The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-21 00:00:00

versities which assert the excellence of their teach-
ing by successful competition with England and
Scotland. In no country is law more fairly and ably
administered; in no country does a more vigilant
police watch over the preservation of life and pro-
perty. In 1821 Ireland had neither toleration, edu-
cation, nor landed gentry able to perform the duties
of their station ; she had no confidence in herself,
nor loyalty to the Crown. In 1861 all these things
are reversed—wages rise and crime decreases, agi-
tation is discountenanced, and commercial enter
prise is honoured. Then the principal grievances of
Ireland were religious and political, and the cry was
" Separation from England." Now the whole island
is on fire to obtain the Galway contract, because it
believes that it would thus become the entrepot of
the goods and passenger traffic between England
and America.
But if there be such a difference between the Ire-
land of 1821 and the Ireland of 1861, what shall we
say of the two Sovereigns who visited her at the
two epochs ? We will say no more of George IV.,
and little need is there to say anything of the
Queen. These islands have never had a more con-
stitutional Sovereign—have never had a Sovereign
whose public and private life tended so directly to
the benefit of her subjects. To Ireland her reign
tt canriaboaca
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Ireland
nant nod towards
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has been the turning point of a long and evil des-
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local organisation. It.tihsenwohtegleiveefnittsoressoovaerrcesisgntos
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beneficial public work a durable memorial of pre-
ference and goodwill. But, though Ireland cannot
hope to reap the material advantages which follow
the footsteps of absolute sovereigns, she may yet,
we believe, acquire very solid advantages from the
presence, even for a few days, of the Queen of these
islands. Everything is now in astate of transition.
Old faiths are broken down, old combinations are
weakened, old ties and alliances dissolved. Those
who have hitherto set up the Pope as a temporal
power against the Queen must feel that the time is
coming when such a duality can exist no longer.
The dreams of repeal, the delusion of a separate go-
vernment and nationality, are exploded. in this
world of change nothing remains permanent and
enduring except the imperial power, and never was
that power placed in hands more capable of conci-
liating respect, esteem, and affection. It may be
that the visit of the Queen to Ireland is destined to
produce effects far more than commensurate with
its apparent importance, and to unite at last in one
sentiment opinions hitherto so divergent. At any
rate, we have some right to indulge in sanguine an-
ticipations. Any one who carefully examined the
state of Ireland at the coming of George IV. must
have seen nothing before him but discord and dis-
aster ; any one who makes the same examination
now sees nothing before him but an increasing hope
of union and prosperity.— Times.