The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-21 00:00:00

specting the intended outbreak was the time at which
it should take place ; that the period was only pro-
tracted until every possible preparation had been
made, the people armed, drilled, and instructed in
military exercise, through the intervention of the
clubs, which were to be planted in every district
throughout the country—and an adequate commis-
sariat secured, by which the entire populace were to
be supplied with food during th►e ensuing year. This
was the chief object, and accordingly the
" harvest" was very significantly spoken of
as the time for action. Nay, further, it
was announced that the chief difficulty
of the self-constituted leaders was to restrain the
ardour, and curb the impetuosity of their enthusiastic
followers, until the anxiously-expected period had
arrived when guns and pikes were to be put into re-
quisition for a nobler purpose than the assassina-
tion of some daring landlord, who had the audacity
to demand any rent from his tenantry, or of some
obnoxious agent, who ventured conscientiously to
discharge the duties he owed to his employer. This
was peculiarly the case at the time of the conviction
and expatriation of Mr. MITCHEL. Pending the
trial his wife was informed that she need not feel
the slightest apprehension as to the result, for that if
any jury dared to convict her husband he should
most assuredly be rescued from the hands of the
Saxon oppressor. So spoke the deputation from the
"Dr, Doyle Club" who waited upon the afflicted
lady. It is needless to say how futile were the pro
mises thus made; how vain the hopes awakened.
The jury dared to convict, the judge to sentence,
and the Executive to carry that sentence into execu-
tion, and yet not the slightest attempt was made to
rescue the unfortunate man from the consequences of
his own insane and reckless conduct, or to favour the
escape of the convicted felon.
An apologist, however, was found for those who
had thus incurred the guilt of violated pledges and
broken vows. Mr. T. F. MEAGHER declared that such a
proceeding had been resolved upon, but that the inten-
tion was abandoned at the last moment, the leaders hav-
ing discovered that they were not in a position to act
with any reasonable prospect of success, and that he
himself had most reluctantly acceded to their views,
inasmuch as he was unable to contest the validity of
their arguments. It was, however, intimated that
no further adjournment should take place, but that
the moment the crops were gathered in, the perform-
ance should commence in good earnest. Nay, elabo-
rate calculations were put forward to show the re-
sources that would be at the disposal of the Pro-
visional Government. The growing crops were valued
at 80,000,0001. sterling, of this 40,100,0001. should
be allocated to feed the entire body of the people,
while the remaining moiety would form a very nice
fund for the new Finance Minister, and the Members
of the Executive Committee. Should the authorities
then patiently wait the appointed time—should they
passively regard the progress of the armament in-
tended for their destruction ; or should they interpose
before the project had ripened into maturity, and
while their was yet time and opportunity to avert
the threatened calamity which brooded over the laud?
There can be no second opinion on this subject, i
The arms must now be surrendered into the hands of
the officers appointed to receive them. The means of
doing mischief will thus be taken away, the wasp
will be deprived of his sting; or if, on the other hand
there is to be an actual outbreak, it must take place
prematurely, and before the insurgents are in pos-
session of what they have themselves admitted to be
essential to the success of their enterprise—the
ultimate triumph of their arms. It may be hoped
that, when these things are calmly and dispassionately
considered, the project will be adjourned sate
die, and that Ireland may be spared the suffering
and misery that would otherwise be inflicted by the
hands of her own children.
In the meantime it is essential that the hands of
the Executive should be strengthened to the utmost
degree. Every additional power that may be required
will readily be conceded by the Legislature. " The
Club " nuisance should be abated without a mo-
ment's delay. There can be no doubt as to the
objects of these associations, and precedents may
readily be found for the necessary enactments. Orange
Lodges were rendered. illegal ; every secret society
(save and except Freemasonry, against which the
slightest imputation could not be breathed) were
prohibited. The principle might easily be ex-
tended so as to include every association not
sanctioned by the authorities, under whatever
name or pretext it might be formed. If this be
done, and that the law is still firmly and ener-
getically put in execution, we shall have peace
restored throughout the country, and tranquillised
Ireland will have cause to hail with gratitude the
wisdom and decision of the CLARENDON Adminis-
tration.

Notwithstanding the terrible events of June, those
massacres at Paris which disgraced the until then
"pure and glorious revolution ;" notwithstanding the
despondent sentiments with which that untoward in-
surrection filled the minds of all true reformers, the
present position of Continental :Europe seems to pro-
mise the speedy realisation of those sanguine anticipa-
tions in which we indulged at the beginning of the
present year. For example, what could be more en-
couraging or of more hopeful augury than the open-
ing address of the Chamber of Deputies, now, far the
first tisto, assembled at Rome. This address is not
only filled with liberal sentiments and redolent of pa-
triotism, but moreover, in the calm dignity of its style
—the dignity of conscious power—we recognise the
existence of a spirit of determination which shall suc-
cessfully carry out the high promises with which the
address is filled. Royal speeches are proverbially
pieces of inanity, and the opening discourses of new
assemblies are generally little more than examples of
elaborate rhetoric, but in the case of the

naugural address of the Roman Parliament we are

inclined to believe—as we most devoutly hope—that
it will be otherwise. The " Roman Parliament" is
perhaps not a correct appellation for the new house
of Representatives, but it is a name fraught with such
interesting historical associations that we willingly
repeat it. The Roman Parliament irresistibly re-
calls to us that greatest of Parliaments once assem-
bled at Rome—that Parliament for ever immortalized
by its orators—the Parliament where " immortal
TULLY shone ;" that, Parliament whose initials
S. P. Q. R. inscribed on triumphant banners floated
over half the world—yet the ordinary proceedings of
that Parliament, as chronicled by Liv; read almost
like so many pages taken from Hansard. We too
have had orators " whose words were sparks of im-
mortality," but it is not our purpose now to make
a boastful comparison between St. Stephen's and the
Roman Forum ; it is the new Italian Parliament
which at present claims our consideration, and if that
Parliament only fulfil the promises it has already held
forth, it will have little cause to shrink from compa-
rison with its illustrious and ancient predecessor.
The Italian Parliament very properly commence their
inaugural address by expressing their gratitude to
the liberal and patriotic Prince who, to use their own
words, " has called them to the exercise of political
life—given a reality to their rights—and laid
the foundations of a true, just, and unchangeable
liberty." They afterwards proceed to particularise their
own projected line of policy. " Our utmost intellectual
endeavours," say they, " shall be directed to harmonize
as best we may, and in the shortest possible time, Vie
national unity. This is the first goal of all our
thoughts, and substantial aim of every design.,
They then express their solicitude for the establish-
ment of an Italian League, supported by " the vic-
torious sword of CHARLES ALBERT and the authority
of the Pontificate." " But as we see clearly," they
add, "that such a league could be bound by no other
tie than a National Diet, we express our most fervent
wishes that you yourself (Pius) would, in this Rome,
become its centre and commencement." Then, while
they admit that it was honourable to the sacerdotal
ministry, and most concordant with the celestial
mind of Pius that he should pronounce among
belligerents a word of peace," they, neverthe-
less, declare their ctnviction that " the Italian
people ought not and cannot lay doNn their arms,
but that, on the contrary, they should •endeavour to
re-invigorate the war until their column country
shall be recognised in its natural frontiers"--for this
War, they add, is a defensive and just star. After
thus dwelling upon their external position, the
Italian Parliament next proceed to dilate Ilion their
internal administration. They admit Out at present