The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-28

A'ND
Hero will DO q splendid chance, they say, at o
period when the memories OF a glorious past arc
thrilling the souls OF tho young and old, to lay
the foundation OF a group Of truly national and
patriotic gymnastic or athletic societies based
on the system introduced by Father jain and
Arndt in North Germany in Napoleonio times.
Tho loyalists OF Ireland, an insignificant minor
ity in themselves. have shown what can DO &C
complishcd in this direction by perseverance,,
method. and devotion to a principle. Have they
not called into existence q boys brigade which
numbers almost 10000 membera. all steady,
respectable youths, actuated by feelings Of
p~atriotism-not toward Ireland, but tow
ard the e~mpire-leading Christian lives
and pledged to total abstinence from
Indulgence in intoxicating liquorsi 1t is true
that a so.called Catholic Boys Brigade has been
started since, and that Celtic or Gaelic athletic
associations are also in existence. But none of
these compares In numbers or importance with
tho Loyalist Brigade. Yet, with a little energy
and unity OF purpose, before oil by sinking petty
differences and individual rivalries. tho Nation
alists could soon muster a monster brig de of
well-drilled young Irishmen, who. like the
Turner's OF the fntherland, would some day con-
Btitute the nucleus OF n great national army,
prepared for every emergency.
Such is the dream Of some of the promoters Of
the centennial celebration of 1903. 1t Is q re-
turn to the plan of the United Irishmen, modi-
fed to meet the requirements of the times-a
union OF the Irish OF every religious persuasion
who arc opposed to British rule and ascendancy.
. union totally independent of nl parlia-
mentary factions. basing no hopes whatever on
eventual relief from parliamentary action of
any kind. But this is only one of many projects
after all. 1t Is mentioned here more particularly
because 1t impresses the writer as constituting
N hanpv madium hatvean thu Drnnnuitinna If
the moderates who would reduce the 90 C le-
bration to a merely ~platonic demonstration Of
reverence for the memory OF the heroes OF the
past and the views of the extremists-many OF
them in the United States-who advocate a call
to arms as a necessary sequence of any great
gathering Of Irishmen upon their native sod.
The men who hold such opinions are assuredly
but little familiar with the very events they
propose to celebrate in this radical manner; for
n the story OF '0S carries with It any lesson at
all, it 10 that there is a time for all things. in.
cluding revolutions. and that started at the
wrong moment. and without proper preparation,
such outbreaks can lead only to dismal failure
and to the destruction of their promoters and
participants.
In view of the proportions which this colebra
tion 10 likely to attain, whether 1t eliminates In
serious political complications or not, in view
furthermore. of the tragic interest that attaches
to the great struggle for Irish independence ID
SELF, tho writer undertook q trip this veal
through those parts Of the afflicted island which
suffered most during tho eventful period II
question. lie visited the more important battle
fields south OF Dublin and in the county OF Wex
ford; he pushed out TO Mayo In the west, tn,
scene OF the French Gen. Humbert's belated
but heroic, attempt to bring liberty to a down
trodden people. The impressions gathered OF
this trip, coupled with a study OF the works o
contemporaneous writer's on tho rebellion AMI
Of certain archives relating thereto in the pos
session Of tho French Government, have formed
the basis of the present series OF historical
sketches.
Although the purpose 10 to deal more particu
larry with the episodes In the field, a proliminar,
reference TO the immediate causes leading I'D L
the outbreak is necessary to a proper compre
hension OF the subject in general.
II Ia generally admitted by all historian
worthy of credence. and among these are In
cludod loyalists as we'll as opponents OF Brltisl
ascendancy, that Ireland's fate was scaled wit
the departure of Lord FitEwilllam. tho Lord
Lieutenant. In tho spring of 1898. after les
than three months incumbency OF Office
commenced to breathe a little freely. an
TO look forward 10 the. promised and muc
needed legislative reforms which woul
mere serfdom and helotry 10 the dignity OF fro
citigcnship. All this WAS not TO he. Tho CAST
~cdmqrilld, alarmed at the prospects OF q Catht
lie ely anticipation act. had brought It's innuenc