most delightful
chronicler of the Past, But some chap
ters i'm his late History Of England, from
their virulence and m~aligaancy, are a
disgrace to humanity. ~
. We allude to those which treat Of the
life and death of the luckless Scottish
Queen. Never were chapters fuller OF
mocking sneers, and whatever errors, OF
even crimes, darkened her life, her bit
teFest foes have never before questioned
the serene majesty of her death.
To us the guilt or innocence of Mary
matters little. Nearly three centuries
ago the world was divided in opinion
over the measure Of her iniquities, and
time has certainly brought us no nearer
the truth. We do not ask to-day If the
tragedy OF the " Kirk Of Fieldn lies at
her door, but we look upon her as a wo-
man who, whatever may have been her
faults, suffered lon gandseverely enough
to expiate the crimes in her Indictment.
The chapter of her sad life, SO full of
majesty, has been disfgured by Mr..
.Froude's inhuman commentaries. He
deseribesitas rs grand Histrionie tableau,
where the principal actress thought only
Oh. hermortuary robes. He g~oesthrough
the disrobing and points out that her
under costume was crimson. "She stood
On the blackscaholl, with the blackfg-
ures around her, blood red from head to
foot. Her reasons for adopting such a
singular costume must be left to conjec-
ture. 1t is only certain it must have
been carefully studied.n
Perhaps there was q chapter in the v1n-
happy Wonnan'smiind which Mr.. FFoude,
with all his access to private sources,
couldnotread. We havealvays thought
the choice OF this extraordinary color,
proceeded from Mary's well known hor-
o to blood. The hideous contrast
which the crimson life tide would offer
to the garments it would shortly dye,
probably preyed morbidly upon her
mind, and gave choice TO the color. Be-
sides red robes were in early times typ
ical of martyrdom.
Even when the woman he aetests
mounts the scadiold Mr.. Froude sneers
at the piteous episode DC her little hand
placed between her neck and the hard
wood Of the block, and after the fnal
stroke says: .ss
AT once o metanlorpllOsia was wit.
messed strange as WA ever wrought By
mbled enchanter. The Golf and falss
plaits fell of The Iabored illusion van,
inhed. The ladg who kneh before Til
block was III the maturity Of grace ane
loneliness. The executioner, when ht
raised the head 10 show it ito tho crowd
exposed the witlered features Of griz
lied, wrfnkled old woman
There was no pity iii his record of thl
stripping DC the inaalted body, the earl
keeping their places, and even the touch
ing episode of the faithful dog burrow
ing ii the dead Wninans robes, did no
move Mr.. Fronde to one -egnressiono
pity. He was the moeking sneerer d
an extravagant melodrarae. and the las
scene was tn him, aa worthy 81 eensur
rs any in which Mary ever figured
Nov, If bE. Frotae comes among d
with amy thing like prejudice, We mn
know what to expect when his Mote
Of american Teayeln are made publ,
His statements are always oloredbyM
aaipatlies, and therefore lose much I
their value. He gives too, such vivi
word paintings, naat insensiby he inf
eneasnaafefs who have nd decided opir
ions anon the matters uf whicahe treat
An election was held ii South Car.
Inns, on the 1ethi1st. There Wasnore,
nlar Democratic ticket in the fal
There was Il regular Republican deke
md boilers Republican heket-tl
Democrat supporting the Inter. Ell
entire regular State ticket Wsss eleete
The Democrats elected one eneres
nan Out of Eve.
NV pApERs-ye have received 4
first number DC the Delhi Chronic
palIiad III Delhi, la, III Thas.
Manghaan and also 4 number nf /
White IEan Gazette, i paper recent