The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-04 00:00:00

THE IRISH CHURCH.

The English Conservative journals are sheivinga
good deal of irritation at the attitude of Irish Church-
men. The first complain that the second
now, instead of making a brave resistance,
be
only upon capitulating on the best terms. should
These
journals say that it is rather hard that English Con-
servatives should have to fight the battle of the Irish
Church alone, should be the only party to rally
round the standard of "no surrender. ' It was
not for such fainthearted conduct as this that
they fought the battle of the elections. Moreover,
what are they to do in the coming
campaign if they
are to be deprived of the only ground which is left
them for combat ? Irish Churchmen are wiser than
English Conservatives thought them to be. They
have no wish to be made a mere cheval de beadle, as
the " Constitution" was during the Reform, struggle,
to be abandoned like that whenever the necessi-
ties of party warfare compel a strategical move-
ment or a masterly retreat. They know
that the men who entered Parliament pledged
to the lips to resist " democracy," invented
the fiction of a democratic Tory as a pretence for
dishing their opponents ; they know that these men,
took a leap in the dark so far as the State is con-
cerned, and believe that they would take another as
regards the Church. So they think it wisest to make
terms with the Liberals, who are willing to grant
liberal conditions, rather than to refuse all terms
only in order hereafter to surrender unconditionally.
CONGRATULATIONS.
The Conservatives of Mid Surrey held high festival
on Tuesday night. They met together at one of the
several new " railway hotels " which have of late
been erected in the metropolis, to • congratulate another on having succeeded in carrying two
Conservatives at the election. It is amusing to note
that whenever such a banquet takes place—whichever
party rejoices—the speakers consider that the con-
stituency has been " rescued from oppressive
thraldom." This and a great deal to the same
effect was said by the fervid after-dinner
orators. Lord George Hamilton, M.P., was one of
out
the speakers. He ridiculed the idea
n
deaoef
ptheeinpterdes
Government being a " strong, one.
that notwithstanding the
pvuelaakrintey ai
ss of thtelatoessMienfisa-
try, it had bray
seat by prosecuting Mr. Johnstonfe,arof Ballykilbeg.oflosmgtie
support of a section of
But the present Government in
had not the moral,
courage to put downllg. the Mayorethepa rty,
of Cork, notwith-
ta
Mr.t Brodrick set
forth a "social
foarn'thiepresen Government.
siidil'g his seditious"policy

ELECTION EXPENSES.

It is astonishing how much may be spent by a can-
didate in a few days. There is Mr. Tomline, for in-
stance, who went to Grimsby only a week or two
before the election, and who spent -£1,40 ; and
Captain Williams, who was brought out at the last
minute for Barnstaple, and who spent over £9OO.
Both these boroughs are so notoriously corrupt that
neither side dares petition, knowing well that the
places would be disfranchised, and all opportunities
of future spoiling of candidates would be taken away.
Thus the worst offenders escape punishment.

BARON MARTIN.
Surely Baron Martin though a most excellent
judge, is a somewhat indiscreet man. His letter to
Sir Henry Stracey, in which, after unseating him
publicly hp consoled him privately, was, to say the
least, an eccentric proceeding. His speech at Bradford
ithtn deciariug_ xx,r2.l§l9x duly gllxtecl ms_awael