New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-20

Nv Arnold. lamenting that Burke, " the greatest
of our political writer's and thinkers" has taiien
into undeserved neglect, finds in the new 'h'o'os'
which the condition of Ireland Coiupcis even 'ue
most unwilling of EnCllshmen feel in the cor erhs
of that country en- occasion foT rescnng anu eN
hibitipg representative specimens OF great master
OF Engsh prose composition ana OF hsii poI'Vcai
discussion. Burke, according to MI Arnold ~ al
his best when the subject is Ireland. 1t IS with
other topics that we are accustomed to associate
the most brilliant trumphS of his oratory, but the
one speech embraced in the present selection
namely his address at the Guildball IN Bristol, IN
defence OF his Parliamentary course, IS superb
piece of eloqucnce which may read again and
again with increasing admiration for its lofty sen
timents. its strong reasoning, and its polished
rhetorical art and for the letters and tracts,
we have them fine illustration of the clearness
of his thought and the elegance of his aTgumenta-
tive style. Burke may be studied with profit by
public men in other countries beside his own. lie
writes to Mrs. Crewe that work of his has, he is
told "put people in mood n little unusual to|
thenl--it has set them on thinking" "One might
have imagined" he adds. that the train of events
as they passed before their eyes might have done
that" Nevertheless it does not; and so he con-
cludes, Let them think now who never thought
before!" Mr.. Arnold quotes this remark and con
tinues: In general our Governments however we'll
informed feel bound, 1t would seem, adapt their
policy TO normal mental condition. which is, as
Burke says, a non thinking One Burke's para
mount and undying merit a politician is chat.
instead OF accepting as fatal and necessary this
non-thinking condition of ours, he battles with it,
mends and changes it; he will not rest until he
has put people a mood a little unusual with
them until he has set them on thinking"
The matter which is foremost in Irish poll
tics-the Land laws-s not directly treated IN these
specimens of Burkes political writings. The
chief topic here is the outrageous character aud the
essential Injustice and impolicy of the penalties
and disabilities imposed upon Irish Catholics, and
next in prominence is the tarbarous restriction
imposed upon Irish trade for the advantage Of
English merchants. burke was an earnest Protest
ant and he was the representative IN Parliament of
the mercantile city OF Bristol, whose commercial
classes rs much alarmed at the proposal To-
emancipato Irish trade as the religious bigots were
at the talk of emancipating the Irish Church nut
he was of the ablest and most steadfast cham
pions of both these acts of Justice and he lost has
seat in consequence. 1t is true that the measures
for which he contended a hundred years ago are no
longer in dispute; hut cannot understand the
present temper of the Irish people without knowing
how they have been treated by their English
masters in the past, and with what difficulty. and
after what insults they have secured the most
ordinary rights of subjects. "Ihe writings col
lected in this volume" says Mr.. Arnold. cover a
period of more than thirty wears of IRISH history
aud show at work all the causes which have
brought ireland to its present state TIL tyranny
of the grantees of coniiscatjon Of the EnglIsh|
garrison; Protestant sscendancy the reliance of
the English Government upon tins ascendancv and
it, instruments as their means If government the
yielding to menaces of danger and instruction
what was never yielded to considerations of equity
and the recurrence to the old perversity of
Inismanagemcnt as as ever the danger was
passed,-all these are shown i'll this volume the
evils and Burkes constant sense of their gravity
his constant struggle them" OF the spirit
which distinguished the English rule after the
conquest of 1884, Burke says: The new English
interest settled with solid stability as any
thing in human affairs can look for. All the rcu2
laws of that unparalleled code of oppression winch
were made after the last event manifesty the
effects of MAJ iona haired and scorn toward con-
quered people, whom the victors delighted to
trampe upon, and were not at all afraid TO pro
woke They not the effect of their fears but of
their security. They who carried on this system
looked to the irresistible torcc of Great Pritain for
their support in their acts of power. They wer.
quito certain that complaints Of the natives
would be heard this side of the water with any
other sentiments than those OF contempt and in
dignaton. Their cries served only to augment
their torture. Machines which could answer their
purposes so we'll must be OF an excellent coutri-
vance. Indeed in England the double name OF The
complainauts, Irish and Papists lit would be hard
the hcaits of everyone aranst them. Whilst that
temper prevailed in all its force to within our
memory every measure pleasing and popular
ust in proportion il tended to harass and ruin a
set of people who were looked upon as enemies to
God and man; and indeed Of bigoted
savages who disgrace to human nature
itself" The English of day are suffering the
ineyitsbe penalty of the sins of their fathers
In discussing the proper policy toward Ireland.
Burke, moreover lays down with great clearnes-
the true principles of federation. Here We may all
study him with profit. Not only was ne far in adj
vance OF the public opinion of his own day bat he
more just than the public opinion even of ours
for there is no country. however enlightened,
wherein these principles, recognized in theory are
not violated in practice.
PRIMITIVE INDUSTRY; or Illustrations of the HAND
work In Stone, Bone and Clay OF the Native Races u
the Northern Atlantic Sesboard Of America. BY
CHARLES C. ABBoTT, NJ ID. Royal 9vo, 429 Illustra-
tons PIP. $50. Salem, Mass; George A. Bates.
This work. as IT'S name indicates, consists chiefly
OF illustrations and short descriptions of what are
popu,arly termed Indian relics. A brief escri pton
of the natives of the country the time of it's dis
coyeTy by Europeans is given, whom the author
believes to be the makers Of most of the relics
found in the North Atlantic States. In the first
part of the book, treating of this recent race the
material has been classified according to the uses OF
the articles far known frem the accounts of
early writers. who the Implements in the hands
of their makers and in other by conjecture
The principal divisions stone axes, celts. ham
mers, knives spear points, and arrow heads mortar
and pestles, and pottery; with a large number of
other minor divisions Some OF the supposItions
in regard to very ingenious whle others
are decidedly fanciful To show tine variety of