The New York herald., 1877-12-17
LITERATURE.
A NEW BOOK on IRELAND.

No important and generally interesting work
on Ireland has maze its appearance In many years
Its importance Is que TO tho clear light which IL
throws evenfu history OF the past forty years.
tho chief OF which have transpired within tha
authors knowledge and not infrequeniy with his ai
The In which these described u
such make them interesting TO the general
reader well rs to the politician and tho student Of
history. The object OF the work shown In tho first
paragraph of the preface-"Within considerably less
than half century changes social and political,
complishing a veritable revolution have taken place
In Ireland. In the following pages have underiaken,
much to picture them in all their phases 10
write a formal history OF tho period TO supply,
chiefly from personal observation series OF sketches
narratives which may perhaps assist in the reader
and more correct appreciation OF visible results"
Mr.. sullivan begins by taking retrospective
glance at ireland It IN 1910, giving
graphic delineation of The condition OF the ru-
raj population, the poorer casses at that lmc.
Then the changes VIII ch havo gradually taken
place, both In their physical and mental cond-
tion, traced with careful PEN Tho second chap
ter OF the efforts which have long been madc
but only within the past thirty years with anything
like satisfactory success TO establish permanent sys-
ten OF national education. Owing chiefly to the
tagonism OF Catholics and Protestans progress
made Tor many years "Ihc average standard OF pro-
hcency attained, especially In rura, dsrIcs,' says
the writer, "is SUI low, owing the short
and broken periods for which children allowed 10
attend school rather than help food for homo
by work ir the 6elds. But slight the actual
achievement may be- In a strictly educational point OF
view, socially and politically considered, nothing short
ot revolution has been elected" With great love
and vencration Mr.. sullivan draws the portrait OF
Daniel Oconnell ''the grand old tribune Of Irish
people," career is sgetchcd briefly and with
v,gor Tho Repeal Association and the two great
parties into which 1t split-the Young Ireland the
Old Ireland-are made tho subject or special crit.-
cism-the history OF their origin and motives their
struggles, successes and failures forming OF tho
interesting chapters of the book.
The "Ribbon Coniedcracy'-that secret, oathbound
agrarian society, which attained TO greater dime
and lived longer term than any other which haa "
afflicted Ireland for tho past 100 ycarss 'shown up'
with the skill OF expert. Tho prevalent that
It's operations related solely or mainly to transactions
in land. and POLITICAL Is thoroughly exploded.
Its objects shown to have been different d.ner-
parts OF the country In certain counties its ends
were political, religious or agrarian but Sin Lenscr
1t often was trade unionism, debating by ita
mandates and enforcing bf It's vengeance the employ
ment or dismiss,l OF workmen, stewards and do
mestics This latter phase generally proceeded
appearance Of the system in particular locality,
and evidently the lowest and basest form to which
It sank rotted in decay" In all various phases
this country In lacking the sympathy and support OF
educated and respectable people in meeting with
the opposition Of the priesthood and clergy. From
the subject OF Rbbonism and the terrible atrocities
committed In It's name Mr.. Sullivan leaps to the life
and career of Theobad Mathew, tthe apostle OF
temperance" whom he places in tho first rank with
Daniel O'Conpeil 'In widely different characters,
however, these two men cminenco and PRAISE
One was political leader. tho other a moral
dad I'm al nff fhn
party the State, the other received the homage OF
all" He denies that Father Mathew the originator
OF the temperance movement, which was inaugurated
in Cork In 1885 by band of men, 'cheay Protesants
some Of tho most active among them belonging toa
religious den animation, tho members OF which have
been leaders In nearly every social and moral rcform
and every humane or philanhropic effort within my
memory, in Ireland-the Society OF Friends" "To
the movement OF Father Mathew is owing that public
opinion favor Of temperance effort that paramen-
tary in iavor Of temperance legislation, which
Ireland has notably, steadily exhib,ted' Tho
famine OF 1s47, Mr.. Sullivan thinks, brought changes
which have altered the country radically 'that lre
land OF old times will be more. With tho
greater seriousness OF character which the famine
period has imprinted the Irish people notable
changes for the better must bo recognized. Provi-
donce forethought, economy are studied and valued
as they before There is more method,
strctncss and puncuality In business transactions
There Is gravcr sense of responsibility on all hands,
For the first time future seems to be earnestly
thought Of and It's possible vicisstudes kcpt in view
Moro stcadness OF purpose, more hrmness oil deter.
minatson character Irish pcasantry Of the
new era. God has wed that sn tho midst Of such
awful su1erngs some share oil blessings should fall on
the sorey shattered nation" Ono of great evils Of
the famine the ''painful misunderstanding and
bitter recrimination to which 1t led between the
nlas of Enpln md nd frclan nd M nj
the author his best allay, making ample apoi
ogies and explanat atoms for both sides. Tho tsnsur-
rectonary movement OF lS4S" is treated OF graphi-
cay and a. SOME length Its sad and terrible ovents
and the painful after described by who
learned many oil them from the lips OF thos who had
struggled and suffered The Irish exodus which began
little more than quarter OF q century ago, EATER
the FIRST terr bic ordeal, beginning to bear soma
good useful fruit D,sadvantageous then
IN the the cxpatriated Celts are
decidedly pulling up and striding well to
the front In many land. They are acquiring skill,
turning to good account their naturally quick in
tcigcncc. In some places, unfortunately, the vices
cngsndcred of ignorance and poverty still drag them
down keep them low; but in most instances they
have conquered tho respect and secured the kindly
regard OF their employers, neghbors aud fellow work.
men" The story Of John Sader and William Keogh
fills TWO long chapters, ana the "Arbuthnot abduc-
ton" IS recited in glowing words. Among the other
interesting chapters--and there many OF them
those which tell oil the Tenant League, the Phoenix
Conspiracy, the Fcnian movement as well as thosa
which are headed "Papal Ireland" ''Home Rule"
the "Discstabshed Church" and .Ircland at West
minister" The loss and gain which occurred during
the past forty years carefully and hopefully summed
up the closing pages Il IS to be hoped that Me-
sullivan viii succeed, AS he deserves, in the object
ich led him to write New lrelananthe desire OF
.promoting that better understanding ana klndlicr
feeling between the New England aud New lreIand
which patriotic hearts either shore assuredIy
dcsre.p
LITERARY CHTr-CHAT.