The Sun.
London, England, 1829-03-17 00:00:00

GREAT AND COMPLEX OBJECTS SHOULD BE SEEN FROM

A DISTANCE, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A JUST AND COMPILE.

HENSIVE IDEA OF THEIR. CHARACTEP. AND PROPORTIONS.
Let us inquire what will be the language of history re-
specting the Catholic Question.—lt will probably be to
the following effect :
The reign of George the IVth. was rendered peculiarly
illustrious, by the restoration of those civil rights to the
Roman Catholics which had been so long, and so unjustly
withheld.
The Duke of Wellington's Administration effected what
had been ardently desired ;—and repeatedly attempted by
the greatest Statesmen, and most distinguished Patriots of
the age.
The Cabinet had long been divided on this treat ques-
tion ; and not only so,--but the two Houses of Parliament
had, year after year, come to opposite decisions upon it ;
and year after year, the Parliamentary friends of the mea-
sure were recruited at the expence of its opponents;—
whilst no instances of defection from the ranks of the former
can be cited.
Those who watched the course of events, and had studied
the workings of the human mind, saw that the claims of
six million; of people for an equality of civil rights with
their countrymen, would not cease to be made till they
were granted ; and that in proportion as they acquired
knowledge, which all parties desired for them, would they
become more impatient under these yelling restrictions.—
Progressive improvement, and permanent disabilities, are
perfectly incompatible terms.
The very frequent discussion of the subject in Parlia-
ment, alternately raised and depressed their expectations;
and their feelings were highly excited by the Associations
of their adversaries, as well as by their own, acting and
re-acting on each other in a continually increasing ratio.
Not only in Ireland, but in England also, many influen-
tial persons countenanced, and even extolled, the soi-disant
" Brunswick Clubs,' and cast boundless censures on the
proceedings of the Catholic Association. Both were un-
doubtedly wrung, and perhaps equally unfavourable to
good order and the repose of the country. The former
proved by their conduct, how highly they appreciated the
privileges they possessed, and yet they were indignant that
the Catholics should desire a participation of them. Could
they have placed themselves in the situation of the latter,
they would, perhaps, have better understood their feelings ;
or at least, they would have learnt that irritation was the
natural effect of men being told they were not fit to be
trusted with political rights, which they would be sure to
abuse ; and that it was not possible to bind them by pro-
mises or oaths.
The state of Ireland was indeed truly calamitous, when
Ministers saw, that union in the Government bad become
absolutely essential, in order to apply a remedy, although
the effoit cost one or more of them sacrifices, equalled
only by the good that was to be achieved.
The Catholic disabilities were recommended to the con-
sideration of Parliament, early 'in 1829, in the opening
speech delivered by the King's Commissioners; and the
Duke of Clarence, Heir Presumptive to the Throne, em-
phatically declared, in the House of Lords, his conviction
of the expediency and necessity of concession.
Under all these circumstances, it seemed reasonable to
conclude that public meu, whatever might have been their
previous conduct, would have seen that further opposi•
tion was useless,—and worse than useless; if the integrity
and influence of the country were to be maintained : but
this was not the case with many of them ;—very far other-
wise. Ireland might be severed, and England might be
rent by faction, and rendered weak and contemptible in the
view of foreign nations. At all hazards, the influence of
Protestantism was to he preserved in its exclusive charac-
ter. The mischief they predicted, was at any rate only
contingent and remote :—the evils which must have flowed
from their proceedings, had they succeeded, were immi-
nent and certain to all the best interests of the country.
Who would have taken the Helm of the State, if the exist-
ing AdMinistration had been broken tip? And what
alternative could they then have suggested ?—The depo-
pulation of Catholic Ireland ?—for it-was evidently impos-
sible to remain stationary. A great river cannot be
ar-
rested in its progress without swelling over its banks; and
then instead of being a source of wealth and fertility to a
country, it becomes an overwhelming flood, extending its
d solation far and wide, until it finds out new channels to
its original destination.
Some of those who had most disparaged the voice of the
people on other occasions, were then foremost in appealing
to their fears, their passions, and their prejudices ; and
numerous petitions against the measure were sent up from
various parts of the empire.
Many of the subscribers were taught to consider the re-
moval of the restrictions almost synonimoue with Catholic
supremacy, and that "fire and fizygot" would follow in
its train :--they were reminded of the days of bloody Queen
Mary, but nothing was said of the dreadful persecutions
inflicted by the Protestants at subsequent periods. What-
ever might have been the wisdom of our ancestors, they
seemed ignorant of the now universally acknowledged
truth, that persecution is not the way to make proselytes.
If the maxim be admitted, that 'I ruth must prevail over.
Error, those who threatened such consequences place
themselves in an awkward dilemma with regard to Prod
testantism;—unless, indeed, they imagined the Roman-
Catholics to be a species of alchymists in politics and re-
ligion, who could change, not every thing into gold, but
whatever was held most precious, into any thing they
pleased.
They might, however, have seen in Europe, and in
America, a practical refutation of that error, where it was
evident, that without such incapacities, Protestantism was
gaining ground on Catholicism ; and reasonable and en-
lightened opinions, on ignorance and superstition.—Eng-
land was, in fact, the only Protestant country inwhich
the Catholics were deprived of the rights and privileges of
free-born citizens ;—not even excepting the sister kingdom
of Hanover.

It was not seen by many of the opponents of the mea-
sure, that the restoration of confidence and tranquillity to
Ireland, would encourage capitalists to reside there, and
avail themselves of those numerous advantages, with
which she is so peculiarly gifted by nature ; and that the
assertion so boldly advanced would be completely dis-
proved, that the poorer classes had only an ideal interest in
a change, calculated to give them employment at home,
instead of having to seek it in England. Nor was it fully
perceived, how much the improvement and pacification of
Ireland must necessarily augment the revenue of the king-
dom, and lead to the withdrawing of a large military force
retained there at an enormous expense.
Little did many of the anti-Catholics anticipate so rapid
a change of public opinion on this subject; although they
might have looked hack only a short time, when the Abo-.
'llion of the Slave Trade was for so many years strenu-
ously and successfully resisted, in and out of Parliament.
But the pages of history abound with analogous examples,
front which the Moralist, and the Christian will derive this
lesson,—that the reasoning powers of the mind are often
insufficient to contend with long-settled habits and opinions,
especially when fortified by self-interest.—Let it be hoped
that they may serve for the instruction of posterity.

RESURRECTIONIST ANECDOTE.—TiIe fol-
lowing presents an amusing contrast to the tales of horror
connected with resurrectionists, which have of late oc-
cupied so much of the public ear :—About a year ago some
well-known body snatchers, whose emoluments had been
suffering by the vigilance of the guardians of the dead,
determined on counterbalancing the defect by practising
on the supposed credulity of the living—of even the
Doctors themselves. For this purpose they crammed one
of their own number, alive and well, into a hamper or
large basket, into which he was packed like a subject,
with a little straw over him. With this package they
proceeded to the rooms of an eminent anatomist in Edin-
burgh, where they laid it down in presence of the Doctor,
who, they calculated, would pay the price that might be
agreed upon without very closely inspecting his purchase ;
and this accomplished, they had no fear of their comrade
effecting his escape. As anticipated, the bargain was al-
most immediately concluded, without inspection; but a
suspicion having shot across the Doctor's mind, before
paying over the price, he hurriedly thrust a knife down
through the package into what he knew to be a fleshy part
of the alleged suhject--when 10, a shriek as hideous as
ever was heard in Pandemonium itself immediately verified
his prediction ! " you scoundrel," said the anatomist,
addressing himi;elf to the principal of the resurrectionists,
" what do you mean by this ?" " Och," answered Paddy,
determined to put the best face on the matter " an" what
could I help it, your honour, when he tould me that he
was chine deal.".—lnverness Courier, March H.