New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-31
derstando0s Of on oho breathe H. These absrdaies are
Ofod Standing 1045.
HIS VIEWS AFTrR 1850

When the troubles of 1880 began, Mr.. Smith
seems to have forgotten all his own preaching
There was nothing new in these troubles them
selves They were the old story Of bad haryests.
high rents, numerous evictions and fierce popular
revolt against ever recurring misery. The humane
attempts of the Gladstone Ministry, which had just
como into power. 10 meet or mitigate the crisis
were foiled by the rejection of the Disturbances
Bill in the House of Lords This bill was intended
to restrain evictOns until more complete remedial
legislation could be obtained It was in fact, some
thing like the stay laws which have been passed IN
hard times in various States of the Union. It's fail
ure was resented by the IRISH peasantry by more
savage Outburst of violence than had taken place
since the resistance TO the Protestant tirhcs. At
this point something novel did occur and that was
the aid and encouragement which the indictments
at home received from the Irish in this c0untry-a
colony of nearly two millions composed Of the most
energetic Of the race, and in the enIoym mt OF
greater prosperity than any Irish community had
before known. II was natural enough that the tur
buence and disorder in Ireland. which the people
hal found by long and bitter experience to be the
only sure and quick mode of acting on English OpIn-
ion. should nave been stimulated and made more
formidable by the applause and subsidies of the
Irsh-Americans. But when Mr.. Smith wrote mis-
boob, the Irish-Americans had not appeared on the
scene He found mention Of them IN Irish history,
and had not therefore, had to deal with them in his
analysis Had he been, however, good political
observer. he would have had difficulty in giving
them place in tho march Of events without in the
smallest degree disturbing his historical eluclatOn
of the Irish problem But he is not a good political
observer; he has but little political Judgment or
insight. In 1851 he completely lost his mental
balance and began denouncing the Irish in the most
unmeasurcd language. and proposing all kinds of
truculent modes OF dealing with them.
When he went 20 England in the winter of that
year. he delivered a denunciatOry lecture on the
Irish question at Brighton. which seemed INTENDED
70 n1ame English hatred of the Irish, ald harden
the English heart against the wise remedial egisll-
tion which Mr. Gladstone then preparing. For
it must he remembered that Ireland suffers from
that greatest of all political misfortunes-the mis-
fortune of being completely governed by the opin-
ion of another country differing in manners. ideas.
history and aspirations. No English Minister en-
gagged in treating Irish discomfort can go further or
faster than the English public will let him. IL Is
not enough for him To know what the Irish nee or
desire and be willing To cOnccdc 10 he must also
know what Englishmen will permit with regard O.
a country which but very few of them understand
OF care about. Mr.. Goodwin smith therefore, in
opening his anti-Irish crusade Mt that time engaged
in what have always considered dia1olical work
~
rravating mutual hate between people who, for
veal or woe have 70 form part Of the same political
community and live under the same laws His con
versaion in private. too, about the Irish was, am
informed, even fercer and more mercless than his
public utterances
DlsAPPRovEs OF freshmen WHO Do NOT AGREE
WITH HIM.
Il was at tins point that he began .the attacks
on ne of which / have spoken. wrote IN article
on the Irish question in the summer of l,92 which
| sent to my friend. Mr. James Bryce, 70 dispose Of
in any manner he pleased. | put no title 70 it,
thinking | would leave that to the editor who ac-
ccpted it, There was not line or word in 1t in
dcating that spoke or professed 10 speak for any
one but myself. and signed it with nv full name.
Mr. Bryce gave it TO The Nineteenth Century, and he
headed it, unfortunately rs it turned out but not
incorrectly as | think. An American view OF the
Irish Question Ii commented IN mild deprecatory,
but perfectly respectful terms on lIr. smiths new
position toward the Irish. It's main points We're.
that something should he done to satisfy the Irish
national feeling, however absurd or ridiculous 1t
might SEEM and to give the Irish beginning Of
political training by imposing political response
bty on them, through some form of home rule
which should include, at least, local administration
Ii said that the Irish voters had never since the
Union voted for a member Of Parliament whom
they expected TO iegslate for them rem Ter them
any better service than brawl or make disturbance
in the House of Commons. 1t excited some little
attention from the English press Nearly all the
opinions it expressed have since been avowed on the
stump. or the magazines. or IN Parliament by lead
ing members of the Liberal party.
When it reached Mr.. Goodwin Smith in Canada
he showed that though only amateur journalist,
he was capable of descending to the tricks
of the trade He wrote t0 The London Spectator, IN
snuatng that was guilty of some sort OF decep-
ton in calling it An American View inasmuch az
the author was an Irishman and not only this, but
an Irish Nationalist animated by the usual feel
ings of his party toward Great Britain and the
Union" will not say that he knew all this to be
untrue. because thar would be an unciyI way OF
putting it but will say that he had no reason 70
believe that there was word of truth IN 1t. The
object of the remark was undoubtedly to give snch
English readers as knew nothing about me, the I'M
preston that all he knew was, that was 4 member
of the Irish Nationalist Organization IN this city,
and an ayowed enemy of the British Government
It, of course also suggested strongly that any one
who wished to learn the real American view of any
thing would do well to get it from Mr. GoldWn
Smith himself in his watch-tOwer nc Toronto.
Comcally enough, roo, being at that time afflicted
with an anti-Jcwish mania, which was almost d
strong ~ his antl-irish MANIA he managed to ntor-
polate in this letter an assertion that The irish
World appeared. like some other curious properties
to be owned by Il jew" He apparently thought
this a good rhetorical hit, which enabled HIM to Kill
two birds with stone, and give by the coll0ca-
ton the impression that was IN some sort of
political relation To The Irish WORTH. He was under
the necessity soon after of acknowledging publicly
that there was no foundation for in fact. HIS re-
mark about me was teegraphed to this country. and
al. l..I lbg rHf .fugH
mail wrote To him privately To ask whether he Was
correctly reported. and expressing my extreme sur
prise | received an evasiye answer, m which he
said he had no copy of bis letter 10 The spectator,