New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-31
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
pNc1IsH RIuE.IN IRELAND.


The historian ia not obliged to be an advocate OF
q prophets but in the present enlarged eo'loh %
his hook on Ireland Mr. Fronde undertakes 10 III
all three characters He begins the WORK. MS. 10
,ued seyen years ago, with preliminary section
wherein is set forth theory as to conquest anu
government, from which one might easily p'eu'o'
the supplementary chapter, now added cohcerhins
the state Of Ireland in 1880 and the tendene'c'o
Mr.. GIadstone's course. From beginning 10 Gnu
Mr. Froude is consistent with his theory ano no gu
forces it by studied review of Engiish on,
In Ireland from the accession of James l. ana inc
,abellon of 1871 down TO 1900. Aud rom INC
evidence Of the past il presents ltseI W nun IL"
nradic,s what is likely to occur II the pohcy VI
Consultation and yielding continues to be pursued
perbaps the general philosophy which he premises Is
not 40 much supported by the facts as evolved rom
Them Nations have just so much natural rigue "
liberty MS individuals and more, he maintains
In this world the superior part has natuia isn'
TO govern the inferior part has natural r1gn' I"
mo oo,ernedD There is no divine title-deed ior
acb race or community to disposeof its own fortunes
AID devotion az il pleases. The right OF people
IN selfeoyernment consists aud can consist IN noun
ing but their power to defend themselves
Such. roughly put is the position Mr. Froude takes
According to this doctrine SPAIN which was uhaoio
10 resist the French cOnqueror ana resorted W
assassination much rs the Irish have done on many
dominion and France in 1870 forfeited her rght 10
.a,f.oovernuScnt Mr. Froude makes exception tor
che c.ses where nation of high character II op
,rosssd for n time by the brute force OF invaders
lint ireland does not in his opinion fall under inc eA
ception. lie respectsthe opposition which SCOTLAND
long showed against English rule ana deciaIco III
many gallant fights which gradually enabled her 10
enter into the Union on equal terms. one may sus
meet q slight bias of birth in this, for MT frouuo
foreets the elements Of treachery in Scotch history
and dwells upon those in the history OF Ireland so
inteptly that he can discover little merit m 'ha'
country's struggles for autonomy and Is overcome
with discust for the whole Irish character. Ills
acorn of his subject escapes in many telling sar
cams scattered through the pages OF these three VOL
umes: and they are sometimes, 1t must DC coiesscu
well founded. The story of rebelnons, coerclonS
treaoberies and massacres which he is obngeo 10
trace is certainly revolving and dlscouraglhg 10 any
observer and the problem Of determining winch sue
behaved the worse is one which few impartial readers
will feel competent to solve To MIR. froude' WIN
his prepossessons it is a simple one. when lie
mentions the poisoning of Hugh OConnel at
Simancos by an English emissary, his reflection is
that ain the desperation Of such scenes as were
witnessed daily in an Irish rebellion, any means
seem lawful which may help to end them"
Tho great purpose of the book however TO which
this question and the and graphic narrative are
subsidiary is to show by reference TO the past tie
errors in English rule The Irish Mr.. Froude mas,
are brave, ardent and faithful in their personal
devotion TO leaders who govern them firmly, and he
reasons that had England always acted justly and
vigorously she would have received this devotion
from the whole Irish people. When Elizabeth put
down Shan ONeil and exter1nnated the Geraldlnes,
she merely fostered the clements OF turbulence 10y
using one clan against another. James l. allowed
too much tolerance of Catholics Cromwell though
severe in his vengeance, established Just measures
and restored manufactures; and prosperity ana
peace followed. Charles III. reversed this policy
setting I'D anew the Irish Parliament, reestabhshng
the Anglo Irish Church. showing favor TO Catholics
and once more out of English jealousy levelling
blows at native industries. Progress was thus re-
tarded. and when James ii. began transferring
mower to the hands of natives and attempting to
govern the country by Irish ideas" still greater
mischief was done. Emboldened by measures
which they thought meant fear on the part OF the
King they were ready to seize the first opportunity
for revolt which came in the dispute between
James and William. Then came Williams error OF
DESTROYING the woollen manufacture Ireland being
"invited to apply the knife TO her own throat
MIR. Froudc is not sparing in his condemnation Of
English legislative bungling. The narrative goes
Oh through the first attempts at Union, the Nhitc
bows conspiracy. with its atrocities of houghlng
men opposed to the rebels the parliamentary efforts
of Flood Grattan and OCOnnell, and the rebellion
of ;9s Bloodshcd famine, commercial jealousy
English vaclaton and tyranny and Irish duphcity
and fury stain the whole record. MI FIoude traces
the difficulties and miseres Of the situation to Eng
lands alienation letween firm government and
lcniency, which has always seemed to the IRISH
timidity. He says, in summing up:
We have attempted to govern, and we have not
governed tried to govern, except at intervals so
brief that car attempts have been if written upon
water We have sought 10 reconcile the Irish people
to their loss of independence by leaving them 10
license. There has never been time since the irst
conquest when equitable laws, lmpartlaly ana IN
exorably administered, would not nave Eiven ire
land peace and with peace prosperity and hberty'
The opportunities of the Union. again, have been
largely thrown away, and the country left in the
Duke of Welngton's phrase half conquered. The
Land bill of 1870 brought no alienation to the
peasantry and now another bill is proposed. from
which Mr. Froude expects only fresh growths OF
debt and disorder. If England were even now to
acknowledge her mistakes, announce intended re-
form and meanwhile suspend the Constitution in
the southern counties, governing them by the
Crown he thinks the Land League would be as
good a. beaten and future prosperity secure But
since this plan is not to be adopted he infers that
Mr. Gladstone adults to himself the errors of the
English rule. and is prepared By gradually suren-
dering the outposts TO at last give mp the citadel
and permit Irish independence. The singular thing
about Mr. Froudes able aud interesting though in
part carelessy writcn history Is that having based
his arguments for Engand's supremacy on her in-
nate fitness to govern, tue whole book is relentless
exposure of the fact that for hundred years it
A. precisely in this matter of governing that Eng
land has failed
THE ELECTION FRAUDS OF NEw.YoRK CITY AND
THEIR PREVENTION. BY JOHN |. DAVENPORT,
United States Commissioner and Chief supervisor OF