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

tory which 10 brought down to 1870. however,
leayes little TO tho imagination Everything
was then In train. The measures and events
which connect that period with the present were
already incubated and the whole Irish campaign
of the past fifteen years was virtually blocked
out Whoever. therefore, reads this volume viii
find himself thoroughly informed for all practical
purposes on Irish history past and present. and
above all, will be admitted to clear and trust
worthy view OF the radical or remote causes of
current lines of movement Not the least useful
end likely to be served by such a history is the
removafof preudices directed against the capacity
Of the Irish people for self-government Professor
Bryce remarks upen this in his Introduction:
:" The want of o capacity for self-government.
which is so often charged upon the Irish. does not
need to be explained by On inherent defect In
Celtic peoples when II is remembered that no
opportunity of acquiring IL has ever been afforded
them. Since the primitive clan organization OF
the native race was dissolved in the sixteenth
century, neither local nor national sefgovernment
has ever existed in Ireland. until the recent estab
lishment Of representative municipal institutions
in the larger towns"
The Irish Parliament which existed from 1882
to 1900 was in no true sense Q representative
body. 1t suffered from the same want OF respon-
English rule paralyzed or dcbased Irish efforts in
politics until recently That it should fall easily
when tempted by English corruptionists was
inevitable in the circumstances, for it was domi-
mated by an element which cared for Ireland only.
so long as profit could be made out OF the country.
The member of that body who thanked God
he had o country to sell was In truth not on
unfair example Of the prevailing type of Irish
politicians at the time Of the Union. Upon such
men the eloquence and patriotism Of Grattan
and his followers were worse than wasted. They
looked only to the Castle patronage and beng
irresponsible were without conscience or restraint
Self-government without responsibility is i'm
practicable, and the same deficiency which
wrecked tho Irish Parliament is at the bottom
Of the turbulence and lawlessness too often
fallaciously explained as the natural manifesto
lions OF Celtic humanity people who for
centuries have found in the laws only agencies
Of oppression cannot be expected TO reverence
them. people taught by long experience that
force alone will secure relief for them cannot be
expected to abandon that recourse promptly even
when the prospect is improving.
Nor must il be forgotten that in the develop
ment of civilization ireland is four centuries be-
hind the rest OF Europe, and that her backward
ness is due to the same causes which have fos-
population. There has yet to be shown an ex-
ample of any other people equally handicapped
equally depressed, equally wronged, during ~
similarly long period, yet doing better than the
Irish have done. What their capacities are and
what their industry when placed under free and
favoring conditions the progress of the race in this
country concusivcly shows. Even the imperfect and
hnmpcred system of the end of the eighteenth
century stimulated their productive energies in
remarkable way There were o few years
when their industrial development exceeded In
proportion that of England, as demonstrated in
this volume. And what of the future? We
will let Professor Bryce speak upon that ques-
tion. In closing bis introduction he says: The
reflection MS occur that IL these unhappy feat
ures Of English rule and the temper Of the Irish
people during the last two centuries were the
result of causes acting steadily during q long
period Of time, a correspondingly long period
Of better relations viii be needed TO efface them
History, however, IL she does not absolutely for
bid, certainly does not countenance such pre-
dction. IL has sometimes happened that when
malignant conditions have vanished, and mems
feelings undergone a thorough change, q single
generation has been sufficient to wipe out an
cient animosities, and capacities for industrial
intellectual or political development have been dis
closed which no one venturcd to expect Necessity
and responsibility are the best teachers Even the
drcary annals Of Ireland show some progress from
century to century In time like ours changes
of every kind move faster than they did in days
of darkness and ISOLATION; and though there are
moments when clouds seem to settle down over
Ireland, or over Europe as a whole yet II we
compare the condition of the world now with
that Of a century ago, we find ample grounds
for faith in the increasing strength Of the forces
which make for righteousness and peace