The Press.
London, England, 1857-10-17 00:00:00

rHE PRESS, OCTOBER 17, 1857.

all classes of society and all bodies of reli-
gionists, we believe that to have pursued
it at this conjuncture would have been
most imprudent and inequitable. For
whence proceeds this bitter crusade against
Orangeism ? It is no sudden impulse, uncon-
nected with and dissociated from contempo-
rary events, but, on the contrary, is the result
of a particular view of the recent disturbances
at Belfast. The Government appoints a Com-
mission to institute a close and searching in.
quiry into the origin of those disturbances
Such a step would have been useless and
absurd, had there been no occasion for an
investigation at once stringent and impartial.
Amid such conflicting reports and such diver-
sified opinions, it became requisite to collect
and weigh the evidence as a preliminary to an
adjudication upon it. This is, at all events,
the most favourable way of explaining the
appointment of this Commission ; and if it was
not nominated in this spirit and for this ob-
ject, it was a mockery and a farce! But what
has the Irish Government done in the matter?

It has deliberately superseded its own agents,
anticipated their report, and prejudged their
decision. For ourselves, we never thought
that any solid good could bo effected by such
machinery as that employed at Belfast. We
know that such expedients have this as their
characteristic, that they aro only resorted to
as a mode of escape from a difficulty. The
Ministry which is unwilling or afraid to
act assumes an appearance of fairness
and candour by promoting a long and
elaborate inquiry, in the majority of cases
tending rather to mystify than elucidate the
subject, and at the same time avoids pledging
itself to accept the result as binding and con-
clusive. But this could not have been Lord
CARLISLE'S opinion of the nature and effect of
his Commission—this we aro bound to assume
in all honesty. What is it, then, which has
changed his opinion and reconciled him to
the repudiation of his own act? Lawlessness
and bloodshed have of late disgraced Belfast,
and who is to be adjudged responsible?
Before the trial is concluded and the verdict
delivered the sentence is passed ! Lord CAR-
LISLE'S profession of doubt as to the origin of
these riots was a feigned and a delusive pro-
fession ; for, through his Lord Chancellor, he
has fastened the stigma of guilt upon the
Orangemen, and the Orangemen alone !
We say nothing now as to the expediency
of these Orange societies which have been
ostracised—that is a distinct and separate
question, to be treated on its own merits.
But what a time for disseminating the idea
that Irish Protestantism is distasteful to the
Irish Executive ! What a time for leading
Irish Protestants to suppose that they
are objects of suspicion and distrust! For,
let it be disguised as it may, this
decree is regarded as a blow to Irish
Protestantism, and as such will be hailed
with rapturous glee by the Romanists. We
should imagine that such a determined
measure would almost conciliate the Nation
newspaper, and induce it to chuckle with more
temperate satisfaction over the disasters and
misfortunes of England ! It is verily some-
thing to have held out the olive branch to
Irish sepoyism, and to give a colour to the
notion that it is Protestantism alone which to
Dublin Castle is a stumbling-block and an
offence. But we are anxious to learn when
this war of extermination against Orange
magistrates is to be followed up by a war with
Ribbonism, with Tenant Leagueism, and all
the kindred evils with which Ireland is
afflicted.. When is it to be decided that
priestly interference and priestly intimidation
are inimical to the liberties of the subject, are
subversive of law, and productive of violence?
WLea is it to be decreed that such men as
Mr. KEOOH are not fit to be on the Bench,
even though they abjure their Ribl onism, when
they receive its reward? When is it to be
understood that the John Reynoldses of society
are not 'proper recipients of the magisterial
office, though they are the pet candidates of a
Protestant Ministry?
Lord CARLISLE has the credit of an amiable
disposition and a crateful style ; but if he
persists in such jobbery for political pur-
poses, not all his social amenity, nor all his