New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-29
ASPECTS or THE IRISH QUESTION.

. {
The Irish conventions at Philadelphia have
served to clear the air of the vaporings OF brag-
gorts and the fumes of explosives. The only
inference to be drawn from murderous leagues
against deht-paying tenants and faithful SER
wants of the Crown, OF from diabolical plots
against life and property in English cities, Is
that Irishmen are incapable of self-govcrnment
and do not deserve the sympathy OF mankind
The logic of representative councils so well
managed, 30 orderly and harmonious, so Tree
from the pernicious faint of ASSASSINATION ana
nitro glycerine as these conventions have been,
is that Irishmcn If they can only become and
reuain their better selves are not unit Tor sell
government. The extremists have been re-
duced to an insignificant minority in the most IN
6uential Irish assembly ever held in the United
States. The ragged mantle OF the Dynamite
Propbet, ODonovan Rosa, If 1t were to fall
from his shoulders, would remain in congenlal
dust and Crime. 1t would not be preserved as
q relic of the dynamite movement, nor could 1t
he peddled for love or money among the Old
clo, men of his party. These signs OF return
ne reason and a revival of morality encourage
ms IA discuss some of the broader aspects OF the
Irish question suggested by the following
| letter:
| To IN, Edftor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Permit me to thank you for your gener-
ana orticlo ON the Irish conventions in todays issue
Jopspo heartily with you In denouncing murder ana
dynamite as tending TO make any cause however g'od
and iustifable in abstract sense Infamous ana un
ius,idabe believe that Ireland has rgit to demand
a epislsture OF its own, and as large measure OF
pocal autonomy Canada or the Australian colonies
h.ve and reio,ce TO ud that THE TRIBUNE does not
wi,lsold its sympathy from such movement provided
,b. strnpgle is carried in manly, courageous anu
honorable way Approving OF your views rs e1pressei
IN todays editorial cannot forbear asking Tor explicit
answers TO a few questions:
Do YOU believe that the Irish tenants had just
cause agitation ard social revolution III the iqo'
of the land systemi
O. Have you approved and do you still approve OF Mr.
Gladsones Coercion aclsl DO you not think you have
| oyerrated his Land actsf
Asvou have frequently criticised Mr. Parnels coursC
ss the irish leader yet how can you now regard IL az
GOOD sign that the Ishmen Of America have recognized
his potical authority aud strengthened his handsf
Tell us plainly what you would have him do In order
TO win constitutional independence for the islandf
| FRIEND OF IRELAND
! Brooklyn. April %. 1883
| /. In the famine year preceding the land agi'
tation The TRIBUNE sent to the island special
correspondent who has since become a fanatlcal
champion of the Irish cause. His letters con-
WINGED us that the unfortunate peasantry were
the victims of the laws of man even more than
of the laws of nature and that the land system
WAS an intolerable evil-a disgrace to English
civilization. We havo never swerved from
This belief. Indeed, the subject is no longer
omen to argument The British Parliament by
enacting two extraordinary Land bills and con-
ferring on the pcasantry priv leges which nc
other body of tenants in the world enjoy, ha'
openly confessed the magnitude OF the evil
the lust cause which the Irish people had for
agrarisn revolt.
2. The TRIBUNE did not approve of Mr.. Glad
stones first Coercion act in any other sense
than this: That Liberals of enlightened judg
ment like the Premier and Mr.. Bright consid
cred 1t necessary to strengthen their hands
before making large and generous cOncessionI