The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-21 00:00:00

Ptirimin Th

LONDON, MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1844.

The Tory party—at least, if we may judge from
their organs—appear to be dreadfully alarmed at the
idea of a compact between Mr. O'CoNNELL and the
Whigs. Knowing well that Ireland is their " great
difficulty "—a fact of which their leader took care to
apprise them a few years since—they are naturally
.enough apprehensive that it would become a down-
right impossibility, were any such compact to be in-
stituted—that is to say, it would become morally im-
possible for them to continue to legislate for the
sister country, unless they consented to abandon
every single principle which they have maintained
for the last half century and upwards. But this of
course the Tories cannot be expected to do, for though
by no means squeamish as regards political tergiver-
sation, yet, even apostacy has its limits, which no
party can pass without encountering such a
burst of popular execration as would for ever put an
end to its moral influence. Thus compelled, in spite
of themselves, to preserve a certain decent political
consistency, and thereby incapacitated from doing
justice 'to Ireland otherwise than in a languid,
reluctant, retail spirit—for Sir ROBERT PEEL'S pro-
jected remedial measures, though they will, no
doubt, be productive of good, will, we suspect, not
go to the root of the evil—no wonder the Tories
are alarmed at the prospect of a compact, which will
not only render it additionally difficult for them to
conduct affairs in the sister country after their own
favourite fashion a little modified and liberalised;
but, very probably, compel them to abandon the
task of Irish legislation altogether; mid make way
for those who are more competent, and more willing,
to administer justice in a right spirit. Alluding
this compact, a Whig Contemporary remarks :—" In
what manner, or to what extent, a combination
of objects may be practicable between the
Liberals of England and of Ireland, is a
point on which we are unable to express
anything but hopes. It must depend upon the
animus and eventual designs of either party. One
thing is very certain, however, that no undertaking,
no co-operation between the English and Irish Libe-
rals is possible upon any basis that implies approba-
tion of Repeal, or of Federalism, or of rotatory Par-
liaments. Sir ROBERT PEEL, indeed, the Irish Re-
pealers may be able to force into a compromise, but
the English Liberals will never consent to be a party
to it. We should, indeed, deeply deplore any move-
ment on the part of the Irish Liberal party which
would range them in hostility to their friends on this
side the channel. But it is right to say that this pro-
ject of Federalism—this most formidable creation of
Tory Government—would find its most strenuous
opponents in the English Liberal party." From
the spirit that pervades the above passage, and,
indeed, from the tone of the article gene-
rally, we infer that our Whig Contemporary has
put it forth, with the direct approbation of his party,
as a sort of feeler to try how far O'CONNELL may be
disposed to renew his alliance with English Whiggery.
If our surmise be correct, we do not think it at all
likely that it will be a successful rose, for the condi-
tions which it lays down, as indispensable to the com-
pact, are such as the great Irish Agitator can never
dream of listening to. Possibly, so far as he himself
is concerned, Mr. O'CoNNELL might not object to re-
new his connexion with the English Whigs, on the
terms laid down in the passage we have quoted ; but
situated as he is with his countrymen, pledged to
do his utmost to further the cause of Repeal or
Federalism, it is wholly out of the question that he
can surrender either of these measures, much less both,
as our Contemporary plainly tells him he must do, if
he would wish to be patronised by Wh' •gAll
things considered, therefore, the TorilesgerY
have not
much cause for apprehension. A direct offensive and
defensive alliance can never be entered into between
O'CONNELL and the English Liberal party, for the
latter will not support either Federalism or Repeal,
and the former cannot abandon, though he can never
hope to carry, either. Toryism, therefore, has now
much in its power as regards Ireland. It can never,
it is true, with the principles it professes, ob-
tain the full and entire confidence of the
sister country, but it can at least make
itself more popular than it has yet been, by bringing