The Sun.
London, England, 1839-02-25 00:00:00

and dependence on a higher power than himself,
become dire curses to a people whose affairs are re-
gulated, not by God's, but by the Devil's laws.

As the intersection of Ireland by Railways is
the only scheme of national improvement ever pro-
posed
which promises to unite in its support the
exertions of all parties in that country, we are glad
to find the Government well disposed to extend to
it all the assistance which Parliament may judge
necessary for the success of so great an undertaking.
The jarring religious sects and political factions,
whose feuds have for centuries retarded the internal
improvement of Ireland, begin at last to perceive
that poverty and persecution are the worst apostles
of proselytism ; and that, had they applied them-
selves to industry and commerce, instead of to the
handling of shilelahs and the ringing the changes
on unintelligible theological dogmas, lie nation in
Europe had better opportunities of becoming
wealthy, tranquil, and happy. The long misgovern-
ment of Ireland by England has been, for many
years, a subject of loud and just complaint. That
misgovernment - is now condemned by all men
of any political reflection, as equally cruel,
barbarous, and impolitic. But we must here
observe that Ireland always found in her own
bosom the vile instruments of her oppresion. The
clannish and religious feuds among her people,
which her chiefs lacked patriotism to remove as the
root of her weakness, kept her in chains at the feet
of this country. Had her people, instead of stray-
ing themselves under hostile banners as Catholics
and Protestants, Orangemen and Ribbonmen,
Peep-o'-day-boys and Defenders, remembered only
that they were Irishmen, and that in their party
divisions they were but mere tools in the hands of
English courtiers, who cared not a straw for their
political and religious squabbles—except in so far as
they kept their country in a state of bondage—it
would have been impossible to reduce Ireland to
the state of civil and social degradation in which she
continued, with a momentary intermission, for the
two centuries preceding the passing of the Catholic
Emancipation Act.
The union of all parties is then essential to the
regeneration of Ireland ; and to render this union
lasting, nothing is more requisite than a plain
junction of interests, such as the establishment of an
extensive system of railways must universally hold
out. Of this union we have the first evidence in
the appointment in Dublin, in November last, of a
General Railway Committee, composed of men the
most opposite in politics and religion, ostensibly for
the laudable and patriotic purpose of " rromoting
an union of parties, and suggesting the most
judicious system of Railways for Ireland." The
first Report of this Committee, presented to Lord
MORPETLI early in December, is now before
us; and it is but a stinted meed of justice
to the members of the Committee to say
that it well deserves the attention of the British Le-
gislature. The Report states that after fully and
impartially investigating the plans and reports of
the several Irish Railway Companies sanctioned by
Parliiament, as well as those projected by private
enterprise ; and after carefully examining the Re-
port and plans of the Irish Railway Commissioners,
the Committee have come to the conclusion
that where the Companies at present established
are competent to carry . out the lines undertaken
by them, such Companies should have every
encouragement compatible with the public in-
terest, and the prompt performance of the contem-
plated works. They offer no objection to the Report
of the Commissieners, except that, where it suggests
the sacrifice of local to national interests, they re-
gard existing and prospective advantages as generally
reconcileable, and so far disapprove of a sweeping
adoption of such suggestions.
The Committee enumerate the lines already in a
state of forwardness, the interests and management
of which they recommend to be vested in the
present proprietors. They, however, tack to their
account of each, the qualifying notice that a loan
guaranteed by the Government, would materially
assist in facilitating their completion. For the
correctness of the following particu!ars respecting
these hnes the Committee must be held re-
sponsible :

The Ulster Line, from Belfast to Armagh,:is in
a state of rapid progress. The proprietary, and the
amount of subscribed capital, are stated to be re-
spectable. Reasonable assistance from the State is
nevertheless wanting to enable the Proprietors to
complete the work within a reasonably short time.

The line between Dublin and Drogheda, is
likewise well advanced. The proprietary and sub-
scribed capital respectable. Six miles and a-half
of the line are contracted for. An adequate loan
wanted.

The line from Dublin to Kilkenny, with ex-
tension to Limerick and Cork, is in a fair
way of succeeding. Capital and proprietary as
above, viz., respectable. The Company is ready
to proceed with the works as soon as the Govern-
ment declare their decision upon the general ques-
tion of railways in Ireland. A loan proportioned
to the amount of subscribed capital deemed neces-
saryby the Committee.

The Great Central Irish Railway from Dublin
by Mulingar to Athlone, and thence by b►anches
to the noble harbours of Mayo and Galway.
For this line ►►o Act has yet been obtained,
but the requisite notices fur a Bill have been
given, and a large capital subscribed. This line, if
completed, would open a large trade between Ireland
and the whole of North America. As regards the
internal improvement of the country its advantages
would be incalculable.

The Limerick and Waterford Railway is likewise
in a state of great advancement. In the instance of
this Company, as of those whose lines are al-
ready enumerated, money on Government security
is required to facilitate the completion of the under-
taking.
Here is a goodly list of Irish Railways, all in a
state of considerable forwardness. The only objec-
tion which we see to their being continued in the
hands, and under the control of the present proprie-
tors, is supplied by the presumable certainty, from
the examples found in England, that the Roads
will become monopolies under the management of
irresponsible individuals. It must not be forgotten
that the magnitude of Railways destroys the effi-
cient check of transit competition ; and there-
fore without the vigilance of the Government, or
rather unless Railway traffic is conducted
according to certain fixed and unalterable prin-
ciples—as if the Railways themselves were national
and riot private property—they will be productive
of evil rather than good. Give us security upon
this heatli; convince Parliament that the interests
of the nation will not suffer by leaving the
several lines to be managed by:private Companies,
and we wall readily support the claims of existing
proprietors. But there must be no imitation of
the arbitrary and anti-commercial freaks of some
of our established English Railway Companies.
The Committee anticipate the most important
national benefits from the extensive promotion
of Railway undertakings in Ireland. That the es-
tablishment of Railways will stimulate industry—im-
prove the condition, by offering, constant employ-
ment to the labouring classes—facilitate the intro-
duction, by decreasing the taxation entailed by the
Irish Poor-law—incalculably increase commerce—
open fresh sources of revenue to the Government,
and new channels of physical improvement to the
people—diffuse on all sides the blessings of plenty,
with those habits of steady industry and economy
which an immediate and extended intercourse with
England and the United States cannot fail to
inculcate. That railways will do all this for Ire-
land has been the language of The Sun
ever since it was first proposed to try
the experiment of a line between Kingstown
and Dublin. We are glad, however, to find that
the Committee entirely concur with us in the rea-
sonableness of such anticipations ; and as the
question is to come before the House of Commons
on Friday next we trust that the many useful sug-
gestions which they have thrown out, will meet with
due consideration. In the interim, we shall pro-
bably recur to the question, as we look upon it as
of the last importance to Ireland.