Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-11-02
IRISH HISTORY NOT DRAMATIC.

There is one difficulty in writing q readable
history of Ireland, which no amount Of new
information can remove, and which almost
forbds us to hope that such work can be
made popular with the general public. Histo-
ry is attractive in so far as it can be made
dramatic--sO far as each crisis in the nations
fate is summed up in some one decisive strug-
GLE or can he told in the form of biography
of the chief actor. The popularity Of Greek
history rests upon the mode in which it can be
thrown into acts, each terminating with some
brilliant stage effects, after which the ultain
falls, to rise and disclose anew plot and fresh
cast of characters. If we carefully examine
the popular conception of English history from
the fall of Harold to the arrival of William
III, we perceive that it may, without difficult
ty, he divided into a series OF dramas, each
with a marked and effective termination. a
history can be written Geographically when the
force which manifestly produces marked re-
suits is the SURPRISING genius and energy of a
conspicuous individual the struggle for i'll
stance, of Scotland against England in the
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries lives only
in the deeds of Wallace and Bruce, and is
popularity believed to have terminated with
the battle of Bannockburn.
The history of Ireland cannot be written
dramatically or geographically. The changes
which took place were all produced by unOb-
served forces acting over long periods. The
into quasi Celtic chiefs, resulted from many
and not obvious causes, and took two centu-
ries to effect. The only complete drama in
Irish history is the reign of James II. The
history of Ireland is also almOst-if we may
use the ternl-herOlesS. OF the Celtic pOpu-
latiOn, the only man who has left an enduring
name in history is the King Brian of all the
NOrmanS who fought and died during three
centuries, there remains only an indefinite
memory Of the Geraldines as family. Cron-
well is remembered not because lie personally
achieved very much in Ireland, but because he
manifestly did something; and for Cromwell
to Gattan and OConnell not one man has left
a memory. 1t is strange bnt true that al
though there was incessant Wal in Ireland for
five centuries, no one out of Ireland, who has
not specially studied Irish history, could name
a BATTLE except that of Boyne, or siege ex-
cept that of Londonderry and the reason OF
this is that during the entire period the fight
ing never resulted in any decisive success
which determined, once for all, the course OF
subsequent events.
"IIISTORY OF THE ASSOCIATE REFORMED
SYNOD OF THE South. 1T has been known
for years that DR.. r. Latham, of YOrkville,
was engaged in the preparation of History
of the Associate Reformed Church, South.
AS the fruit of this labor we have volume of
AS pages. A denomination one hundred
years old, may be expected to have made some
valuable contributions to the large stock of
church history. This volume Of DR.. Latham
will show that this expectation is well found
ed. The Associate Reformed Church, made
up as it is of the two churches, the Associate
~, II 4, Dff,r,,,n1 urn1n.,pac tho history nI
both these tried defenders of PresbyterianiSm.
That part of the work relating to these two
bodies is specially full, showing a great deal
of careful research. y general view of the re-
ligious condition Of England and Scotland
during the stormy reigns of Charles IL and
james III is presented. This was necessary
to anything like an intelligent cOmprehen-
sion of the subject Many of the facts given
are familiar to those who have studied the
history of the Reformation, but they can
never become stale to those who cherish the
great and precious principles which that rev.
olution brought so prominently forward.
The special interest of the work, However,
is found in those details which belong to Il
period subsequent to the union of the Asso-
ciate and Reformed Churches, i'll 1872.
DR.. Latham gives short chapter to the
United Presbyterian Church, whose history
IuIlS Ill IlllcS WHICH lllltlStCC Jul OhI NI oo
many points. He also refers to the divisions
among the Psam-singing churches.
The part taken by the Associate Reformed
church in South Carolina in securing the
removal of DR.. Cooper from the presidency of
the South Carolina College, is somewhat con-
spicuous, and is certainly creditable to its zeal
in behalf of the best interest Of the State.
This History should be in the hands of all
our people. Dr. Latham has rendered the
church an Invaluable service in it's prepara-
tion and publication. We hope he may re-
ceive such encouragement in it's sale as that
he will feel justified in following it with that
other volume to Which he refers in his Preface,
a volume of sketches of the congregations and
ministers of the church. .-.Associdte Reformed