The Press.
London, England, 1857-03-14 00:00:00

IRELAND AND THE GENERAL
ELECTION.

TILL PREMIER is a great master of political
intrigue and party artifice. In the many
windings of his sinuous career he has displayed
such ready adroitness, such inventiveness, and
such elasticity, that he has emerged, for the most
part, from his worst reverses and most trying
vicissitudes with renovated vitality. The Noble
Lord is not consequently without a somewhat
numerous following. Success has supreme
attractions for ordinary minds. It is often
mistaken for wisdom, and it is not rarely pre-
ferred to virtue. We are willing therefore to
admit that he has many admirers, that his
tools are not few, and that his dupes are con-
siderable. But amid all the delusions, the
fables, and the sophisms which are being ar-
rayed and marshalled in his favour to repair
his damaged fortunes and resuscitate his
fiding popularity, amid much doubt and no
small perplexity, we have the utmost satis-
faction in knowing that Ireland is neither be-
guiled, deceived, nor perverted, but, true to her
own honour and faithful to her own interests,
is prepared to repudiate the Government of
the First Minister. In the solemn appeal to
its electors which is now about to be made, it
will confirm the verdict and ratify the con-
demnation of the House of Commons.
Our readers will have observed with much
astonishment and some concern that a certain
section of the Conservative party, and com-
prising, we gladly acknowledge, men of tried
intelligence and approved integrity, has
thought fit to sever itself from the general
body, with a view to support the present Ad-
ministration. They have candidly stated
their reasons and explained their motives for
this conduct. Fervent and indefatigable in
the defence of Protestantism, and deeming all
other considerations subordinate to that object,
they accord their full confidence to Lord
PALMERSTON. Now we earnestly entreat their
attention to the following considerations.
The Conservatives of Ireland arc remarkable,
are eminent, for their attachment and loyalty to
Protestantism. A body which has within it
such men as the Members for Dublin
University, the Members for the City,
the Member for Enniskillen, and many
others, to say nothing of the Peers of
Ireland, the Bandons, the Enniskillens, the
Clancartys, and) the Plunketts, may surely
claim some consideration4as the appropriate
exponents of Protestant principles, and tho

SATURDAY,

natural upholders of a Protestant policy !
Now, by this distinguished confederation
Lord PALMERSTON is not only not regarded
with favour, but is positively and unreservedly
distrusted Shall Ireland bo deprived of the
right, shall it be denied the duty of exercising
its independent judgment upon matters which
concern it—self•concern it closely and pro-
foundly—concern the safety of its Church and.
the welfare of its society ? The gentlemen to
whom we have referred rest their faith on
Lord PALMERSTON—upon the strength of his
recent Church appointments. Captivated and
delighted with them, they ignore his support
of May nooth, which they themselves consist-
ently and energetically denounce ! They for-
get the countenance he gave to Sunday bands,
to the opening of the British Museum and
National Gallery —innovations which they
themselves regarded with hcrror and dismay !
They overlook the servile homage he has paid
to the Roman Catholic element in Ireland—
his elevation of Mr. KEOGH; his promotion of
Mr. FITZGERALD ; his making Lord CASTLEROSSE
Comptroller of the Queen's household, and
Mr. MONSELL President of the Board of Health
—appointments they themselves deprecated
and denounced ! Is this fair to Ireland ?is it
reasonable, is it just? Is Ireland to be handed
over, bound hand and foot, to the tender
mercies of the Roman Catholic body, as an
exchange for four Low Church Bishops in
England? Are the interests of the two coun-
tries to be thus severed, by its being under-
stood that there is to be one policy for the
Prtitestants of Ireland, and another for the
Protestants of England ? The Irish Conser-
vatives repudiate such a line of action with
indignation and scorn ! They rAfuse to have
their rights and interests made the subject of
an unhallowed barter, in which the repulse of
English Tractarianism is to 1•e a set-off for the
encouragement of Irish Romanisin
We have endeavoured, in a hurried sketch,
to explain the grounds on which Ireland is
anxious for the overthrow of Lord PALMERS-
TON. We owe it to our readers shortly to de-
clare the policy the Conservatives of Ireland
consider expedient, and are prepared to
support.

They are not disposed to encourage agita-
tion for the withdrawal of the Maynooth grant.
Although the Act of 181 gave great offence,
and was regarded at the time as a breach of
principle, the circumstances of the country
have experienced so happy a change in many
important particulars, that they do not con-
sider it wise or expedient to insist upon its
immediate repeal. They desire to (mid occa-
sion for religious strife and sectarian animosity.
They are anxious that the progress which the
country is making in moral elevation, and in
social prosperity, should not be impeded by
the introduction of elements of discord and
incentives to disorder. The Protestants of
Ireland, moreover, do not wish to be con-
stantly at war with their Roman Catholic
brethren. They do not covet ascendancy—they
do not hope for predominance. All they ask,
in a word, is fair play.
They do not ignore the political or social
position of the Roman Catholic body. In the
distribution of State patronage, therefore, they
demand nothing but that which is their due.
Men may be appointed to offices very fairly and
properly, although they are Roman Catholics.
Their objection is to a uniform selection of
men, not on the ground of ability or of merit,
but because they are Roman Catholics.
On the question of education their views
aro clear, definite, and temperate. They de-
sire that the Protestants of Ireland should be
placed on an equality with the Roman Catho-
lics in the national system. That once con-
ceded fairly and fully, they do not seek to dis-
turb existing arrangements.

The Conservatives of Ireland are those truo
and trusty friends of hers who know the weak-
ness from which she has suffered, and the
strength of which she is capable. They are
the men who, in her hours of darkest gloom
and deepest prostration, never despaired for
her, but devoted themselves to her servico
with indomitable energy and with quenchless
zeal ; and their only ambition is, that she may
be allowed to fulfil her high mission, and rea•
lise her glorious destiny.