New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-13

AN IMPARTIAL NARRATIVE.

AN xo1fA6llA1 QAkAih Nv '
xvQ cESruR1Es OF IRISH HlsToRY ieei'is syo
PIP XIV, 63o London hegan faul' ii'n'n :"
This hook was undertaken as stated in q prefa-
tory note. In order to meet wish expressed IN
many Quarters for concise and impartial narra-
tive Of Irish history" 1t was decided not 70
attempt full history, since this would leave
too little space for the treatment OF the iaser
and more important periods and finally IL was
concluded that the Treaty OF Limerick, IN 1851.
offered favorable point OF departure. vi
those whose special knowledge suggested them as
qualified to write on Irish history. none could DO
induced TO undertake the whole period since
1902: and therefore the work was DIVIDED
into Eve sections, each one to be dealt with by
a special writer The arrangement as finally
accomplished is as follows: The first PERIOD
1871 1872, is treated by W. r. Sullivan the
second p1riod, l7s2-1soo, by George Slgelson;
thu third period. 1901 $50, by j. II. Bridges {;
the fourth period, a29-1s48, by Lord Edmond
Fitzmaurjce and James r. Thursfeld; the nth
period. lels-1s7o, by G.. P. mcdonnell Pro
fcssor Bryce furnishes the introduction and IN
: measure sums up the results Of the inquiry
Il viii thus be seen that the plan is closely AKIN
20 that adopted by Mr.. Justin Winsor IN his
History of the United States, though inasmuch
as the course of Irish history is marked by few
i'm portant digressions, the five separate essays
in this volume fall into place easily. and the
continuity Of the narrative is scarcely interrupted
The object sought, namely, :" a concise and
I'm martial narrative Of Irish history" has un-
questionably been attained, for the work is
probably the most thoroughly sober, dispasson-
ate and candid statement Of the principal facts
in Irish history during the period treated that
has been written. Nor can the importance OF
this sustained impartialty be easily overestmated'
for it has been one Of the fatalities OF irish MS
torical and political literature TO be vltated py
passion extravaganza and partisanship on both
sides to such an extent that the most deliberate
nirepreeentaticl could hardly have produced
more misleading and mischievous effects. The
group of writers gathered together by Professor
Bryce. and following the broad lines laid down
BY him, have produced history which is weighty
by reason of its passonless tone. 1t is entirely
free from everything in the form of invective.
Its estimates are invariably suggestive OF the
most sincere determination to Judge justly NO
attemps is made to conceal diminish the signin-
cameo of events which tell against Ireland or
which tend to justify English reign The one
central purpose has plainly been to record the
truth. no matter what it might be. 1t is there
fore with rising confidence and interest that the
reader follows the narrative, and he must De
Gallons II at times the studied simplicity and
restraint of the writers does not rather stimulate
than quell the feeling of revolt and indignation
caused by the review Of these two centuries oil
scarcely ntermitted injustice neglect, misunder-
standing and suffering
Among the facts thrown into strong relief in
this book are the causes of that English apathy
and apparent misconstruction which have con-
trihutcd SO powerfully to the Withholding OF relief
from Ireland To ascribe this to maignlty,
which has been a common recourse on the part OF
Irish writer's, is clearly not to afford satls-
factory explanation of it. Bot when 1t is shown
that until quite recently nearly all English IN
formation about Ireland came from members oil
the Asccndcncy party; that the Castle was con-
trolcd by that party from the time OF the Union
that the despair OF obtaining justice lent passion
10 the representations of Irish representatives
which itself went far TO discredit their utter
onces that the combined greed and fear OF the
absentee landlord class led them to urge q re-
prtssivc policy upon the Government steadily;
that the ignoring Of the popular voice in Ireland
bred that reckessness which was manifested IN
perennial dsorder that this disorder seemed to
confirm and Justify the coercive legislation per-
petua]ly demanded; and that thus the little
incorrigibIe turbulence and perversity of the peo
ple,-awien ali this is shoxn, the enormous diff
Guilty of getting the real truth apprehended across
the Channel became evident. Never was coun-
try SO fatally Handicapped By circumstances as
Ireland There was not detail in her situa-
ticn which did not at some time initiate against
her happiness, prosperity, peace and progress She
suffered not only on account Of her dominant re-
hxion hut on account Of the religion OF the minor
fly Of her people. Her own politicians betrayed
and sold her Her own landlords squandered
the produce of her soil abroad. 1t is true that
Ascendency and Landlordism were originally i'm
posed on her, but other countries have been con-
ouered without suffering such interminable agonies
subsequently,
Her colonists-the settlers who were Irish to
the English and English to the rish-somehow
failed to assimilate despite free intermarriagc
Too many OF them treated their adopted coun-
try as . prey. Too many of them interviewed
when prospect of Irish unity arose, and sowed
the seeds of dscord again. But for the As
tendency party and the Irish Church relief might
have been had from the most burdensome of the
old tyrannies century ago. But the English
Government fettered alike by want OF knowl-
edge and by the Protestant traditions Of the
House of Hanover. never moved In Irish affairs
but to support the Ascendency party, save when
some outbreak Of Irish despair extorted conces-
sions never until recently yielded TO persuasion.
The assertion tbnt Ireland can obtain justice by
force alone has certainly been so justified by
history that IL must be long before 1t ceases to
be tho guiding principle Of at least one Irish
party. This Is one Of those reflex consequences
OF misgovernmcnt which confirm the faith OF
religious observers in a requiting Providence for
it bears tho aspect Of q punishment visited upon
the offending Nation. But after all Ireland
herself has been the chief and the most direct
sufferer from the circumstances which have dulled
English sensibility and obscured English under
standing, and the possibility Of wringing reforms
from her masters by menace at critical junctures
has in no instance compensated for the protrac-
ton Of reform. caused by the hindrances to the
education of English opinion
In fact 10 may be said that not until the
T.. T.. - ~,