The Express.
London, England, 1847-08-11 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, AUG.II.

THE retirement of Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN from the
representation of the county of Limerick has not
excited much memorise amongst that gentleman's
private friends. It has been evident for some time
that he was thoroughly disgusted with his position,
though he would probably be reluctant to confess it.
The station at which he aimed demanded far greater
powers of eloquence and versatility than he could
display. Ile has been a mere shuttlecock, knocked
to and fro by the battledores of Old and Young Ire-
land. He influenced no votes in parliament—he
wielded no greet influence outside the house. lie had
some talents for committee business. Within a certain
compass he was more clear and methodical in his ideas
than the majority of the Irish members. His com-
mand of facts was large but he had no power of
setting them off in a striking manner, or making his
knowledge of a particular question attractive
Ito each an impatient audience as the House
of Commons. It must be acknowledged that
both Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN and Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL
were, personally, two of the most mediocre tribunes
who ever canvassed the support of the Irish demo-
cracy. They both traded on their names. Deprive Mr.
O'BRIEN of the memory of his ancestors, strip Mr.
JOHN O'CONNELL of the fame of his father, and
neither of the gentlemen, in eloquence, intellect, or
energy, have any pretensions to fill leading parts in
public life.
Mr. O'BRIEN, however, has committed a great
mistake in withdrawing from parliament. lie fancies
that be loses none of his influence by ceasing to sit in
the House of Commons. But to abdicate always
betrays weakness. His withdrawal from parliament
is en instinctive admission of his inaptitude for the
senate, and of hie incapacity to wield political power.
Besides, his countrymen love the externals of power,
and in their eyes he will appear much shorn of pub-
lic honour in his private station.
In the state of civilisation in which Ireland is at
present, the fact of being a member of an old
family is of great social advantage to a candidate
fizerpularity. The OlitHENs are of "the real old
Sir Lewis O'BRIEN, of Dromoland, in the
county of Clare, brother to Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN, re-
presents one of the first families in Ireland. He is
now • candidate for the county of Clare, and his can-
vass has been very successful. Unswerving probity
has been an attribute of the house of Dromoland. The
electors of Clare do not forget the virtues of the late
estimable Sir EDWALD O'BRIEN, and report speaks
most favourably of the merits of the present baronet.
It is very likely that he will be elected ; and even
though his polities are conservative, many of the
Irish liberals will rejoice at his return.
The re-appearance of Mr. O'GORMAN MAHON, now
M.P. for Ennis, in Irish politics was =looked for,
and has been very unwelcome to the supporters of
Mr. ions O'CoNNELL. Some years since, Mr.
O'GoßmAte MAHON played a very eccentric
in public life. The " scenes " which
part
caused in the House of Commons can hardly
be forgotten by some of our readers. His politics
were always of the popular school, but he refused to
be one of Mr. O'CoNNELL's "tail members." He
was ambitious of leadership. Like many other Irish
public characters he has few of the qualities desirable
in a senator, though possessing nearly all those
required by a tribune. He has personal courage bor-
dering on recklessness, and a love of adventurous
enterprise partaking of extravagance. In the calm
atmosphere of our English politics he is not likely to
find his element. If public life were a melodrama,
Mr. O'GORMAN MAIION would be exactly ignited for
its "striking situations." The bravura line of poli-
tics is that in which he excels. His humour and
vivacity will, however, be a relief after the pro-
verbial dulness of the " tail members." The
boldness, also, of Mr. O'GORMAN MAHoN's
character will invest him with a kind of respect. He
has none of the mean, time-serving, pitiful qualities,
which have disgraced the character of some of the
Irish popular members.
The city of Cork election has been attended with
more personality and bitterness of feeling than any
other contest in Ireland. Three repealers stood for
the city, and the question for the electors was purely
a personal one. The contest was calmed by the de-
claration of Mr. CALLAGHAN, that he would not seek
again to be returned to parliament. The popular
voice in the city of Cork nominated Mr. FAOAN as the
colleague of Mr. M'Corrur, whose maiden speech
in parliament was so extravagantly complimented
by Sir It. PEEL. It appeared, however, that
Mr. CALLAGHAN was only coquetting with the
constituency. He presented himself again to their
notice, but the majority of the repealers were
most anxious to get rid of him. Mr. CALLAC,HAN,
however, was too ponderous a gentleman to be
easily shaken off. A very disagreeable contest was
the result. The conservatives decided the struggle
by coming to the aid of their old friend, who, 18 years
since, had been sent to the House of Commons to ad-
vocate their principles. They did net forget his in-
trepid defence of Irish landlordism in the last session,
from the attacks of Mr. ROEBUCK and Sir BENJAMIN
HALL. Their votes enabled him to outnumber Mr.
M'CARTHY; and Mr. FAGAN, who, by the electoral
voice, was at the head of the poll, retired rather than
permit his relative, Mr. M'CARTHY, to be unseated.
No other Irish member has appeared in so many
lights SS Mr. CALLAGHAN ; the facility with which
he has at various times changed. his party is
startling. He has been successively a tory,
a whig, and anti-repealer opposed to agitation ;
then a repealer and violent O'Connellite. The
" member for Cork" has been in politics what the
" Vicar of Bray" was in religion. In recognition of
the "artful dodges," by which Mr. CALLAGHAN makes
his political transitions, his humour-loving fellow-
citizens have conferred on him the title of " the great
Core of Cork!" It is certainly a pity that Mr. CAL-
LAGHAN has not been more consistent in his politics.
He has many of the qualities wanted in the Irish
members. He has talents for business, if he were
industrious; and great knowledge of Ireland, if he
would only apply it usefully. But indolent and insin-
cere, he has loitered through political life, unrewarded
by office, unsupported by public esteem. Much was
expected from him, as a commercial member, but he
has disappointed expectations. His ejection from
Parliament would have been a gain, rather than a