Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

to be governed by peace and goodwill, FEAR is the real powerful persuader that made the wishes of the Jesuits compulsory upon the ignorant, as are now Mr. O'Connell's machinations upon the priest-ridden Irish.

It was this system of the Jesuits that caused the celebrated quarrel between the French Parliament and Louis the Fifteenth. When, in 1762, this society was forced to produce the Institute (as it was called), which comprised the rules and mysteries of their order, it was found to be subversive of the maxims of civil government; an offence not one iota greater than those practised every hour upon the credulous Irish by their priesthood. This so exasperated the public that they got rid of the Jesuits altogether, by confiscation of their effects, seizure of their colleges, and final banishment.

Some few well-informed Catholics upon the Continent have misconceived the situation of Ireland. They entertain the belief that a partial concession of the demands of Mr. O'Connell would be justice, and might benefit Catholicism. This feeling is on the decline, partly owing to Mr. O'Connell's speeches and writings, as well as a better knowledge of the learned gentleman's associates on the Continent.

Fortunately for the world, such is the watchfulness of Continental governments over their people, and the low ebb to which is fallen, in the estimation of Continental politicians, the flood of rebellion urged by the Irish, that it would be impracticable to form now those extensive combinations that existed formerly between the United Irishmen and discontented Jacobins.

If Ireland stood in the same relationship towards England and other states as she did in the reign of the

Stuarts, when there was a Catholic pretender to the throne of Great Britain, then a demonstration such as Mr. O'Connell is making might have been supported by the Catholic European community; whereas now, the policy declared by Repealers is directly opposed to that of even the disaffected Catholics.

Many on the Continent have seceded from Mr. O'Connell, on account of the political character of the press, and the persons who have been recently acting and supporting the Agitator; so that his admirers are those who avow the belief that the world will be benefited by the decline and fall of proud Albion, as they call England! for they say, until the British empire passes through revolution and dismemberment, their system on the Continent cannot be adopted.

It is true that there exists in Europe an impression that England has used her policy injuriously to foreign States. There are few, however, amongst Statesmen on the Continent, who do not believe it to be sound policy to uphold the power of the British empire, as the best means of preserving their country from aggressive warfare, and their internal government from military despotism, or the license of republican govern

ment.

66

The Irish, when under the influence of discontent, are always the same, semper idem." When the rebellion broke out in 1793, the Catholics in Ireland were as devotedly attached to their religion as the Repealers pretend to be at the present day. Until rebellion commenced, and blood was shed, they were equally loyal in their expressions. However, they united with Protestants and Presbyterians, who were more inimical to the Catholic religion than that of the

Anglican Church, and with the French republicans, who were of no faith whatever; just as at the present time the writers abroad, and the foreign associates of Mr. O'Connell in Ireland, are those who continually attack the power of the priesthood, and the undue influence of the Catholic religion throughout Europe, especially in France and Belgium.*

But it appears to us, the Agitator is beginning to perceive the fault he has committed, and this accounts for the abuse he heaps upon Louis Philippe. No man in Europe has better means of being acquainted with the political feeling of Continental states than the Agitator, through his Catholic connexions; this knowledge renders Repeal movements doubly iniquitous.

Mr. O'Connell must be aware that Roman Catholic power is on the increase, owing to the gradual moderation of Papal authority in secular affairs, to the concessions recently made from the Vatican to the cabinets of Berlin and Vienna, and last, not least, to the wisdom and prudence of Louis Philippe, in dealing with the priesthood and religion in France. Mr. O'Connell knows generally that the Catholic clergy, both secular and hierarchical, are obtaining power, just as they abjure the very policy advocated by him.

More and more, as the learned gentleman presses forward repeal, must his plans for ameliorating, what he calls, the grievances of Ireland be found to be but a repetition of those anarchical and revolutionary doctrines, too well understood, yet not to be despised. We are surprised that the Agitator should have advanced

* The delegate from Belgium, who visited Mr. O'Connell at his express invitation, is constantly attacking the political power of the Catholic priesthood.

so far as he has done. We hardly think he can retrace his steps; for what is the current he and his priesthood have let loose in Ireland? It is a flood of mutiny that has started forth on the Continent upon several occasions, but which has been put down in the end by the good sense of the people themselves. The original agitators of revolution in France and Belgium, in 1830 and 1831, succeeded, indeed, but not in their object, which was setting up a republican form of government, for they were obliged to submit to a limited monarchy, differently constituted from that which they required.

The ignorant Irish peasant, and with few exceptions the ill-informed priesthood in Ireland, are not made acquainted with the fact, that Repeal is subversive of the very policy maintained by the Pope himself, which now regulates the discipline of the Church of Rome; but Mr. O'Connell has no such excuse. He knows full well that even the Jesuitical body, that act in secret, even THEY, give to Repeal but a qualified support.

The Agitator is well aware that he has done all in his power to connect the cause of Ireland with those who are generally disaffected, in every quarter of the globe; although, in their disaffection, they are opposed to most of the political tenets avowed by the Repealers.

Mr. O'Connell has fairly admitted that he has stung his country with a venom, the consequences of which will be developed in after-time by civil war. Thus he declares himself satisfied with having left as a legacy to Ireland the most dreadful scourge that can afflict mankind, which, in his own person, he has neither the moral nor physical courage to encounter.

ADDENDA.

We had written thus far, when the public prints announced the PROCLAMATION issued by the Government of Ireland for putting down Repeal meetings, and more especially to prevent the "DEMONSTRATION about to be held at Clontarf.

[ocr errors]

In consequence of this announcement, we paused in our writing, until we could discern the opinion of English and Continental journals, with regard to this stroke of policy on the part of the British govern

ment.

The Irish question has seriously occupied the attention of the Continental public; in some respects even more than it has the thinking part of the community in England, who are strong in the confidence inspired by the vigour of the British constitution.

It is to be regretted that the criticisms upon the present policy of the Government-for they hardly amount to condemnation-should be sometimes so unjust; and at other times, that the 'critiques,' especially by Continental writers, should evince so much ignorance of the practice of the British constitution.

There is nothing in all they have written or said, that does not breathe envy and disappointment; as if there were a party, both in England and on the Continent, who desired to see partial success obtained by the Repealers over the executive power of England, in order that British interests might be weakened.

They say the Proclamation was ill-timed; that it ought either to have come much sooner, or have been postponed to a more distant period. Then, as if they

« ZurückWeiter »