The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-07 00:00:00

trtidiu 31111 L

LONDON, SATURDAY. AUGUST 7, 1847.

Borough elections having proved so advantageous
to the Liberal interests, by affording a triumphant
majority to the Government candidates, the county
elections have also proved, and are still proving, though
in a lesser degree, beneficial to the Popular Party.
Scarcely have the constituents in the Southern Divi-
sion of Lancashire given a decisive token of the cha-
racter of their commercial predilections, by return.
ing the Hon. CHARLES PELHAM VILLIERS, when a
yet more brilliant testimony of gratitude towards
the advocates of free trade is given by the nomina-
tion of Mr. COBDEN himself for the representation of
the West Riding of Yorkshire. That this distinguished
patriot should receive such a magnificent guarantee
of the confidence with which he is regarded by the
community is but just and rational. Whether Mr.
COBDEN will coincide with the enthusiasm which
has dictated this movement among his admirers
remains a question of considerable uncertainty.
The circumstance cannot however, in the ab-
stract, influence either the cause with which the
name of the Hon. Member for Stockport is for
ever associated, or the electors of the West
Riding of Yorkshire, prejudicially. Indeed, were
we to adopt the Machiavellian system of putting
Mr. COBDEN'S personal feelings altogether out of the
question, we should assuredly ex.ult at an opportu-
nity so peculiarly favourable to the diffusion of the
vivifying and luminous principles of which the famous
League has been the principal promulgator.
While the absurdity, if not the absolute atrocity, of
the system of so-called protection to native industry
is recognised by the population of continental Europe
and the millions of the Western Hemisphere, it
would be frivolous to deny that those, among
our countrymen, who have been in any manner
pledged to the maintenance or restoration of
the re-
strictive duties against the importation of foreign
grain and foreign merchandise evince no tendency
whatever to an alteration in their opinions. Their pre.
possessions are rendered yet more illusory and more fas-
cinating by being invested with a certain degree of
political fanaticism. Their prejudices are rendered
more stubborn than ever in consequence of their re-
cent and ignominious discomfiture. In a way, the
more obstinate supporter:, of protection are case-har-
dened in their ignorance. Their ideas upon political
economy can only die away with their own generation.
Another generation can never be inoculated with
notions so preposterously obsolete, or so contrary to
the revelations of experience. That is one consola-
tion in the midst of the confirmed darkness of our
Protectionist countrymen. Thank GOD ! moral
blindness is no
a hereditary affliction than
physical blindness Tore
Persuaded, therefore, we are, that the con
vis i •
version of the more
gotted opponents of free-
dom to commerce
athingalmost hopeless,
a
and decidedly chimerical,
satisfied that it
only we
are eqaally
oomzhioh.pniac-t
e
simple explanation of facts and trheelainrsess the ro
enumeration of figures to remove theill scales of misap-
prehension from the eyes of the more disinterested
and unbiassed agriculturists. The nomination,
!fluently, of such men as the Hon. Member-eoen.
s
or
Stockport and Wolverhampton for the representation
r
of populous shires cannot but tend to dispel the errors
which have hitherto obscured the judgments of our
intelligent farmers. They will thereby be brought
into immediate communication with those who have
imbibed the wisdom of free trade from the eloquence
of RICHARD COBDEN. The collision between their
ancient misconceptions, and the unanswerable logic
of
inthe
the enemies of Protection, must necessarily result
elucidation of truths comprehensible to the
meanest capacity.
1 Free trade is as irresistible as the
ever of A.acßim • •
it may be
argued
E„iS- Give it but a spot upon which
will be moved in wth candour, and the whole world
unisonpeoia with its principles. There-
fore we are es
and supporters of they Irieojoiced that the colleagues
tn. CHARLES PEeham YU'
WEER had an opportuniftryor: address the constituency
pporte the hustings of South Lancashire
the colleagues and su and that
rs of Coupgzi will

-....----..................... .--..—...._ _...
be afforded a similar opportunity, at the nomination
for the West Riding of Yorkshire. It were a fitting
accompaniment to the national testimonial already
collected for presentation to the latter gentleman to
proffer him at the same moment the knighthood of a
gigantic shire. That woull be a splendid consumma-
tion to the memorable travels of RICHARD COBDEN ;
it would be -er Afetkotne of suitable,cordiality, after
his enthusiastic reception in the courts and cities of
France, Spain, Germany, and the Italian principali-
ties. It would Le a brilliant evidence, that if Europe
can honour an Apostle of Civilisation, England can
also honour a Patriot and a Benefactor.

We have repeatedly directed the public attention to
the suicidal policy adopted in Ireland during the pre-
paration for, and, in some instances, the progress of,
the present elections in that country. Ultra-Tories,
the most decided Conservatives, have been received
without opposition ; nay, even with the approbation of
the people; while the most approved and tried friends
of liberal opinions, those who have served during a
series of years with ability, fidelity, and zeal, are,
with scarcely an exception, held up to public odium,
and subjected to all the expense and, annoyances of a
contest, and too often deserted by the constituencies,
who should have felt honoured by the connexion. A
difference on one question is considered an amply
sufficient reason for a total oblivion of past services,
and of the very many points on which there is an
identity of feelings and sentiments. The late vener-
able patriot, the Liberator, who for so many years di-
rected the actions of his countrymen, would never
have sanctioned so ridiculous a course, the only re-
sult of which must be a weakening of the popular
party and an increase to the ranks of their most de-
cided opponents.
A pamphlet of great power and ability has just
appeared on this most important topic, entitled, "A
Word in Season to the Liberal Electors of Ireland,"
by a Graduate of the Irish University, which should
receive an attentive- perusal and the most serious
consideration of every member of the class to whom
it is addressed, before he shall finally decide on the
manner in which he shall exercise his most importaht
privilege "the elective franchise "—a privilege
which may not again be conceded to him fur many
years, and until after the questions of the deepest
interest, the most vital importance to the welfare of
his country, shall have been finally disposed of. He
may bitterly lament the error into which
he has been led by a feeling of temporary irritation,
but the opportunity, once thrown away, can never be
recalled. He nay find that the representative whom
to-a- moment of pique he helped to return, may record
his votes on every great question in opposition to his
feelings and wishes, but he will only have himself to
blame, and must remain, until a future election shall
afford him an opportunity of retracing his footsteps,
a political nonentity, or, even worse, a practical oppo-
nent of his country's rights.
The talented writer of the address to which we have
alluded has well exposed this absurdity. He says—
"A political leader is not justified in directing all the
energies of a people towards the attainment of an ob-
ject, either of doubtful possibility or remote success,
in such a manner as to be injurious during the conti-
nuance of the struggle, and, in the event of
failure, to leave them in a condition far
worse than that in which they originally
were, and incapable of any effort to redeem them-
selves. This is gambling with the interests of the
country, and perhaps few higher tributes can be paid
to the memory of O'CONNELL than that throughout
his entire career, with many temptations to pursue it,
he never was allured into this dangerous, though
very popular policy. His uniform course seems to
have been, while directing his efforts to one ultimate
object, to take care that the means he employed
should not be prejudicial to his country, and to
neglect no intermediate advantages he could procure
for her, but, on the contrary, seize every opportunity
of acquiring them." Would that the present leaders
of the Irish people—the children and friends of that
illustrious patriot—were guided and influenced by
similar sentiments ; then, indeed he would be spared
the pain of witnessing Ireland's ingratitude to some
of her most worthy children. The late rejection of
the Roman Catholic Relief Bill brought ferward by
Mr. WaTsoss, Q.C., a rejection chiefly to be attri-
buted to the unrelenting hostility of many Members
of the Irish party, as it is termed, is well commented
on. "An English barrister (says the writer) pro-
poses to erase from the statute-book certain obsolete
laws, imposing pains and penalties on persona pro-
fessing the Roman Catholic religion. Those laws
are obsolete, because the spirit of the age would not
suffer their execution ; and education and enlight-
ment have shown the injustice and absurdity of them.
By one of them, the man who conferred the blessings
of temperance upon Ireland, and who has just been
honoured with a pension from the Crown, is liable
to transportation, yet members of the Irish party,
who were all for Ireland, without distinction of po-
litics or religion, could not afford to let this humble
priest walk independent of this law. The represen-
tatives of themetropolis, and the University
of that country, fur whOse benefit they proposed
to forget all distinctions, made common cause with
their tolerant companions, and defeated the objects of
this liberal stranger. They retained a power which
they never can u.e. To quote the language of the
Irish orator, they showed their teeth, but they were
too loose to bite." And yet that liberal stranger—
the man who sought to abolish these atrocious enact-
ments, and who earned golden opinions for himself
during the period of his Parliamentary career—is to
be opposed in the Irish borough for which he had
been returned by a high Conservative. And if re-
jected it will be owing to the apathy, or, still worse,
the hostility of those from whom he endeavoured to
strike off the sole remaining shackles to elevate them
to perfect religious freedom, and to remove every dis-
ability and stigma. The conduct of the Whig party
of the present Liberal Government is shown to be
such, in every particular, as should have earned
the warmest gratitude of the people. It is
impossible to withhold your assent from the
evidences thereof put forward by " the
Graduate" in the most eloquent and energetic lan-
guage. His observations on the New Irish Poor-
law, by which " the present Government were bold
and manly enough to go to the root of the evil," and
which he designates as " the Bill of Rights of the
Irish people," are deserving of the highest approba-
tion for the soundness of the views put forward.
We deeply regret that our space does not at present
opinions in t, ho c
permit a further notice of this admirable address.
We n
i cannot, however;
to a possible , refrain f
sr
iobm l e
again quoting h
re
opposition to the ls
pi
re-election of the Master of the Min
Mint, an opposition
which was then only meditated, but which has actually
since taken place. tie says_
"Suppose, for instance, that the electors of D gary
should discard—tor some one who calls hiinselfaa-
alist, and who may be useful to make or na nation-
alist,
house—the brilliant advocate of their liberty,ctiinf out
a
labourer and associate of their illustrious leader, to
whom they have not yet paid funeral honours, doer, to
think they would advance their cause by such yott;
He gave his youth and his eloquence to the greatac
struggle with which his name is associated ; and as an
Irish Catholic in the English Cabinet, he is, at once, a
brilliant trophy of their victory, and a convincing proof
that they deserved it. And if men desire rationally to
spread the doctrine tbas Irishmen alone should legislate
do
on Irish matters, they
_ hope to do so, at a time when
three English Members do not agree with them, by forcing
into a private station their countryman, who commands the
admiration of the Senate, and reflects honour upon them ?
I trust the constituents of this Right Hon. Gentle-
man, who are justly proud of their representative, will
not strive to do themselves this dishonour. But those
of you who are Repealers may object, that if you pur-
sue the course which I suggest, you will be praeically
Whigs. Yes ; but if you du not you will be practically
Tories. You cannot prevent yourselves from sustaining
one or the other."

The Austrian Cabinet has addressed a note to the
Pontifical Government, in which itis declared that,
i
in the event of any disturbancesn the dominions
hoefictghetinCphuunricshhed, r
eraasintriinag
w ould unrepressed,
consider or
the
p crimesPorgy;
i
incapable of maintaining order n his States, and feel
it her
of
An Austrian observationotf
Corm,,
thou-
sand men is to take up a position a
leagues from Milan. Tile troops will be drawn a from
few
the interior of Austria, in order that the
arm of
Italy may not be weakened. General RADETL IY,
(
Commander-in-Chief of the Austrian army in Um_
hardy, had been empowered to act according to cir-
cumstances. It was reported that Cardinal FERRETTI
had, is coDsequwe of thAt notification, ordered the