The Sun.
London, England, 1870-04-20 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1870.

THE representation of the people in Ireland is the
most lamentable feature of a system which offers
abundant scope for improvement in many respects.
Mr. Munster has just been unseated for
bribery. k little while ago a discreditable
story of priestly interference in Longford
came out with the effect of unseating Captain
Greville-Nugent. 'Another contest, which promises
to be in one respect at least of a still more dis-

graceful character, is now on the way in that county.
Five seats— Cashel, Dublin, Longford and county
Sligo—are now vacant in consequence 'of corrupt
practices. Mr. Osborne's seat for Waterford is at-
tacked; and whether the petition succeeds or not
it is equally certain that the villany of the proceedings
at Waterford was of peculiar rankness. Such is the
present state of Irish politics. It is undjubtedly
true that in respect of individual cases the larger isle
has little to boast of; for if England can rejoice over

no Waterford, Ireland cannot gaze with pride
upon a Beverley or a Bridgwater. But in
general iniquity, in the dreary uniformity of
petitions and vacant seats, Ireland is securing an
alarming pre-eminence. So universal is this infamy
that with every respect for the principle of repre-
sentation, it is impossible to avoid a passing question
as to the aim or object of holding elections
which are always disgraced by rows,
'end which are almost always fought over
again. If disfranchisement can be of utility as a
warning to other corrupt constituencies, it would
seem that the boroughs in the south and west of
Ireland might most advantageously receive chastise-
ment. But they are generally found on the right
side of the line which marks off the province of
"extensive corruption." The requisite per-tentage
of bribery and treating is never reached, though
some boroughs have touched dangerously near the
mark.

The operations of the priests do
not come within the ban of the law. The
riots are conducted in great part by non-
electors, and they offer no fair mark for punishment.
The only resource is to persevere with such appli-
ances as we possess until they can be improved.
These frequent losses of seats must surely act as
some deterrent to candidates. Mr. Munster fought
a lively battle at Cashel; he attained the head of the
poll at Mallow; and yet he has found no admission to
St. Stephens. Two expensive and fruitless con-
teats may perhaps induce both him and others to try
the virtue of lawful electioneering. The prosecu-
tion of agents should be unshrinkingly carried on, if
higher game cannot be brought down; and it is clear
that a little amendment of the law, so as to reach
forms of corruption which now escape, could do no
harm.

It seems probable that the fight in Longford wil'

be conducted without corruption. Both candidates
possess ample weapons of electoral warfare in the shape
of position, popularity, and influence, and the salutary
warning administered to the priests may possibly
restrain the kicking, condemnation from the pulpit,
and general intimidation which unseated Mr. Greville
Nugent. Nevertheless, this contest, too, possesses a
special degradation of its own. A. Waterford
fight presents no more melancholy a spectacle
than the electioneering of Mr. Harman King, a
Conservative of good family, great wealth, and
influence, who does not scruple to sell his Conserva-
tism in order to buy nationalist votes with the promise
of an independent Irish Parliament, and something
like fixity of tenure. These latter are principles
which every person is free to hold; but they are not
Conservative principles. And most assuredly will
this coquetting with Fenianism, even in a mild form,
bring its own punishment. Of all men, Mr.
Harman King and his class have most to
lose by the triumph of the party for which ho now
declares himself. To no one would a Nationalist
victory be more disastrous than to the landowner
who asks to represent Nationalism in Parliament.
Encouraged by the support of such men as Mr.
Harman King, the Repealers seem disposed
to enter upon another vigorous campaign in
favour of their doctrines. In face of such an
emergency, it is well for the Irish Conservatives to
know that "Conservative Repeal" is likely to be far
more dangerous than those alliances with the
Radicals which brought the Conservatives in
England into such trouble.