The Sun.
London, England, 1817-05-27 00:00:00

ROMAN CATHOLICS.

We select the following judicious Observations
from a loyal and well-conducted Dublin News-
paper. entitled The Correspondent
" If strenuous pains were taken to raise, the
expectations of the Roman Catholics to a high
pitch, before the late debate upon their claims in
the House of Commons, not less have been used
now, that the result is known, to render the dis-
appointment Aiello,. and intolerable. All the
concessions which the Catholics have obtainel,
are disregarded—all the'substantive acquisitions'
of power with which they have been invested,
are forgotten ; or, if remembered, only .to be
contemned--all the friends which the.ir cause has
acquired, in and out of Parliament, are disdained,
—and, 1).404113e they did not succeed to,the full
possession of all they demanded on their last ap-
plication to Parliament, the Protestant Religion
is actiinonionsly libelled, in a Ness which calls
itself, exclusively, -Catholic—individuals in- Par-
liament are marked out fordetestation—the whole,
English race held up to execration, as the most
perfidions..ever known.; and the Catholic popula-
tion IA the country
.vellicated and exasperated,
with as mischievous'and seditious rhapsodies, as,
ever issued from•the Press of any country. 'I he
advancement of the. Catholic Claims by libels on
the Established Religion"-by maledictions on its
professors---by calumnies upon the Members of
Parliament, who think the Constitution, in
Church and State, ought not to be surrendered to
uticotnnromisiag, refractory ambition—is a moral
impassibility; and, therefore, those who indulge
in this desperate virulence, and who have mingled
hatred and slander and vengeance so monstrously
in their sentiments, never can seriously intend
what they profess. They most, by such a course,
seek to offend.tnose whom they should conciliate
et-nfirm those in their opinions, whom they
should endeavour to persuade---to war against.
those things, the spirit of the Legislature, and
the characteristic disposition of the station, which,
they should endeavour to gain by temperance and:
gracious sentiments ; and to found their demands,
not upon sense, or prudence, or pOliey, or upon
any thing that ever had influence amongst human
beings, but upon an offensive confidence in-their
strength, au insulting intimation of their force—
in
the disdain of attempting to do that, by the
conviction of others, which they are able .to. Win
by their own poWer. This may stir up ihe 467
table, mislead the foolish, and stimulate the
fiery to dream of impracticable misfortunesL-bitt
it cannot disturb the stiller and the grave part
of those, for whom this foaming trash is intend-
ed—and, as to effecting any one purpose of li-
mited or of general good, that is Otterly'impos-
sible. If, after giving more than ever was conced-
ed from a Catholic State to Protestant subjects.--
if, after conceding more than ever was granted
by a Protestant State before to Catholic Subjects,
titose who conferred those civil benefactions are
taunted. with the bigotry of their religion, the per-
fidy of their race, their uniform love of oppres-
sion—if, added to all this, the desperate regret is
avowed, the abominable chagrin, that the issue
of civil war in the field was not preferred to the
Treaty which sheathed the sword between fellow-
subjects—perhaps this bigoted Legislature and
bigoted nation may hesitate, before they confer
a full participation of political power's upon per-
suns, who return detestation for kindness, and
vengeance for conciliation.--Perhaps this bigoted
Parliament may think such desperate and Insane
sentiments are more general than they are—and,
in this misconception, perhaps they may conceive
them to be only an unguarded avowal, by an in-
dividual or two, of what is secretly and
,generally.
felt,--and, it' they should think so, and conscien-
tiously believe so, how can it ever be ithagined‘
that they will strengthen such a spirit upon its
own terms, capitulate with its demands, und'inr-
render, as its unqualified claims, such a fullness
of political power, as may give fresh nerve ond,
vigour taita inippeasable antipathy ?—how can it
be hoped that they JOU persist in coneestions, be-
cause they have been repaid with hatred and. ca.
lumnythat they' will be obstinate in-squander-
ing. the substantial privileges and immunities of
civil power, because they have gained in. lieu of
all they have hitherto given, the -appellations of
bigots and tyrants -I--because it is deploted that
the sword had not'finally mediated between those'
who claim, and those who are to decide upotithe
claim ?

" Things are strangely inverted, if those vrhh.
come to ask for favour, substitute insult for sup-
prication—libel for thanks—end rest their hopes
upon a tremendous and ineXhanstible calumny,
which seems to be refreshed as it discharges its
venom and, still more.inverted will the affiiirs of
life become, if those who canconceile, Those who
have that which is desired in their free gift, are to
relax and become genet ons, in proportion es they:
are vilified and slandered, insulted and menaced."

On Sunday eveniug a respecable looking mid.
tile-aged men, whilst attentively listening to an
impressive setnitru in Sion Chapel, near IVltits.
chapel, dropped from his seat, onci itntuctliatt•ly
expit ed.