The New York herald., 1878-12-02
THE NEW IRISH DEPARTURE
A VOICE FROM IRELAND.


has interviewed Mr.. Luby, Mr.. Bresin Mr. Bourke
Mr.. Rossa. Mr.. Condor and other prominent irisi
nationalsts not named; and. while they differ some
what in their views Your conclusion is that "Fenan
ism seems roaly be about to take departure
. The reporter assured that lively times
are ahead i'm both England and Ireland
belief in mere isolated nsnrreetionary movements
seems to have died out and to be replaced by deter
mnation to obtain such public standing in Ireland
as will attract the attention of the world and secure
alliances with Engands t'.e.. the United Kingdoms
enemies
Tho gentlcmen son name are well known. Thci
words carry weight snch az cannot be attached Il
mine ann unknown: but hold strong and cea
convictions and / trust your courtesy to be per
mitted 10 lag them before my countrymen in th,
United states have not suffered for ireland the,
have suffered; have not endured imprisonments oil
been subjected to indignities which, mcted to poit
ical Offenders have inflicted ndelibe stains upon the
dignity and honor of the Unitel Kingdom Bnt
love Ireland as truly and deeply as any of them;
thoughts regarding her and what Is for her happiness
and interest follow me in my business. my Studies
and my pleasures. around me whether live ut
home or travel abroad.
Although unknown, am not unqualified to speak.
/ am Dublin tradesman, my ancestors: my
interests therefore identified with the prosperity
ami happiness OF lfelanu nave nat lrSn natlouai-
list sympathies all my life; treasurer of the
Home Rnle League for nearly seven years am there
fore not unqualified to speak regarding Irish politics.
have written not unimportant book relating ia
Irish biography AM therefore not unqualified to
speak regarding Irish history Protestant, and nc
admirer of the Catholic system, love my Catholic
fellow countrymcn and entirely respect their convc
tons and love Catholics abroad. because they form
such an overwhelming proportion Of my couIltrymen
at home am therefore not entirely ont OF accord with
their feelings and aspirations Idesre to denounce in
the most unqualified terms the new departure pro.
posed for Irelands acceptance; yet entirely under
stand the feelings that sway Mr.. Rosa and that Of
his friends. dislike the caste system upon which
ciety in the United Kingdom is largely founded.
would prefer the land tenure of France and Prussia
to our own. Iabominate the British policy Of for
eign domination over inferior races (as l do your
spoliation of the red mani. While believe that the
the result of circulnstanccs-not Of anything in
herentiy wicked in the English people or govern
ment-of the death struggle waged between Proies.
tantism and Catholicism over the civilized world for
centuries not that English Professionalism worse
nigh as bad as Spanish and French Catholicism-I
still understand their feelings Of hatred toward Eng
land: and somewhat similar feelings so far sway
that never feel toward the Union Jack as your
citizens feel toward the Stars and Stripes, as the
French feel toward the Tricolor and the Swiss feel
toward the White Cross.
But cannot shut my eyes to present facts,
done that will hurt England Il. e., the United King
dom, OF which ireland is part; therefore that Will
hurt ireland) before we 60. won,d in any way atone
the future. may have thought differently once, but
years and study and pretty apprenticeship
in the school Of Irish politics have convinced me to
the contrary.
There IS as real freedom and as perfect justice to be
had i'll these countries in any other countries upon
earth. There is not wrong not inequality and
there are many existing that may not be rghted by
honest and persistent constitutional agitation.
Nail ktpn hnl6I hQn h1 fpaH many
OF them mistaken. and personal procliyities
and passions that may be subdned Look
deed she might be. but in happier state than
she in before, having made wonderful progress
in wealth and civilization during the past thirty
ciable thread in the lives of masses Of our fellow
counrymen it s as nothing to the hourly and daily
interests that bind them to the satu quo The civil
service OF the United Kingdom and its depen-
denotes is open to all through competitive examine
tions, and largely do all classes OF Irshmen crowd
into it, The army navy and militia must be popular.
Irishmen form larger proportion thereof III com.
parison TO their numbers than do the Inhabitants OF
any other portion OF the United Kingdom. large
armed police force is here maintained composed Of
Irishmen; situations therein eagerly sought for
Millions Of Irishmen live in Great Britain An
Englishnan il popular in Ireland as Is Us anIrsh
man.
Az to foreign affarsthe influence the United King.
dom has undoubtedly obtained in India and
whcre--lreland part OF that United Kingdom
would nave infinitely greater influence for good than
ii she were independent.
All that is wanted TO confrm Ireland in the way Of
solid prosperity and happiness is thatthe ennoblng
breath conscious political life should grow with
her-that she should accept responsibilities as well
patronage. Theoretically would prefer that this
should come about through independence. But LEI
recognize the truth thar this cannot be. do moi
believe the governing public opinion Of Ireland
would sanction the change, and the United Kingdom
Is but following the instinct OF every nation that has
sprung into being in objecting evep to the men-
ton or dismemberment.
My experience OF Irish politics convinces me that
the irish people do not for minor rearrange
ment Of the relations between the islands up the
point OF making the sacrifices necessary for its accom-
therefore maintain that q policy such that
sketched out in the departure, or the home pol
icy OF keeping up u sInmerine discomfort as = means
necessity will be ruinous and degrading to the coun
try. Let recognize that we cannot accomplish
ends, and let us stand aside. Let liz hold
opinions, theories, intact but let rise to
the height of loving Ireland entirely and unsel
hshly tnat We will rest satisfied IL we but see her
happy.
themselves ready to give thcir anther liyes-reely
and hopefully pursue her path to happiness, although
that path may not be the one VIZ would choose or
that which thousands have sacrificed themselves
DO not let basely seek to disturb where cannot
cfectuay aid; not let us further to drug her
mind with bitter memories that can only poison her
future Happiness.
OF our country ncp southern continents enter
heartily and honestly into the political life and
duties relating to their new homes Let those OF us
who remain in ireland, VINO cannot heartily throw
ourselves into affairs they try to aid in small
things IL We cannot hope TO forward great lrelund
we nope, will brighten and flourish with the ages
Life has other pieasur.s and other duties besides
those ferccly political. At the worst a few years
ard and our parsiOus and disappointed hopes will
be resting in quiet graves.
In any case, wnat rynt have to carry quar-
rcls out to the disturbance of the politics OF other
nationsy What horrible idea IL is 10 seek to ebro
them in complications and account
what role some of us are playing abroad As yet q
traditionary sympathy has been extended toward u.s.
But flew more years Of such policy as that OF the
new departure offered to our seceptsnce-a few mors
years OF doorous plants aud Impressions. in the
o the real state of affairs ut homeland the very
OF Ireaid will become hated among the nations
Ireland indeed cannot follow out the new depart
ure without many glanccs backward the past
She viii never forget any that have ever honestly
suffered for her. Least OF all will she for
get US, IT, imbu.d with genuine self-forgesful
love, we are willing to make for her what
may after all be- the greatest sacrncethe abandon
nent OF long cherished desires and lifelong aspira-
tons. But Ireland will in the future have, while
remembering reason to curse MS IL, not recognizing
the signs OF the times, powerss TO aid her in our
own way set snares und pitfalls on the path she ap