New-York tribune., 1894-04-29
WOLFE TONE.
A NEW EDITION OF HIS JOURNALS.

by r. Barry O'Bren. Two volumes; Up. I. XxNN.,
32i: will, 40 Imported by Charles ScrlDher
Sons.
As Mr. O'Brien points out in the introduction
to this new edition Of Wolfe Tones narratives
and Journals Of his own career, 1t would be un-
lust to hold the unfortunate hero to the strict
letter OF his confessions. Tone wrote such vast
deal more than his devotons in the records OF MS
daily life that he must be supposed to have used
his pen in order to avoid perilous confidence IN
men. Neither from his own testimony nor from
that of others can he be suspected OF sedateness
and sobrety of temper. He was acuVe' ihpet-
nous. ready to accuse himself Of too great inii-
macy with the winecup. and OF saying overihuch
IN controversy But he was able to reserve most
OF his excitability for his journals. THESE
memoranda briste with exclamations. with vio-
lent CONTEMPT for people whom the author was
Obliged TO meet on terms which he did not rel
ish. or with comments on affairs which he would
not have liked to make public. The wisdom OF
keeping a journal as a means OF neutralzing
the dangers of friendship, as we'll as Of mere
acquaintance. was never better excmplihed than
in the case of Wolfe Tone But 1t would never
do to think that the abruptness and frankness
of the journals were wholly unstudied. His own
statement Of the way he allowed his pohtlcai
writings TO be treated by his coworkers before
they were published shows that writing was
curb not a stimulus. to his impetuosity. Instead
of resenting criticism, he courted and demanded
st. He felt what ne saw II was hard for others
the headstrong Richard Burke. for example
to concede that a political pamphlet should
often embody the views of as many individuals
as possible the author being simply the instru-
ment for bringing these views into harmony.
The pen enabled him to be deliberate and eau
tious. The difference is great between the style
b;ob ba al Cd f.
essays that were to be published, and that which
he used in his private memoranda. He means
that the latter shall be read some day. His
quotations and literary illusions shows this inten-
tion But they are to be read as the soliloquies
Of man who takes this way of indicating as
poets of his character which his contemporaries
were not allowed to
But who was Theobald Wolfe Tone?" The
question was asked with glance at the volumes
in hand you will be asking who Richard
Croker is next" was the reply of veteran.
Not that there is much possibility Of comparison
between Wolfe Tone and Richard Croker, saving
that both were of Irish origin. 1t is a coincidence
worth mentioning that Tone knew a Richard
Croker of his own day. that is if his favorite
quotation. "Croaker's a rhyme for Joker. poor
Dick" may be taken circumstantial evidence.
Tones claim to renown is that he planned and
carried out far he could the most important
effort ever made to separate Ireland from the
British Empire. 1t not his fault that the
attempt failed prematurely. The curious feature
of his career is that his enthusiasm in the cause
Of Ireland did not urge him TO activity until quite
late in his short life. In his boyhood he wished
10 be soldier, and that wish If fulfilled
would have taken him with his brother
Matthew into some branch of the British service
But his father insisted upon peaceful profess
sion. Tone declares that he was an incorrigi-
BILE idler at Trinity College, Dublin, but his
statements must be taken with some misg!ving
since he couples them with boast about catch
ing up with his classes by h, rried study a week
or so before examinations and about the honors
which he won 1t was much the fashion in the
days when Tone was youth. toward the close
of the last century, to pretend that one was too
brilliant to need to study. runaway marriage
destroyed his hopes Of a fellowship and he
turned to the law. entering his name as a student
on the books Of the Middle Temple Here again
he alleges idleness. But at all events he was
admitted to the bar in Dublin. In spite OF his
oeprecatory manner everything goes to show
1nat ne began well as lawyer But he had also
other ambitions in his mind. One Of these was
to establish a colony on some OF the islands in
the South Sea newly discovered by Captain
Cook. 1t is plain that he foresaw vaguely the
in
Australasia His plan, unlike the famous "PantI-
socracy' of Southey and Coleridge appears IN
nave been thoroughly practicable He recurred
to it more than once in his life. The sipnifcanoe
OF the project however lies in the fact that his
enorts 10 interest the British Government in II
We're met with neglect. He drew up memorial,
10 fltt and delivered the paper with his own
Aahos 10 the porter in Downing Street" Some
DAYS later he wrote letter to Pitt calling atten-
ton to the memorial. But no reply was ever re
ceived Il regret" says Tone. these DELIGHTFUL
reverles which then occupied my mind It wac
my nrst essay in what may call politics and
my disappointment made such an innression on
me as is not yet quite obiterated In nv aneer
made something like VOW that II ever had
al opportunity j would make Mr. Pitt sorry
anu perhaps fortune may yet enable me TO full
fll that resolution"
IL Is not difficult to see in this incident tho
hrst turn Of Tones mind toward opposition 70
English rule. According to the opinion of tho
Duke OF Wellington. Tone came near fulfilling b,s |
VOW Yet at the outset he SENS 10 have had |
niue 'houSnt or what was to come. The practice |
oi ID" was not agreeable to him. so he turned IN
pohtcs rather wistfully than with hone As |
YET MS desires were limited to possibilities within
ahe English parties. There was no sign Of rebel |
lion in his conduct nor in the record he has rnada
oi MS early years He was not then partisan ex- |
cept perhaps OF the democracy advocated for in |
stance. by men like Thomas Paine and illustrated |
more or less wisely on bo.h sides Of the Atlantic
ne was rather inimical TO the Papacy, and |
'hroughout his life he distrusted priests Thus. |
setting aside the unlucky memorial just men |
toned, 1t was quite natural that his first VEN |
ture in actual politics should have been in be.
half OF the party which was supposed 10 repre |
sent liberal ideas in England. The novelty Of
THIS party in relation to Irish affairs may also !
nave attracted his attention The name OF Whg
was almost unknown in Ireland (at least as a
term In practical politics. when Lord Charlennont