The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-12 00:00:00

Ult

LONDON, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1848,

We trust that the Premier's recent visit to Ireland,
although of very brief duration, may be productive
of the most beneficial results to that unhappy land.
It is true, that his Lordship did not travel through
various parts of the country, that he could not have
seen with his own eyes, and consequently could not
himself judge of neglected opportunities and wasted
means, of the great fertility of its soil, the low state
of its agriculture, the want of employment for its
labouring population. He was enabled, how-
ever, to receive fully and clearly the views
and opinions of the distinguished nobleman
who now acts as the representative of' our most
Gracious SOVEREIGN in that country. These views
could be more fully developed in private explanations
and familiar conversation than would be practicable
by formal official correspondence. The absolute ne-
cessity of stimulating the industrial energies of the
country, of providing or rather affording the means
by which useful employment might be provided for
those who are both able and willing to work, might
have been, and, we doubt not, was fully and
distinctly pressed upon his notice. Various
deputations also waited upon him, who urged
the lamentable condition of the labouring classes
in their respective districts, and the inability of the
property of the country to support them in perfect
idleness. Everything brought under his notice must
have helped to convince him of the great truth which
we have repeatedly put forward—" that the true cure
for Ireland is the development of her industry "
" that the practical remedy for her grievances and her
sufferings is full and ample employment fur her
people."

There is, perhaps, no other country in
the world in which so many channels exist
for the beneficial investment of capital, the profitable
employment of the population. It possesses un•
bounded natural resources, every requisite for na
tional wealth—lands of the greatest fertility, mines
and collieries of the richest promise, the ocean by
which it is surrounded, the bays and harbours by
which it is indented, teeming with fish, an ample
supply of fuel, and water-power for working ma-
chinery of any description, a quick and ready-witted
population, whose sinews and muscles afford an in
exhaustible mine of wealth —of real capital
ready for immediate application ; and yet witl
all these extraordinary advantages, its agri-
culture, mining, fisheries, trade, and manufac-
tures are all imperfect, and quite inadequate
to the wants and exigencies of the country.
If there are innumerable anodes of creating national
wealth by the judicious application of labour, there is
also an abundance of labour remaining idle and un-
productive, a burden upon the national resources-
The simple question appears to be, whether it is more
desirable to have the population well fed and herd-
'worked, or half-starred, dispirited, and unemployed 'r
A long course of neglect and misgovernment pro-
duced these untoward results—an embarrassed pro-
prietary, an impoverished tenantry, a destitute and
miserable peasantry. All classes suffer alike. It is a
national grievance from which none are exempted. It
would, therefore, become all to lay their shoulders to
the wheel to co-operate together for the good
of their common country, to endeavour to effect her
elevation in the scale of nations. If a tithe of the
organization and zeal that has been applied to the
agitation of some political question, the attainment of
which would be productive of no practical benefit to
the great body of the people, were directed to obtain
the rae us of setting the industry of the country in
motion, We should long since have had a prosperous,
a nappy, and
there would be
a contented nation. On every side
tranquillity and order. A busy
people have
leisure for the commission
of outrage
orn° disturbance, but those who
are dragging on
necessaries
existence, scarcely
obtaining the bare
in the handeeosfBaries of
life,
are fitting in-
strumentsra'schievous and designing
m rpeen, ready to
indicated. Theplrishtr ateeasany atrocity that may be
easily contented peoplep. t
ansta r are a grateful and
really desire to improve their
coedl them that you
not seek to obtain any unfair advatnmtn—that you do
reasonable gain—remunerate them faagrel, or any un-
you may require At their hands—andi fairly for what
them sober, industrious, and well-disposeyd.o Nts'lcii find
ex-
perience has, however, rendered them • suspicious;
distrust is easily excited, and when that is the
case, they endeavour to oppose craft and cunning
to the power of their employers, and thus to
neutralize the supf ?rior advantages which they are
supposed to possess. Never has there been a period
when that peasantry- could have been so easily con-
ciliated and won over by the display of kindness and
benignity as at tk'e present moment. They have
learned the futility :arid fallacy of the doctrines that
have so long been preached by wicked and designing
men; they have discoured the true strength and