New-York tribune., 1901-03-27

u,
Dunlop. n. A octave, PIP XIV go :"
Putnam's Sens.
The author OF this new addition 20 Ihe
tEeroes Of the Nations" series feels called upon
10 apologize for writing Of the hero OF hatioh
10 which he does not by blood nelohs' pu'
granted Briton who confesses 10 years o'
tpa, devoted 10 Irish history and a warm at
,a.br,en+ 20 The land OF his literary adoption"
the result is much likelier TO be nearer 10 uhe
,v,,b of history than the work of a thorough
,zoinp Celt Ia truth. Mr. Dunlop's account OF
the man who did so much for the awakening u
Irish national life and for the securing OF Justce
from England is al once sympathetic ana I'M
martial His narrative is straighforward ana
we'll rroportioned if not endued with the charm
Of a vitaIy interesting style. and the we" ne
gives of the conditions in which OConnelfs
work was done is lucid
O'Conneu began his career as a lawyer by ms
admission TO the bar three days before the out
'reak Of the Revolution Of 9s. IN Whlch III
aired movement he had part nor sym
ttbv Indeed his views that time are eA-
Dressed by an entry in his diary OF couple OF
years before. to the effect that tine lrish are
not vet sufficiently enlightened TO bear the sun
Az freedom Freedom would soon dwlndle INTO
'ncentiousness: they would rob, they would
murder" The Relief act Of 1898 had opened to
him as a Catholic the possibility OF a career al
he han El e. Y
20 secure 10 ireland even an insignificant meas
ure Of Justice from England was soon borne IN
upon him The proposition for the legislative
,,,ioo az 1900 between the TWO countries first
brought him into political activity, with a speech
nj rrofast in Dublin: but a body the CathoNcs
REGARDED the measure with languid interest
Much Of O'ConneIIs work in the early years
WAS in combating this indifference and in Co.
rosing the unwise measures of many of his own
party on one occasion, in 1Sl2. he was led 10
eNclaim:
One would imagine that we really were at
loss for enemies 50 sedulous do appear to ex-
cite them among ourselves one would suppose
that ireland was net sufficiently divided and dis
tracted already bat that division and dissen-
sion in the Catholic Board could be ahoTded III
addition and as q p2stime.
And that unfortunate tendency has never been
wholly eliminated from the activities Of the
Irish leaders. O'ConncIs energy in arousing the
mass of the people was unbounded. He was
oheered TO the echo wherever he spoke, but had
always 10 remind his audiences that cheers alone
would never lead 10 victory. He knew well the
nature of his countrymen, as Mr.. Dunlop OBJ
serves: how soon they We're moved to enthus-
asm how quickly their enthusiasm evaporated
before the stern realities Of everyday life. But
even in his most impassioned addresses he was
for law and order. for constitutional agitation.
bill in 1913. O'Conners great speech in Dublin
impressed on the Irish people that. however in
tolerable their grievances. they must seek re-
\ dress only by such means and through such
channels afforded by the constitution
y itself. And his voice also not for se2ara-
ton, but for admission into the constitution
and the restoration Of national independence.
simple Repeal" was at that time his motto.
The details Of his work in organizing the Irish
people make themselves heard across the
channel by these means afford view of O'Con-
nell's all compelling personality and the untir-
ing energy with which he devoted himself to his
cause. There are plenty of picturesque incidents
in mis- career. such his appearance in court
for Magee, the occasion of of his greatest
speeches; his duel with DEsterre, in which he
killed his man; his passage with Peel, which was
intended TO, and nearly did, lead 10 another
duel. His election to Parliament n 1928 was
an exciting occasion. filling County Clare with
a tremendous sensation:
Three hundred policemen had been drafted into
the town itself But not a single soldier-not a
single policeman-was required TO preserve
order, although the excitement fever
pitch. 1t was an extraordinary spectacle. Each
day at stated intervals milk potatoes and oat-
meal were served out by the priests to their re-
spectVe parishioners Not a drop of spirituous
liquor passed their lips the whole time What
degree ~ moral restraint that in itself implies
almost passes belief when remembers how
prone the Irish were TO faction fights and that
the reputation Of County Clare in that respect
was second only 10 that Of Tipperary.
In April Of that year. just before he presented
himself for admission TO the Commons The
Emancipation bin passed, and thus a great
victory won. although. as the historian observes
its value in itself proved infnitesimal Never
t2eless the House decided that having been
elected before the Passage OF the act. OConneI
must take the oath. Al the table of the House
ne refused; new writ for Clare was issued. ana
he was again returned unopposed On the qrst
day Of the session of 1880 OConneu took his
seat without remark He won the esteem of The
House and the high opinion Of Peel as an
emclent and eloquent advocate. 1t is interest
ING 10 learn that O'Conneu was fun Of on
huslasm Tor the young Queen. Victoria on her
accession IN lA3I. Her youth. the dignity ard
grace OF her department. the responsibility NOT
Mlthout danger. Of her position drew forth All
the chlFalry Of his nature" The repeal agita
non OF The late forties was OConnelrs last Uori,
tof ireland, and its collapse and failure ,,oa oe
me last blows dealt him. He died Nav IL ls47
ms piographer calls him one Of the most ont;
"eht characters Of the century ana i'm view, %
MS aolhties and the nature OF the work he di5
the Characterization is not in deserved His in
'esrlty was never doubted; his enemies sneerea
at his patriotism. but his countrvrner ho,,a,.s
q" NM As 10 ms position Mr. Dunlop saws this.
Neither personal integrity nor political daxter
ity would have raised him 10 tbe oos,tie L
fieio hdo not the condition Of things heen ,,ro
pitiOus 10 him. If O,Conraf1s peeh ~ pro
leH1 was such as in the opinion of i'm
H., biS @ SeIs' 10 menace government and
py ms own admission such as no man o,,1b, 80 az
peSsess' * was so only because he annhoI;aS -