New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-06
NEV LIGHT on IRELAND.

Clereymen have the reputation OF being the
best of travellers. They enter with zeSt INTO
the pleasures of holiday journey, and adapt
themselves readily to the vicissltudes and an
noyances of travel Many of the most inter
estng and valuable contributions to this
voluminous department of literature have been
made by cergymon in pursuit OF resi- anu
recreation. We esteem it high privilege to
offer the hospitality of THE TRlBCNEs crowd
ed columns to one Of these ministerial travel
lerS Our readers will have their appetite Tor
the remaining numbers of the series Sharpened
into keen relish by the opening letter published
in to-days issue. The Rev. Charles K. Baker
is known in Brooklyn as a most Jealous, elo-
qucnt and successful rector OF a large ana IN
hucntial parish. lie is also model traveller,
with racy literary style, keen sense or
humor discriminating appreciation OF essen
tfal facts and social tendencies, and sy1npa-
thctic touch for men even of the lowliest ranks
from whom much is to be learned. His ac-
count of drive to the Cloyne with a shrewd,
ouick-wittcd Irish guide reveals him AZ his
best. 1t is fnll of humor and entertainment,
and is llumined with flashes of insight of Irish
character and disccrnmcnt of the social and
agrarian conditions of the distracted island
There is no other part OF the world OF when
during recent years the EngliSh-s speaking race
has heard so much yet knows 50 little aS Ire
land. For fifteen years every session OF the
British Parliament has been an Irish session.
Thousands of speeches have been made on
Irish questions. Periodical literature Ill Eng
land has been heavily weighted with eXplana-
tons and criticisms of Irish policy and TRADES
on and dcfcnccS of Irish character. Books on
Ireland have been multiplied, and almost a
much has been written and read on the SUBJECT
in the United States as in Great Britain. W TN
presses groaning under the weight OF all ms
controversial literature the real conditions OF
life. government and progress are practically
unknown outside the island. No stronger
proof of the correctness of this assertion can
be required than the feeling Of surprise ana
establishment which is naturally excited by Mr..
Bakers keen observations on the progress oi
education and the tendencies of asrarian revo-
luton.
The drive TO the Cloync reveals marked
Improvement in the intelligence OF the people
during the last generation. / his Is iact I"
be set down 10 the credit both ot the governing
and the governed classes, and also Ia tho IN
fucnce Of the American Irish. An increased
number of school buildings shows that educa-
tional facilities have been enlarged, but the
decline Of iitcracy is 10 be attributed III no
small part 10 the reflex action of the superior
intelligence of the Irish who have gone to
America. Relatives who have emigfatei have
been ashamed Of the ignorance prevailing III
the island. and gradually those who have re-
manned behind have been impressed win IN"
urgent necessity of education. The changes III
aprarian conditions have been most remark
able Not only has tho density Of farming
population been largely reduced, twenty-five
families living on one estate where there were
once 200. but the same necessity which forced
the New-England population 10 modify their
methods and tO change their crops Is now
opcrating in Ireland 50 as 10 transform agri-
culture There has been an agrarian rcvolu-
ton coupled with the introduction of new
agricultural system and some scheme oil land
purchase is inevitable since that system does
not suffice to support both landlords and ten
onts. One or the other must go. Tho GUIDE 5
remark that under land purchase the Irish Will
pay back what they owe TO an Irish, but not
10 an English Government contains the po-
ltica philosophy of Mr. GladStonc's Home
Rule policy. The English may lcglsate never
50 wisely for Ireland, but their reforms and
concessions will utterly fail to effect race
reconciliation. II must be Irish legislation Tor
Ireland in order TO command the moral support
Of the people.