New-York tribune., 1922-02-05

/. filing Of Il "iong-felt want"
Yet, If without imrrc, i'ety
may adapt the French philosophers
words about the Deity if tnat worse
than h2clineyed phrase did not exist
and lad not long existed, We should
have to invent it specially Tor this
book. Complete and satisfactory his
tories Of ireland have ever becn-no
pcrpoJuatc AN HiDorM!csm conspicu
GUS ~ their non~eXistence Yet there
is probably no country in tho world
the history Of which it has been more
desirable for the world to know au-
thentically, than that same island.
Most readers have gained tfeir in
formation OF it from scanty passages
in histories Of England, or else fro.n
special partisan histories of special
events and cras. a comprehensive his
tory OF the Irish people. not only po-
!itically, but industrally. socially, in
tellec:ually. devoid OF passion, pre- ju-
dice or propaganda, has hot only been
+,
pretty generally with perpetual motion
and the quadraturc Of the circle.
Professor Hayden and Mr.. Moonan
have, however, achieved the Impossible.
They have given US here volume which
covers tho history OF Ireland or rather
ot the irish people, from the legendary
ora just after the Noacnian Deluge
down to the year 1920, which while
necessarily as concise as a dictionary
slso opportunities the latter IN com
prchcnSivencss, which is marvel Of
liroc;ncss and lucidity, which, despite
its amazing compression, Yet contains
enough juice to make it agreeable read
ing. and which. nlirabi~ dirtu. is gen
orally mode Of CAIN, judic.ous I'M
2artiality. "While writing from &
frankly national standpoint say the
authors in their brief preface. "thc
authors have made every effort 20 at
tain accuracy and avoid prejudice.
Events are dealt with. as far as pos
sible, in the spirit and atmosphere OF
chelr own times, but are judged by
their fina! effects upon the destioics
OF the nation Now that was on ideal
aim .or true historians, and it has been
attained to a most CERTIFYING degree.
Iolcrably familiar with Irish affajrs
since the days Of Isaac Butt and with
the whole array of Irish, Anglo-Irish
and American Irish histories, J should
be at less to name any other consid-
erablc work comparable with this in
fairness and judicial breadth of vision.
Note few touchs.ore PASSAGES -
those which would, II any could
arouse fierce passions and violent cx-
prcssions. At Droghcda, for example.
what Of Cromwell" We are told that
he WIS ruthless and showed no mercy
save IN isolated instances. But in tho
next breath We are told that at ClonmeI
despite his cxa SEPARATIONS at his heavy
losses and at the gross trickery which
was practiccd upon by the Mayor,
he loyalty kept his word. Again. in
the supreme episode Of the siege Of
Londonderry Macaulay himself in ono
of the purplest Of mis- purple patches,
was no more appreciative of the valor
OF the defenders than is Professor
Hayden and 10 moro severe against
the barbarity oG the Jacobto com
mander, Rosen. And yet again in the
story Of Bcync Water she recognizes
that the Irish defeat was largely due
TO the recreant James. who thought
less Of fighting ttan OF making good
his fight, while William boldly led IN
person his troops into The fercest of
the fray
No incident in Irish history has
evoked stronger or more lasting pas
sions than the reputation of the
Treaty Of Limerick. More than half