New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-18
IRELAND UNDER COERCION.
A BRIGHT BUT NOT UNBIASED BOOK.
THE DIARY OF AN AMERICAN. BY WILLIAM
HENRY HrRIRERT 1omo PIP. 437. Boston and


HENRY HURLBERT. 12mo, PIP 4S'' Boston ann
Ncw-York: Houghton Mialin Co
Mr. Hurlbert has achieved the distinction OF
writing on stale subject book which has been
widely read already in England, ana Will DE apt
TO attract much attention in America Inc III
craturc of the Irish question, voluminous at al
times has been increased within the last decade
to the proportions of an enormous library Inc
reading world has grown weary of the historical
and controversial aspects of the lrrepressloe con-
flict between England and Ireland With BOOKS
magazine reviews and newspaper comments With
ont end information has been supplied from every
conceivable source until apparently the point OF
complete saturation has been reached Even san
cuine publishers were convinced that for the read
ing public the Irish question had become intcler-
ably wearisome, and that people IN general were
content TO watch the progress of political events
at Westminster and Dublin, avoiding scrupulously
the interminable literature Of the subject WIN
these symptoms of safety everywhere apparent,
at is nothing less thon great literary feat for
Mr. Hurlbert to produce work which passes
rapidly TO successive editions in England, and
seems destined 20 be widely read in America
There ore two reasons to be assigned for the
phenomenal interest created by this work The
FIRST is the personality of the author an Ameri-
can of manifold accomplishments of mind, who
has had unusual facilities for studying the politi-
cal fortunes of the Irish in the New World, ana
also for ascertaining at Rome and elsewhere the
personal views of Catholic dgnitaries OF the Nigh
est rank respecting Henry Georges land theories
and the morality of various forms OF agrarian
agitation II was inevitable that the diaries OF
a trained observer containing the record OF what
he heard and saw during six months solourn N
Ireland this year would attract much notice IN
England especially MS he disclaims race prejudice
loolya Of nNpp
with disinterested American eyes. This interest
was naturally heightened when the ruling classes,
now unfolding the Unionist cause, perceived that
his conclusions were markedly hostile to the pre-
tensions of the NationalistS and to the policy OF
the Gladstonian Liberals. This effect has been
increased by the form of the work, which con-
ssts mainly Of racy rcctals Of personal experiences
in the island illumned by "reminiscences, anec-
doics, and literary devices of every kind The
reader who omi,s the prologue and dips at once
into the diaries is fascinated beguiled and enter
tanned to the end, with only vague suspicion
that the American observer is not as free from BIAS
as he processes be There much to be SAID IN the
way of argument against both the prologue and
the epogue but the angriest and most contro-
vcrsal critic will not deny that the book is in
herently interesting from beginning to end. This
is the second reason that may be assigned for
the stir that it has made in England. 1t may
be unfair in statement superficial in treatment,
and unreasonable in argument but it is not dull
The author brings 90 his task the resources of
varied experience and a full mind His style
is trenchant and genial lie succeeds in max
ing a stale subject fresh and attractive.
For the motive of the book the prologue must
be scrutinized In order TO define what the
author considers the proper American point OF
view he rigdly excludes political considerations
He processes 10 believe that the claim OF the
Irish people TO right TO control matters eXclu-
sively Irish is essentially just and reasonable, and
in this he correctly represents American opinion.
But he holds that the measure or form Of that
control is question not for Americans, but for
the English and Irish, and therefore declines
to be drawn into that branch. of the controversy
Technically of course, he is right Americans
are not directly concerned IN the settlement of
the question of legislative autonomy for Ire
land. But while this position is imprcgnable
as matter of international policy, they are
entitled to hold an opinion the subject and
TO sympathize in general with the political as
prations of the Irish people. The author seems
to imply that in order TO express strictly Amerl-
can view of Irish questions, he must lose sight
of tie Home Rule movement now enlisting the
support of the Nationalist and Liberal parties
and conine his attention solely TO social and agra
rian conditions The English themselves have not
acted upon this principle in expressing their own
sympathy with national and revolutionary move
ments abroad. When there has been an ltal-
ian question, a Hungarian question or
Polish question, they have had pro-
nounced opinions and have not excluded
politcal considerations from their sympathies.
During the American Civi! War large majority
of them favored the South; during the late
tbev of mind in
hoping for Democratic success; and apparently
there was no sense Of improperly on
their part in expressing their opinion
respecting questions of foreign politics
Americans are entitled to equal indulgence
in expressing their opinion respecting the Irish
question BY common consent Great Britain has
been divided since 1886 into two camps, one
in favor of and the other opposed TO Home Rule.
American opinion if it be worth expressing, must
deal with what lies at the root of the Irish ques-
ton.
The truth seems to be that Mr.. Hurlbert, while
starting of bravey with an easy-going conviction
that legislative autonomy for Ireland is just
claim, is wholly out of touch and sympathy with
Nationalist aspirations and the settled policy
of the Liberal party in England. lie airily dis
misses Home Rule in his prologue as polemical
phrase, meaning anything nothing When
Mr. Gladstones elaborate bill, providing for
Legislature of two chambers and separate Min
istry, is recalled this seems summary method
Of eliminating essential factors of the Irish prob
lem. The author declares that he went to the
island not to find some achromatic meaning
for prismatic phrase, which is flashed at you
fifty times in England America when you en-
counter it once in Ireland" but to learn what
be could Of the social and economical condition
A. of h,- fba rcyolutionarv
forces that have been at work there. This
strictly non-political mission does not stand in
the way of his sneering at the Nationalist
Ioadorc o,.orr ncna sion In the