New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-09
LECKY'S HISTORY.
THE REBELLION AND THE UNION.
4 HISTORY OF ENGLAND IN THE EIGHTEENTH
CENTURY. ny william Edward Hsrtpolc Lec ~
Volume VIII i:mo. PIP. XIV, $50. D. Appleton q GO.


CENTURY. ny william Edward Hsrtpolc Lec Ky
Volume VIII l.mo. PIP. XIV, $50. D. Appleton q w.
The eighth and concluding volume OF Mr. Leckys
history Is mainly occupied with the Rebellion OIL
l7os and the Union of 1900. The story OF inc
Rebellion has been often written. but until now
always BY partisans. II has been reserved 'ol
Mr. Lecky to narrate the events OF that turouien.
period with judicial fairness and Importantly ana
to spportion the heavy responsibilities invoiveo
without fear or favor. The nl-fortune thst seems
to wait upon all Irish conspracies had OF the very
outset been manifested here. The organization OF
the rebellion had proceeded steadily ana rapioiy'
the movement apparently acquiring fresh momen-
tnm daily. The whole country was oehevea !"
be covered with tie network OF sedition. Inc
United Irishmen were carrying everything before
them in their work Of enrolment, intimidation
supplying in many places the enthusiasm which
might be wanting. 1t seemed that nothing was
lacking for successful rising but that French in
vasion which had long been eagerly and i'm
patiently expected. For this event alone the
leaders waited The distribution Of arms and in
structions had been generally effected. All were
looking expectantly to the sea when the hand
of the Government closed suddenly upon the
Dublin Directory of United Irishmen, and in
moment all the plans were stuck into confusion
AS has been invariably the case, informers were
plentiful The conspirators, moreover, were
fatuously rash. All their proceedings had long
been known to the Government, which was en-
abled tc choose it's own time for capturing the
rebel headquarters While the paralyzing effect
of this blow was still felt. course Of vigorous
disarmament and suppression was entered upon.
Troops were distributed at free quarters among
the inhabitants. perpetual searches for arms were
carried on. and the militia and yeomanry, al
ways insubordnate and ill-disciplined, were given
free scope in the qualification Of their ferocious
impulses
Il was at this time that the use Of torture TO
compel the surrender of arms was introduced as
is said, by the North Cork Militia. 1t took the
form Of "pitch-caps" and was reinforced by fog
ging. Martial law was proclaimed, and the burn
ing Of houses where arms had been found became
frequent It is not surprising that the Govern
ment should have been accused of deliberately
egging the people on to rebellion in order to
have the opportunity of a sanguinary suppression.
II must. however. be borne in midland Mr.. Lecky
never suffers it to be forgotten that there were
fearful wrongs on both Sides that the country
was quite generally in state OF anarchy before
the outbreak Of the Rebellion that assassination,
outrage. robbery, and all manner of crime, pre-
vailed in many districts and counties wherever
the troops were absent; that motives for revenge
and causes of bitter hatred were only too abun-
dant; and that neither side can be said to have
surpassed the other in the cruelty, fcrocfty and
ntrocity of Its misdceds When the Rebellion broke
out the event did not equal expectation. and the
manner of it surprised the most visiant observers
In the first place, Ulster. which had for years
been the chief focus of sedition, which was known
to be more thoroughly organized than any part
to i'm nd xvb he p,ocf
able outbreak had been feared, remained perfectly
quiet nor did the disturbances in that province
at any time attain serious proportion In the
second place. the true heart of the rebellion proved
to be in Wexford, which had up to the very
eve of the rising been phenomenally tranquil, and
where-though Mr. LeclSy disputes this-United
Ifishism said to have made scarcely any way.
At the time the way events happened must have
been often very puzzling, but Mr. Lecky makes
it clear that the tranquility of Ulster really
natural result of the development OF the rebellion
in it's early stages.
The first risings in Dublin. Kildare and Meath.
and still more the character of the Wicklow and
Wexford instruction, made it plain that religious
bigotry and fanaticism were powerful. if not con-
trolling factors in the movement. The agents
of the rebellion had long been disseminating
among the ignorant peasants reports to the effect
that a general massacre of Catholics was in
tended, and in this way aroused all the slumber-
ing venom of religious hatred, never difficult
10 Qocite or stimulate Thus the rebellion at
once took the form of ant-Protestant war, and
the Presbyterans of Ulster were compelled to ask
themselves if it could be to their interest In any
way to identify themselves with rebellion the
success of which probably meant the complete
overthrow Of that Protestant cause for which they
Il hlsacv,s cp.f hat nvoA hon
but since the advent of the French was indis
pensable to the success Of any republican enter
prise, and since the French had not come and
apparently would not come, their motives for &C.
ton were no longer what they had been. Add Il
these considerations the heavy pressure Of MARTA
law upon the province. and the attitude Of Ulster
is no longer inexplicable. AS the rebellion pro
ceeded. the religious element .obtruded more ant
more The energy Of the Government speedily
crushed the feeble risings in Dublin, Kildare ant
Meath but the Wexford rebellion grew formidable
IL was headed by priests, it became distinctivel.
Catholic in character, and it was marked by man,
horrible atrocities. Perhaps the most remarkably
fact about the whole rebellion is the apparen
apathy and indifference of the English Govern
ment to it. While Lord Camden was writing DAHL
from Dublin Castle, clamoring for heavy rein
forcements of English troops and making the mos
alarming representations, no action whatever wa
being taken In London Camden was BY this tim
convinced that the storm was beyond his con
troll and he wrote to Portland that military vice
roy ought to be appointed, and that he hmsel
would be glad to retire. Slowly Pitt and hi
Cabinet appear to have realized the gravity o
the situation, and then CORVALLIS replaced Cam
den and large bodies of English troops wer
pushed across the Channel. But before thes
changes the worst was really over; the heavies
fighting had been done the back of the ebellio
was broken.
It lasted two months. and was almost confire
to Leinster. Ulster, Munster and Connaught r.
manned practically free from disturbance, thong
the usual mixture and confusion Of motives an
actions appeared everywhere Thus, notwiof
standing the pronounced religious aspect Of tn
Wexford rebellion, Catholic regiments OF mllitl