The Press.
London, England, 1856-04-12 00:00:00

THE IRISH PLATFORNI.

RECENT events have drawn considerable atten-
tion to the state of the Irish Representation.
It is a subject of the gravest character, and is
of such imperial interest as to require special
vigilance. Its importance will justify our re-
questing the notice of our readers to some
of its peculiar aspects.
Our first observation upon it must be, that
though nominally " Irish," the subject is sub•
stantially " English." Since 1688 our British
" parties" have been governed by ascertained
rules, which act almost as regularly as the
tidal influences. Statesmen and educated
observers can calculate on and make allowance
for the action of our contending social ele-
ments; nor did the Union with Ireland disturb
our Parliamentary constitution. But of late
years a pretentious power, which we shall call
" The Irish Platform," has disturbed our do-
mestic politics. It is, a:+ a social influence, at
once violent and mercenary—personally selfish
and politically insincere. There were many
anarchic ideas, but there was something of
moral aspiration in the phantom of " Young
Irelandism." Even the older founders of the
Repeal delusion aimed at a onesid ed nationality,
but recent events show that the contemporary
"Irish Platform" is essentially grovelling, and
that it acts by the Irish mob for a means, with
"Number One" for an end. Yet base as is this
anomalous influence, British Cabinets have
been rocked by its vicious strength.
To show how unfairly the present 'lrish re•
presentative system is worked, we need only
point to the significant facts, that though the
vastly greater portion of the soil in Ireland is
held by a Conservative Proprietary, and though
there are but few " Liberal " Peers in the hun-
dred and ninety-five on the roll of the Irish
Peerage, only thirty-five Irish Conservative
Members are returned, owing to the organised
domination of the tribunitian influences. In
the year 1826 the Conservative and Liberal
Members from Ireland stood upon a par. But
in that year the secret was discovered by the
Whigs of employing clerical tribunes. The
priests, for the first time since the Union,
turned electioneering canvassers, and returned
Mr. VILLIERS STUART for the county of Water-
ford by means of their religious authority.
Wysx has stated, in his " History of the
Catholic Association," the remarkable fact,
that up to that time the priests had feared
Agitation." The French Revolution had
made them instinctively recoil from the use
of the platform.
But once that the young Maynoothian clergy
Were unloosed their thirst for power could not
be easily slaked. They decided the historical
event at Clare in 1829, and since then they
have patented their discovery. They exercise
almost absolute authority over forty seats, and
over thirty more they wield a preponderating
zontrol. The latter fact will not he denied by
any estimable gentlemen who pretend to

o:f:iflratcliss whicho
N's‘‘ C
are onaatimn upcharges of ,
pe
of the people were real!:
at heart. have quite enoi
in the districts long sin!
The true objects of t:
plunder of the Royal I
their treasures and the:
districts supposed to b
and the opening up a vi
every department ofthi
true grounds of this
and it is idle to put
damaging to the King of
damning to the Compai
farce for them to talk
dynasty to whom, in
alleged misgovernment
the extent of a million
exactions, if they wer
participated in the shit)
the extent of four milli
thirty-nine thousand pi
TETE IRISH
RECENT events have (In
tion to the state of the
It is a subject of the g
of such imperial intere
vigilance. Its importa
questing the notice o
of its peculiar aspects.
Our first observation
though nominally " Irii
stantially " English."
" parties" have been gc
rules, which act almoz
tidal influences. Sta
observers can calculate
for the action of our
meats; nor did the Uni
our Parliamentary con
years a pretentious poi
" The Irish Platform,"
inestic politics. It is,
once violent and mercer
and politically insince
anarchic ideas, but tt
moral aspiration in tt
Irelandism." Even th
Repeal delusion aimed s
but recent events show
"Irish Platform" is ess
that it acts by the Irisl
"Number One" for an t
anomalous influence,
been rocked by its vici
To show how unfair]
presentative system is
point to the significant
vastly greater portion
held by a Conservative
there are but few " Lit
dred and ninety-five
Peerage, only thirty-f
Members are returned
domination of the trit
the year 1826 the Cc
Members from Ireland
in that year the seer(
Whigs of employing
priests, for the first
turned electioneering I
Mr. VILLIERS STUART f
ford by means of th
Mr. Wysx has stated,
Catholic Association,'
that up to that time
Agitation." The I
made them instincts`
of the platform.
But once that the yc
were unloosed their ti
be easily slaked. Tht
event at Clare in 18‘,
have patented their di
almost absolute autho
Over thirty more the
control. The latter fe
any estimable gen