The Press.
London, England, 1858-07-31 00:00:00

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having been in earnest—a credit that few can
claim in the present day. A man deeply pene-
trated with some great truth, and compelled by I
his own deep convictions to obey it, cannot listen
to every one who may be indifferent to it, and
purchase peace with the world at the price of hie
conscience. There is a higher voice to which he
always owes submission, which he serves with
the most fervent devotion, which he worships
with supreme adoratkon. Men of ispercilions
and superficial minds may call him "bigot " or
"intolerant;" but, ueverthelees, he is a man,
because he is true to his convictions. And if
"to be what we are be," as it has been said, " the
"first step to becoming better than we are,"
then not to be what we are must be the first step
to becoming worse than we are.
Any one who has looked with an observant
eye upon the flux and reflux of opinions that has
been going on of late years must be convinced
that all principles are undergoing a process of
solution which betokens some approaching state
of transformation. What is to be evolved out of
the whole, it is impossible for any one to say.
It may be that Millennium of Liberalism of which
some so fondly dream, when all ranks, sects, and
pftties will be reduced to a level, to be followed by,
Waven alone knows what—most certainly not the
triumph of truth. Or it may be some fresh con-
vulsion of the whole mass of society, dividing it-
self into parts according to their true nature—
when every man will be obliged to choose his
party and to avow his principles. Whichever it
may be, it will only be the beginning of the end.

THE WHIGS AND THE REVIVAL OF THE
"ROMAN CATHOLIC QUESTION."
AT the close of our first article last week, we
stated that "During the ensuing recess prepara-
" Lions, on both sides, of the most critical cha-
" raster, will be made to meet Parliament." The
circumstances of the times, and the instincts of
English political life, unite in calling for the re-
organization of parties, for the enunciation of
clear views, and for a stricter regard to principle
than has recently characterized the working of
politics. It will be our duty in the course of the
autumn to direct attention to some aspects of
public affairs fraught with the gravest impor-
tance ; and none of them is of more lasting
interest than the revival of the Papal question,
which many persons thought was virtually ex-
tinguished by the concession of 1829.
That the Whigs have, already, began to take
counsel together as to the best means of repairing
their broken strength, is no longer a political
secret. Nor is any veil thrown over the fact
that great diversity prevails in their camp as to
what should be done about Roman Catholics.
It seems, however, to be a fait accompli that the
Pope has permanently fixed himself upon the
party which arrogantly aspires to the manipula-
tion of " progress" in England. O'CONNELL
extinguished the Whigs in Ireland. The
proud race of the Geraldines now returns a
solitary representative (the Marquis of KILDARE).
The famous Irish families of the Boyles and
Ponsonbies no longer number any scions
amongst the Irish members, and, speaking gene-
rally, the Whig aristocracy of Ireland is politi-
cally defunct. The seats thrmerly filled by emi-
nent members of the Whig families are now
monopolized by political attorneys, or by zealous
adherents to the Church of Rome. There can
be no ignoring the fact that an untiring organi-
zation for the furtherance and support of the
Roman Catholic interest exists at the present
time in Ireland, and, although one hears little
now of "agitation," there is Ear more of in-
fluence and orgaaizatiou brought to bear on the
Roman Catholics than people commonly sup-
We shall advert to some of the symptoms
pose.
which mark the extraordinary energy shown in
all directions by the Roman Catholics.
In former years the game of the Roman Ca-
tholic party was to raise a cry against the
C "arch. They joined the chorus of English
"Voluntaries " against the Establishment, and
tl,c Whigs, under Lord l'ULnouluie, were sup-