Star.
London, England, 1829-11-16 00:00:00

and disturbances which have been consequent on its con-
cession—revoke hastily the salutary boon. It is only by
slow degrees, that its beneficial operation can be expected
to show itself in results upon the mass of the community.
We would wait, therefore, patiently, for the de-
velopment of these, and meet even rebellion and
insurrection with momentary coercion merely. It
is never the people's fault—but always the crime
of those who suscitate and direct its passions—when it
conspires against the peace and order of society, and
breaks into intestinal anarchy. But if we raise our voice
in loud condemnation of a conspiracy—such as that which
was lately discovered at Doneraile—let us not be called
" Anti-Catholic" for that. We have admitted the Ca-
tholics to share equally with us in all the blessings of our
Constitution ; and we have done so freely. We do not
grudge that they should bo participators. But are we to
be marks--as we traverse the highways—for the blun-
derbuss of the Catholic assassin ; or to hold our throats,
unresisting, to his lifted knife ? If we are shot at in onr
carriages—as we know that Admiral EVA ws was—be-
cause of our different religion, are we to be called " An-
ti-Catholic" for expressing our abhorrence of the perpe-
tration ? Surely, there is much party bitterness in this
application of the term to us, and it reflects no honour upon
those who make it. Pro-Catholic and Anti-Catholic
were appellatives, which—during the agitation of that
great political question—distinguished those who advo-
cated or resisted concession : but when the measure was
carried, these appellatives ceased to have any meaning,
since the distinctions which they designated were done
away.

It will not be felt, however—we suppose—by our ac-
cusers, that we have addressed ourselves in earnest to
their accusation, if we pass sub silentio the names of
SHELL and O'Cox NELL, so prominent in -the Irish pic-
ture. We will not flinch, even from this; and first—
without derogating aught from the resplendent qualities
of these individuals—we will ask, is it necessary to be
of SII El L's party, to be reckoned a well-wisher to the
Catholic population of Ireland ? Is every man an
" Anti-Catholic," who is not an 0' Connellile? We
conceive not. We always imagined that a man might
be friendly to a liberal system of Irish government, and
yet separate in his ideas that liberal system from these
disturbers. For we candidly confess, that the late
speeches of both these tumultuous leaders, and their
plans of renewed agitation, do not comport with our con-
ceptions of sincere patriotism. The Repeal of the
Union, and the re-constitution--under her new circum-
stances—of a native Parliament in Ireland, appear to us
to be incompatible with her emanative administration
from this Crown : and so appearing, we not only con-
scientiously resist the propagation of such dangerous doc-
trines, but feel it also our bounden duty to denounce the
propagators as enemies to the well-being of their coun-
try. We are aware what claims Mr. O'Coxx ELL and
Mr. Sum have to our consideration in their• connexion
with the late Bill, which they were so conspicuous in
causing to be introduced : in this light, it is no hyper-
bole to call them the favoured instruments of political re-
generation in Ireland. But we are not, therefore, to exalt
them into implicit supremacy over public opinion, and in-
vest them with unamenable prerogative : and if,
having succeeded—no matter by what motives—
in producing a great national benefit, they endeavour by
their after acts to wrest that benefit to national mischief,
are we to be called " Anti-Catholic" for not aiding and
abetting in such perversion ?
We hope that our distinction is clear. We desire no
revocation of the concessions that are gone forth—we de-
precate all celebration of party festivals, which can only
keep alive the flame of party animosities—we wish to
see consolidated into one brotherhood the Catholic and
Protestant communities, and to bring about this consoli-
dation we would neglect no means of kindness and
conciliation. We are heart and soul with the
Examiner of yesterday, who recommends as an erperi-
ment—and one, which we thick could not fail of
conciliating the Irish people—an Acr of ANNISTY,
without exception even of convicted criminals. But
when the Honourable and Learned Member for Clare—
instead of inculcating sentiments of cordiality and gra-
titude for the boon which has been conferred upon his
countrymen—harangues them in the language of dis-
content, and invites them to higher exactions from this
country, and to new organisations in their own, we do
think it necessary, in our view of this momentous mat-
ter, to separate O'Cox i ELL from the cause of Catholic
prosperity. Nor let it be petulantly imputed to us, by
the partisans of that distinguished demagogue, that
we are " Anti-Catholic " because we are not
O'Connell ite. If O'Cox xx Li. will temper - his
language to the new circumstances of Ireland, and
cease—not merely to agitate, but—to agitate her in a
popish spirit, he will find us among the first to vindicate
his natural pre-eminence, above all the patriots who hare
signalized themselves in this crisis of her regeneration.
But when he tells us to look to Dunganran, where " a
Popish agitator" is keeping alive the spirit of the people
—thus not only encouraging agitation, but declaring
openly that the agitation which he encourages is of a
popish character—are we to be called " Anti-
Catholic" for condemning the seditious instigation?
Not—certainly—shall we be so reputed, by dispassionate
and impartial judges. On the discovery of LTAILY'II
plot we wrote strongly—it is usual for us to do so when
our feelings are highly excited—but we . said nothing
which was not borne out by the facts disclosed; nothing,
which under similar recurrences, we should not say
over again to-morrow. The evidence, howeier—
on which those four conspirators were found- guilty
—was proved subsequently to be so totally worth-
less
and depraved, that we could never assent to the
execution of a capital 'entente so obtained. It would be
murder—in the face of such overturned testimony—to let
the law take its course upon the convicted. At the same
time, there is not a shadow of doubt upon our minds, as