New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-25
THE IRISH MURDERS.
COMMENTS OF FRENCH LEADERS-A TALK
WITH PATRICK EGAN.

munists. who, when they were pr0scrlpts anu un-
able to find employment in London went to Dublin
TO try and exc out livelihood in teaching French
AS they were very poor and miserable they took
pe7simis; view of every public question, and were
too we-dIsposed to be unfair Still they had direct
impressions and had time and capacity TO
reflect upon them. The opinion of the
Paris press upon the murder Of Lord
Frederick Cavendish and Mr.. Burke Is nearly
worthless. Reactonis.s want 10 establish that the
French Republic is in q responsible for the
assassins. II there had been Republic proclaimed
here in 1870. their argument IS, all Europe would
now he enjoying political quietude. The extreme
Radicals en- the other hand, endeavor to prove that
it is because the mOrarchica States have not iol-
lowed the example ct by the Parisans on the 4th
of September that they now convulsed with Sc
cret societies which act openly, and terrified with
apPTchensions of civil war. NJ. hocheiort
allows his fancy TO run away with his PEN As the
Irish are diving of starvation, he scouts the idea
that it was Irishmen who committed the double
murder. Where would they get the money he trl-
umphantly asks t. pay for the car which was ne
cessary to the successful accomplishment OF tho
crime? Starting from Irish appropriateness, he
Jumps to the conclusion that the whole thing was
done by rich Tory landlords in order TO
embarrass Gladstone, who had at last de-
cided to inaugurate a liberal pohcy. La
Justice and lie Radical the only two
journals which appear to me to be in the truth,
and to reason soundly. The gentleman who writes
on Irish questions for the former paper is NJ Charles
LorCuet son-in-law Of Karl Marx, the German
Socialistic agitator ". Longuet knows Ireland
we'll and is not influenced by the ideas which have
become traditional in France. He has no kind of
sympathy with the Fenians, but is heart, soul and
intellect with the Land League. He shows
-. ~fch nGIff
On exactly the same footing as the English.
They are. unless when martial law is proclaimed
free TO make iucendiary speeches. to publish in
cendiarv papers and 10 speak much evil as they
please of diCnties lie denies that there is now, or
has been for a long course of years. political op-
preston of any sort in the Green Island The root
OF the evil Is in the ineQuitable distributions OF
land that were made by the English Government
after every great Irish rebellion, among English or
Scotch partisans Many Of the former were
not settlers. The act of union drew the
great territorial pTopretOrs to London. NJ. Lcnguet
calculates that much money has been gularly
drained out OF Ireland IS would in every twenty
wears amount to q 10 less SUN than NJ Theirs paid
in three wears a war indemnity to Germany.
It is NJ. Sigismond Lacroix who writes the
Irish question in lie Radical lie Is Pole by birth
and FIenchman by naturalization. The struggle,
in his opinion, is both political and social.
ireland is bent upon avcngrg the inquities
of which she has been the victim, and Is fore
ing England to solve an inso'uble problem
She demands her autonomy, her absolute lndepen-
dence. and the peasant camors for the ownership
of the land which belongs by hereditary title to
English noblcmen. But such is the fatality of the
situation that England cannot grant autonomy
without finding on her flank hostile nation irri-
tated against her 10y animosity of race and secular
misery. Home Rule wOuld be accepted less as a
benefit than as an instrument for wreaklng hatred.
At the same time the Irish peasant is plunged
in such deep rut Of Ignorance that 1t is
almost certain the possession of the land
would not be TO him the boon that he
imagines Without capital and without instruction
the cultivation of the damp soil OF Ireland could
not supply food enough to nourish population the
yarid growth Of which misery has never checked.
England now explates past inquiries which she in
vain tries to repair The expiation Nemesis de-
mands of her is the impossibility to right the wrong
size has been accomplishing for a long period OF
centuries.
have Just had conversation with Mr.. Levi P.
Morton. the United States Minister here, upon the
Irish question. lie appeared to sympathize
with Dir. Gladstone, and to hope that he
would be able to free Ireland and England from
the vicious circle from which they struggling to
release themselves. 1t was his opinion that the
Phoenix Park crime would Immensely strengthen
the hands of the English Premier The Wigs and
Tories would not coalesce unless to assist tho fine
Old statesman. and tie best elements Of the Irish
party would try to help him in carrying out the re-
forms on which his heart now appears
to be set Mr. Morton hopes that peace
and not hatred will prevail The spirit
animatng the English Government is now
nd ~ ho hoth EpD
land and Ireland if the Irish would open their eyes
to see this. Mr. Morton looks upon the subject not
from the inAammahle standpoint Of a politician
but from that OF business of very large views.
have also seen Mr.. Patrick Egan. the treasurer
of the Land League, about the Phoenix Park crime.
He denounced it as piece Of atrocious and
inhuInan folly and spoke with great kind
ness of Lord Frederick Cayendisb, with
whom lie had some years AGO business relations.
Full particulars as to the manner in which the two
murders had taken place had not arrived here when
| saw Mr.. Egan. He hazalded many coujectures,
but none of them proved to have been right The
idea of reconciliation was too horrible Cor him to
entertain. Mr.. Egan inspires me both with sylnpa-
thy and confidence. He is notably intelligent, and
the most prominent feature Of his character IS
gentleness. He looks about forty-slx, APP
proaches the middle height. has a broad
chest and shoulders, but does not impress
one as being athletic. The face is pale, and the COM
pexion that OF a sandy-haired man. lie has a very
fine forehead, but Its breadth and good develop
ment fail 10 strike forciby. On the occasion OF
my first interview with him did not notice these
points The eyebrows are thick, rough, and of
very light tinge; and the eyes exactly the color
of the forget-mc not. never in a mans head
pair of softer blue eyes The is very retrousse
and appears III some extent TO owe IFS shape to a
blow Egan speaks very low,
soft voice. He never hesitates in
answering a question. His dcton Is simple and
elegant. One discovers when one knows hun well