The Express.
London, England, 1867-06-26 00:00:00

THE DEBATE 01 THE IRISH CHURCH.

The Daily New traces the anxiety of some of
the 'meeker, in the Lords to procure a hasty settlement of
the Irish church question, to their perception that affairs of
moment will shortly assert their rightful importance, and
will be discussed under the sway of vet/ different influences
from those which have hitherto been paramount in the
legislature. Lord Russell had little difficulty in showing
that religious equality is the only principle on which
justice can be done, but in applying it be utterly failed.
He will not adopt the voluntary principle with regard to
the Irish protestant church, because he considnn that any
change should be made on principles co-extensive with the
United Kingdom in their application. But to serve the
English purpose which he has in view he ought to propose
that the Roman catholic church in Ireland be placed in •
position like that of the protestant episcopal church in this
country. In truth, however, the proposal to endow the
Roman catholic priesthood of Ireland is wholly gratuitous,
and the best friends of civil and religious liberty in this
country would resolutely decline to follow leaden who
proposed to create • new state church. If an attempt is
ever made to give effect to such a proceeding, those who
make it will not be opposed only by the protestant alliance
or the surviving enemies of the Maynooth grant; they
must expect the united and uncompromising hostility of
the free churches of this country, powerful by the number,
the organisation, and the character of their members.
Believing the sound feeling of the country, which is too
reverential to permit religion to be made the tool of state-
craft, will prove abundantly sufficient to defeat the
intentions now disclosed, the Daily News regrets that all
the thanks it can give Lord Russell on this occasion are
those which are due to him for his timely notice of the
designs of our whig statesmen.
Continuing its arguments for the endowment of the Irish
catholic church, the Times points out, however, that it
must be on the usual conditions for loyalty and order.
The church of England and the established church of
Scotland both submit to • good many restraints upon
their religious enthusiasm and political zeal. Neither of
these establishments can run riot, appeal to vulgar fanati-
cism, and threaten the legislature. There are plenty of
aspiring souls in them who would if they could ; but they
cannot. It is not to be expected that the church of the
Irish people is to be equally endowed and less under secu-
rity for its good behaviour.
The Star regrets that Lord Russell has become a convert
to the principle of endowing all churches. The present
condition of things, bad as it is, would be far better than
such a change. It would be odious to all really earnest
liberals ; it would not and could not satisfy the Irish
people ; it is very doubtful whether the Roman catholic
hierarchy would even listen to it. Karl Russell's endorse-
ment of such • proposal took away all value from his
speech and his motion, except such value as anything must
have which brings a n►tionall grievance into public debate.
There is only one way to deal with the Irish church, and
that is by the simple policy of absolute disendownient.