The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-19 00:00:00

lIIGH WAWA?, AT LONDON BRIDGE.

TaT DAT —Morning 9 min. after 12 l Evening 41 min.aft. 12
To-M ,ako\..—Morning 10 min. after 1 Evening 37 min.aft. 1

THE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICI, JULY 19.

THEIIMOSIETER, IN THE SEADE.
68 —highest sines noon yesterday.
57—lowest this morning and during the night.
68—this day at noon.

BAnomETER, 30.02—rising.
WIND, N.W. to W.N.W.—Variable, and cloudy, with
sunshine.

TAt

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a.
ar „„ r.

-14,2 X,

LONDON, TUESDAY, JULY 19, 1853,

No topic is more familiar to readers and
writers on the state of Ireland than the ascen-
dancy and the abuse of priestly influence.
English Liberalism, which a community of interest
had for a time associated with ultramontane
policy, now recoils from, and rejects, the unnatural
alliance. Yet common observers rarely perceive
the full extent of the mischief which this power
has wrought. It has kept open, and even en-
larged, the breach which difference of origin had
produced between the possessors and cultivators
of the soil. It has alienated, by coarse in-
vective and undistinguishing violence, the in-
tellectual, the rational, and the calm-minded
advocates of Irish progress. It has kept alive
the old intolerant Orange spirit, which, but
for this irritating antagonism, would before now,
in the nature of things, have died out. It has
produced that peculiar symptom of a morbid state
in the body politic which the Greek historian
noted as indicative of a ¶liseased and distracted
community—the branding of political moderation
as a crime, and the substitution of party ties for
genuine patriotism. It has driven from Parlia-
ment independent statesmen, and filled their places
with servile and noisy ,agitators. Above all, it
has postponed, perhaps prevented, the settlement,
on equitable terms, of the great ecclesiastical con-
troversy. For, in religious questions, passion
is stronger than reason ; and many persons
who, on abstract principles, disapprove the mo-
nopoly of endowment in Protestant hands,
yet shrink from taking any step of which
the immediate, though temporary, effect must be
to give a triumph to the enemies of civil freedom.
In private life, again, the same results are wit-
nessed. Many an Anglo-Irish landlord, who in
England would disclaim, even indignantly, the
idea of exercising over his tenants what is
euphemistically termed " influence" at an election
contest, loses his scruples when he, finds wielded
against him a power quite as tyrannical in its
operation, less amenable to Parliamentary or legal
control, and equally destructive of electoral liberty.
Thus the mischief spreads and perpetuates itself.
Spiritual intimidation produces material intimida-
tion ; the Priest covers his own wrong by de-
nouncing that of the Proprietor ; the rights of
the elector are disregarded on both sides ; feuds,
riots, evictions,* denuncia.
tions from the altar
follow in rapid sacceftion
while the con-
sciousness of being in fault
makes each party less tolerant of the barns of their opponents..
this an overcharged picture Is
We fear every man
who has experience of Irish society ca attest its
truth. But what, it may be asked, is
Ile remedy?
Political remedies in plenty are
suggested—the
ballot for one equality of religious
endowment
for another—into the merits of which we have
too often entered to discuss them now. nut the
root of the evil lies deeper. While Protestants
of the poorer class are exclusively taught by pro
testant clergy—while the education of the Roman
Catholic masses is left, virtually, in the hands
of the priesthood, Ireland will continue to
to be divided into two hostile camps, whose
neutrality can at best be but a hollow truce.
Lord DEBBY in 1832 saw this, and framed a plan

which to this day is never mentioned wit&u.

praise, even by those who are secretly plotting its
overthrow. For a system of purely secular edu-
cation neither the time nor country were fit.

But the regulations of the National Board were
such, that, while freedom of conscience was in no-
wise violated, it became impossible for the patron
of any school receiving aid from Government to
exclude therefrom children of a different sect from
his own. In this spirit the published Letter to
the Duke of LEINSTER—the charter of the Board—
was conceived. Its author recommended " that a
portion of the Board should be composed of men of
high personal character and exalted station in the
Church ;" and " that it should consist, in part, of
persons possessing different religious opinions."
Priority was to be given, and peculiar favour
shown, to applications proceeding Jointlyfrom
ab ttants of
the same town or district ; and exclusive appii
tions from a single sect were not to be
'anted
without minute inquiry. During four or five
days of the week the schools were to be kept
open a certain number of hours for moral
and literary instruction only—religious teach-

cub:

ing being relegated to the remaining day or

days, and to the period before and after school

hours. In vested schools-- 4.e., those founded by

Ministers are at length beginning to shake off
their apathy and insouceance on the Turko-
Russian question, when the French Cabinet is
assuming so bold an attitude, and so promptly
and decisively answering the onslaught of the
Russian Chancellor, and clearly and unequivocally
exposing the misapprehensions and erroneous
statements—wilful and deliberate falsehoods they
might be termed by a plain speaker—contained
in his circular. Our Government could no longer
remain quiescent. They were excited to action,
for very shame sake, to say nothing of the
convincing proofs that have been afforded
of the state of public opinion ; and the
knowledge of the danger to their official
characters and official situations, if they should
continue to run counter to the general feeling.
They have then spoken at last ; and, if the answer
be " in entire conformity with that of the French
Government," if it be equally determined as well
as temperate, vigorous and energetic as well as
calm and dispassionate, we may hope that, albeit
r at the eleventh hour, it will produce its fruits in
due season.
During the brief discussion, or rather conversa-
tion, that took place last night in the House of
Lords, Lord CLARENDON stated that the whole of
the papers relating to the subject will be forthwith
laid before the House. He also voluntarily de-
clared that it is the intention of the Government
to place before Parliament the fullest information
on the subject ; that there is no wish for any un-
necessary delay ; and that he thought 44 a very
few days indeed will be sufficient to show
whether the negotiations will succeed or not ; but
whether they do succeed or not, the fullest' informa-
tion shall be given to Parliament and to the
country !" This is indeed satisfactory, and our
gratification would be unalloyed but for a mis-
statement (doubtless unintentional) made by the
Noble Lord. He stated that all the proceedings
connected with the question have been in confor-
mity with those of the French Government. Now,
unfortunately, in a preceding part of his address, he
acknowledged that there had been "no regular
answer sent to the first of the two circular notes
of Count NESSELRODE." He stated that such an
answer was unnecessary,
greater
i c h
part of its contents alluded inasmuchtonea as the
which
were were originated by the French Ambassador at
Constantinople, and
forestalled by the progress
e stsh e
which remainder
the
com-
munication
to
gen the ca
This
naght
havereferte
eiseue:tecioo rird
according
gd mo a
tete.
Government. But
Ministry took a
judgment of the English
it is notorious that the French
very different view of the exigency, and
that M.
DROUYN DE LHUYS considered it his duty to reply
a very, able and elaborate note to the first
cir-
note alluded to by Lord CLanr.agnox,
eek since, in the House of Lords, when acknow-
.ed; g the great ability and skill displayed in
tieletme nsd it er expedient to forward If, then, the French Government
d
a formal and
re-
gular reply, while the English considered that
that
nothing of the kind was required, w e cannot say
that the proceedings of the two Governments have
been in entire conformity on the question.
We may now refer to the admirable document
which has been dispatched by the French Minister
to the second circular, a translation of which ap-
peared in our impression of yesterday. Nothing
can be more clear and conclusive than the argu-
ment contained therein, which completely over-
turned the allegations contained in the NESSEL-
RODE circular, not merely showing that they were