"YOUNG IRELAND."

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 64, 18 March 1881, Page 2

"YOUNG IRELAND."

« The author of "Young Ireland" i« in many respects a very remarkablo man ; there is no doubt about his competency to speak on the subject with whioh ho deals ; and the book being published at a time when the affairs of Ireland are attracting unusual attention there is little matter for surprise that it should have attained a very largo Bale at Home. In the Colonies, although Irish affairs naturally do not claim the Bamo keen attention as in England, Sir Charles Gavau Duffy's work|will be road very widely, if only on account of the interest attached to tho author's career. Tho "Young Ireland" party — it is hardly necossary to explain to those who have paid any attention to Irish history — had for their object the repeal of the Union. O'Connoll, the great agitator, who obtained for Ireland Citholio emancipation, first started tho niu-vcmont for separation, and among tho earliest recruits who joined his ranks were the author of the book now under review (then plain Mr. Daffy), Thomas Davis, and John Dillon. With tho co-operation of the two latter, Duffy started tho Nation newspaper— a journal devoted to tho Repeal movement, and whioh at once attained an astonishing amount of popularity. Duffy was the editor, but Davis, he says, was their true leader. That Sir Charles still retains a vast amount of pride in the success of the paper is evident from the length at which he dwells on the rapid increase in its circulation, and the delight with which it waa hailed in all parts of tho country. This is perhaps pardonable in a measure, but his enthusiasm on the subject of the success of bis journalistic) venture becomes a little tedious when Sir Charles proceeds to inflict upon his readers verbatim extracts from testimonials from various admiring readers of the paper, which, if the truth must be told, are not unlike the commendations bestowed upon "Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup," and preparations of that class. In fact so great is the similarity, that the reader is rather surprised at not finding among' the v&rions euloginms quoted tho familiar statement that "no mother should be without it" — that it is "invaluable for infants teething and in convulsions," and bo forth. There is no doubt, however, that the new paper was conducted with great vigor, and carried with it a vast amount of influence. Its writers urged that the Union had rained the Irish manufactures, kept her people in oppression and poverty, caused large sums of money to be drained away annually from their pockets into the coffers of England, and prevented the development either of a national Bpirit, or national prosperity. A strong attack was made in that early day upon tho Land Laws, which are now the subject of such bitter contention, and it was urged that Ireland ought to have a " foreign policy " — said foreign policy, as a matter of fact, consisting in enlisting tho sympathy, and, if possible, the aid, of countries believed to be inimical to Great Britain in the effort to obtain a diesolatiOn'bf of the bond-binding Ireland with the latter country. It will perhaps, be remembered how the movement grew, until at length it assumed such formidable proportions that the Duke of WelLngton found it necessary, as a means of coercion, to send no fewer than 35,000 troops to jreland ; and an Arms Act, with exceptionally stringent provisions, was parsed. Then came the monster meetings of the Irish people— that at Tara, addressed by O'Connell. is supposed to have been attended by between half and three-quarters of a million persons. Another meeting was convened at Clontarf , but was prohibited by the Government. At first there was every probability of a serious conflict, bnt, at the last moment, O'Connall issued a proclamation, by means of whioh he prevented tho meeting from lairing place. " When the day of the meeting dawned," saya Sir Charles, "Conquer Hill, a site overlooking the ancient battle-field, was occupied by horse, foot, *nd artillery; the latter with unlimbered guns and lighted matches, and the cannon of the Pigeon House Fort wero in position to sweep the approaches from the city. During the day the commander of the forces and the Lord Lieutenant vieited the ground, but there was no enemy to encounter." It was here that

+ Youns Ireland : A Fragment of IrUh History, 1810-1850. By Sir Charles G&van Daffy, KC.M.Q. Melbourne: George Bobertsoa. Wol Ungtcm igots: Messrs. Lyon ft Blair.

O'Connell and the younger members of the pafty had their first serious difference. The young bloods" thought that the meeting fihduM Mye b x e'en held at all hazards, and if an. attempt were made to break it -up by force, it should have been resisted by force. Sir Charloß states plainly and forcibly hie belief that resistance on the part of Ireland at this juncture— especially with the assistance which he believes would have been derived from France and America — would have been successful. He adds: — '• They might failed, bnt had they fought and failed, conld the result have been more disastrous P Those who in later times have seen hecatombs slaughtered by famine greater than fell in three French Revolutions, and multitudes exiled by political despair greater than the tyranny of Louis XIV Banished from France, may well doubt whether to fight and fail could have entailed calamities so great as befell them becanse they had inourred tho hatred of England by failing to perform what thay had threatened." The next step on the part of the Government was to arrest O'Connell, Duffy, and others on a charge rf sedition. They were tried and convicted, bnt the sentence was afterwards re* versed by tho House of Lords. The Eepeai movement, however, never again attained its former formidable proportions. O'Connell abandoned the idea of total separation for that of federation, and a history of the controversy on this subject is given in the closing chapters of the present volume, which concludes with an account of the death of Davis. Another volume is promised to conclude the work. We shall then probably have Sir Charles Gayan Duffy's version of the final rupture of his party with O'Connell, and the trial for treason-felony of the author of the present work, who, it is curious to reflect, afterwards lived to be a Minister of tha Crown in an English Colony, and actually to receive a titular distinction from the hands of an English Government. That he still maintains many of the pronounced views which distinguished him in bis younger days— though modified by matnrer years and wider experience — is evident from the extracts we have given above. In conclusion, v?e oan honestly commend " Young Ireland " to our readers as a work containing much of deep interest at the present time. We may add that it is very excellontly got up by the publishers, being printed in good clear type, and neatly bound.