The New York herald., 1873-12-04
Ireian nd and tho Irish Qucstion-Whst
II the situation


Many of our readers have seen with unusual
interest the correspondence which the HERALD
has published during the last few days from
Ireland 1t is difficult to enter upon sub
ject Of this kind in city like ours. which we
believe is entitled to the rank Of being the
first Irish city In the world, and where any
question concerning the happiness or the
politics of Ireland is sure to be considered
with passion and prejudice and from its bear
ing upon our own local and social affairs.
There is no problem that enters more INTO
q large portion of New York society than the
Irish question. There is none which is so
frequently discussed, about which there are
so many opinions and upon which we receive
SO much conflicting information. In all irish
questions our people are not judges, or critics,
but partisans. A citizen of New York whose
recollections go back to the days he spent In
Connaught or Kerry, or who came here from
Belfast or Londonderry as an industrious
emigrant with canny Scotch ways and opin-
ions, is certain to look upon any Irish subject
with the traditions that come from his youth.
Ireland is his home probably in higher
sense even, because absence gives home asso-
Citations tenderness that increases with exile,
and when we consider that there are proba-
bly, no two men upon the face of the
universe who would have opinions more
opposite on the same question than an
Irishman from Connaught and his fellow
countryman from Derry, we can understand
tha sf9o,,l+xy which o,v Of yu11at hova
in endeavoring to present an impartial view
OF the politics and agitations of that unhappy
country.
In following the reports of our correspond
ent, who was sent into Ireland some time
ago, with instructions to investigate this ques-
ton and give us the fullest and most impair
tial information, we observe that no matter
what the cry of the hour may be, the "Irish
question" to-day is substantially what it has
been since the time of the English occupation.
Whether the agitation is movement for re-
peal the rebellion of Emmett or Catholic
emancipation, Fenianism or home rule, we
notice that it is the same revolution, with a
new life, new names and new leaders.
The Irishman who would have gladly well
coined the French in the time of the Republic
and Directory is the same man as the
O'Connell who addressed the monster
meetings for repeal as those of our
own time who would gladly invade
Canada or burn a prison in London.
They go by various roads to the same pur-
pose-the purpose of independent national ex-
ietap 20 ra,a rotiop from, Groof Rr;ta;p II 10 a
singular phase of this agitation that time has
not weakened it; that no concessions on the
part of the English government have dimmed
its intensity; that whereas the leaders of the
Irish party have compelled the Catholic eman-
cipation, the disesta ablishment of the Irish
Church, the passage of the Ecclesiastical Tithe
act, and other measures, some Of which almost
imperilled the administration of Mr. Gladstone
by the distaste excited in the minds of English
men, and that while the political result Of this
agitation has been to compel from the govern
ment of England one concession after another,
Ireland is to-day as dissatisfied and restive in
her allegiance as she was when Cromwell was
invading her SOIL or when General Hoche and
his French expedition were lowering round
her coasts.
This may come from many reasons that our
correspondent has not as yet presented to us
The great difficulty in the way of any settle
ment of the Irish question is the strong
In one part we have population industri-
GUS, resolute, thrifty and spirited, who
have no memory more sacred than that of
Londonderry and William Prince of Orange.
and who feel it duty to drink perdihon and
shame to Irishmen who believe in the Roman
power. In another part there is population,
chivalrous, high spirited, with q genius for
poetry and war; who look upon Cromwell and
the Prince of Orange as the enemies of the
human race who long for the time when
Drogheda and Derry will be avenged, and
who cling to the Roman power with stead
fastness that is seen in no other Catholic
people of the globe So, between the Orange
and the Green there is q civil war raging that
time and craftsmanship have never appeased
The thought has often occurred TO us that if
there were to be separation between Eng
land and Ireland-if the English government
were to concede all that is demanded by Mr..
Butt Mr.. Sullivan and their friends-the
Orange and the Green could not exist in Ire
land without instant and atrocious civil war.
We attribute this animosity to that ignorance
which, in other countries and at other times,
has given rise to similar animosities. For
centuries the bitterness between the English
and the French, as seen in the old novels, the
A. - IL
catures about the times of Napoleon, the
books, pamphlets and broadsides published
during the reign of George the Third. was as
fierce and unwise as these d;ssensions in Ire
land Even in the observations OF philosopher
like Johnson, as keen an observer as Smollett,