The Sun.
London, England, 1842-08-31 00:00:00

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LONDON:
WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 31, 1342.

The tithe system was destroyed in Ireland
from the moment Mr. O'CONNELL recommended
his celebrated system of passive resistance. The
people made no attempt to violate the law; but
such as had pockets buttoned them up, or thrust
their hands into them, and those who had none
folded their arms, and looked on with the seem-
ing fixedness of statues. The tithe collectors
were peaceably allowed to drive off cattle and to
carry away furniture ; the seizures were adver-
tised to be sold by auction; but though there
were thousands of spectators, the only bidders
were the poisons themselves, to whom fat cows
were sometimes knocked down for a shilling. A
system like this could not continue; the Govern-
ment took the alarm ; and the redress of the na-
tional grievance was the almost immediate con-
sequence. When this system of passive resist-
ance was alluded to in the House of Commons,
Sir ROBERT PEEL described it as a monster un-
known to the British Constitution—an incarna-
tion of sedition so subtle as to bid defiance to
any plan of coercion adopted by the Executive.
Repressive laws can only be framed to meet
cases of active resistance. That passive resist-
ance which consists in utter inaction, cannot be
made the subject of any legislative enactment.
While a reasonable hope was entertained that,
by peaceable agitation and discussion, the people
of England might obtain the removal of all re-
strictions upon their industry, passive resistance
was confined to Ireland. The habits and preju-
dices of Englishmen were in favour of free dis-
cussion, and of noisy, and to some extent tur-
bulent, opposition to all acts of oppression on the
part of the Executive. To meet, to grumble, and
to remonstrate, they regarded as their birth-
right—as an undisputed legacy, bequeathed
to them by their sturdy ancestors. But
that right the Government is now tak-
ing from them ; they are not suffered to
assemble in the' open air ; and the consequence
is, that we now hear them,_ for the first time,
seriously advocate the adoption of the passive
resistance principle. The Secretary of State
and the Tory Press are for converting the police
force into organised bands of bludgeon-men,
spies, and informers, and therefore it is not sur-
prising that the people should defend themselves
by adopting the only system by which they can
with impunity be set at open defiance. For what
can be done against men who will neither raise
their hands, nor open their mouths—who will
eschew the use of certain articles of food or
raiment—and who, like inanimate objects, will
become motionless at the withdrawal of every
application of physical force ? Such men can
neither be cajoled nor coerced. At the Com-
plete Suffrage meeting, presided over by
Mr. JOSEPII STURGE, in Holborn, on Mon-
day
evening, the proposal to adopt the prin-
ciple of passive resistance was received
with acclamations of applause. If it take
root in this country, the result will be even
more disastrous, as regards the Executive, than
in Ireland-. JOHN BULL is not naturally a mer-
curial animal, and the principle of passiveness
will well accord with his naturally sluggish dis-
position. But whether or not it will be implanted
in the British soil, depends upon the immediate
conduct of the Ministry with respect to public
meetings, and the prosecution of the prisoners
arrested during the late disturbances in the ma-
nufacturing districts. Either Sir JAMES ORA.
HAM must recede from the ground which he has
taken respecting the power of the constabulary to
interpret and execute the law of public meetings,
or the people will be forced to adopt some sys.-
tern beyond the reach of police interference, for
the realization of such objects as they may have