New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-02
TEE IR1sH QUESTION Nv POLITICS.
LETTER FROM PROF. GOODWIN SMITH

LETTER FROM PROF. GOODWIN SMITH.
THE oBJacr AND POSSIBLE OUTCOME OF FENfAN
AGITATION IN THE UNITED STATES
To the Rdftor Of The TrfbHne.
SIR: In the current number of The Nation there
isau editorial attacking me as the writer OF an
article in The Nineteenth Century which WAS noticed
in your columns aud in which raised the question
whether It was desirable fair toward the eviii-
cation OF this continent that the British Govern
rnent should go throwing masses OF Irish discon-
tent pauperlsln and turbulence on these shores
am branded by the writer III The Adiion whose
Irish feeling is evidently strong, as a" Liberal VINO
has lost faith in his creed and ado?tod as
gospel the current Tory doctrine of the total de-
prayity of the dIscontented.' This is because
having always been hearty advocate OF the re-
dress of Irish grievances aud at the same tihc
staunch Unionist am opposed to a movement the
declared object of which is not the redress OIL
grievances but the dissolution oil the Union.
cannot have lost, for never had, faith IN any
creed which prcscribes indiscrimnate sympathy
with rebeIions. Such principle wonld be even
more fatal to republics than to monarchies. People
may be discontinued with reason anu they may
be dscontenteh without reason. or without rea-
son sufficient 10 warrant Instruction. SYM
pa,hized with the struggle for Italian indefend-
ence bat did not sympathzs with Southern seces-
sion Is the Government tyrannicalf is there no
remedy except rebellionf How is the rebellion
carried ON What is likely to be the result of its
successi These questions must be asked IN every
ease In the present large measures oil agrarlan
relief. such as would hardly have been possible
under tho American Constitution, had Just been
passed by Parliament to the manifest chagrin of the
Dsnnionists and an extension of local self govern
msnt was evidently coming. The rebellion is
carried on with dynamite and the Thug-knifc. by
butchcrng defenceless lucn aud women, by mutt
latinr helpless cattle. TIE result of Its success most
certainly would be a deadly war OF races and relig-
IONS in Ireland, ending in anarchy aud ultimately
leading 10 reconquest
VINO arc the tyrantsf Gladstone and Bright.
Can ANYBODY believe that Government OF which
such men as these the chiefs IL IN the habit OF
tossing pulling mfans on the points OF bayonets'
uniting venerable priests TO the rack aud when
the word fails. calling IN famine TO do its work"
You have the word OF the Pope fer 1t that IN no
other country not under Roman Catholic rule dues
the Roman Catholic Church enjoy 80 much liberty
as in Ireland A Government ~ liberal IN one
sphere Is not likely to DO destitute OF liberaty in
others.
The Nation would have you believe that the tenn
ver and bearing of Englshmen toward freshmen are
suco that the Irish cannot live with them. but are
ohli,ed Ia insist upon separation. Yet million
and half nc least OF Irish have voluntarily settled
In England aud Scotland whore their mhneuce on
city polItcs Is the same il Is I'm this continent
while their low state of civilization sorely inter
feres With the efforts OF the Britt IN artisan IN I'M
nruye his condition aud raise himself ia tic sacaI
w,le THIS Irish humiliation In IN fact ons OF the
chef sources OF that wrrtchcdDess among the poorer
classes in England which Bright dcplorea may
aiii that the Irish vote IN London other cities
h onr oil The ch ei Of tho equ vocal guage
held IN speeches and writings by certain British
membcrs of Parliament. tho Copperheads OF Bur
struggle for the UBion.
Bnt the fact which | would pray Americans
speeiAly note IL That the prcsent rebellion not
IA spontaneous movement of the people ia ireland.
lint ~ almost entirely excited by foreign Intrigue
and Kept up nv foreign funds In Ireland itself.
While tie agfaran movement ~ strong, the political
movement IS very weak. anu has always Deen 40
since Catholic emancipation ANA the gfcai reforms
which followed la ls32. The political movement
would speedily collapse now, ~ lt has done before.
A n were not sustained by the American fenans
and the American Fenians not freshmen. nor
have they any share IN tho uture OF That country
they citizens Of rho United states Cutting thor
frantic natied of England and their lust OF havoc
by kindlIng civil war ~ community Win which
their adopted country Is at peace.
II the ayowed aim of the fenisns 10 bring on
war bst,yeon the United States aud Great britain
Tiny proclaim that they Will use for that purpose
their frauchi a. American citizens and the author
it's of any Offices 10 which they may be elected.
But to "a Liberal. apart frun any interest merely
national "a war between the United states and
Great Britain would seem tho greatest disaster
Whut-vef else the IRISH may lie. and whatever may
be their claims TO sympathy. they are not Liberals
nor entitled TO claim Liberal allegiance. They fol-
lowed the banner OF Slavery and. IN concert with
the slayeOWn rr. rose against the DRAFT IN New
York: they fought for tbs Pope and the BonrbOns
AGAINST Italian indie pcndence; and now their Dis
unlouist representatives vote for the mainten
OF n religious test ON admission TO tue House OF
C.InmOnS Mr.. Godkn seemed To admit that tho
natural tendency of his compatrlOts was toward
arbitrary government, n well rs toward compare
tive disregard of the sanctity OF human life
Tne pseple Of the United States did not allow
sectional dIscontent 10 break up their Union. In
Irri and DisunionHn II confined TO the Celtic dis
tricts and l.. n represented IN The House OF Com
mons by 30 Irish members at most out oil total
number OF 1903. There Is q larger Vnionist party m
Nor can think that the American people would
allow their Legislature 10 be wrecked by rebel
Obstruction any more than they allowed their
Union tv he severed by the rebel sword.
One who in settled In Canada may look at thrse
questions rather in the interest OF the whce circle
Of An glu Saxon communities rather than IN that oil
Englaud alone. The AaiiOn SCOTS at the idea that
tho Irshry bs n peril to our civilization. 10
might scot with reason II numbers were the only
force in politics But under the party system. and
when psrtics are evenly balanced, ~ closo eonfed-
eracy OF race aud religion. bind devotion to I'M
scrupuous leaders and freedom from the restraints
hick national duty imposes on the citizen, ara
also powers in their way, and NAV exercise fatal
influence on the councils Of nation. What the
Prospect Is IN England the state Of tho House Of
Commons shows. ! know what 10 Ia IN Canada. i
IN the United States must leave Americans to say.
Yours faithfully, GOODWIN SMITH
Toronto Juno 20, 1873.