The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-05-08 00:00:00

CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION.

To enlighten the mind: of four millions of Catholics,
is an object of greater importance than the removal
of 111 the political disqualifications affecting.those
who would be relieved, if their claims, as recently
brought forward in Parliament, were to meet with a
'favourable reception.. Those at most who could be
benefited by this measure would be six Lords, one
hundred end fifty commoners, and twenty ecclesias-
tics. We do not mean to say that even this is not an
object worth contending for. On the contrary, we
.consider
_it- of incalculable advantage, and what
would tend, in a powerful.degree, to unite in. reality
the-people of Ireland with. this country, as closely as
their Parliament has been already united with ours.
But though this might unite all hearts, aad render
the safety of the State an object of common solicita-
tion, the great bulk of the community would not be
relieved by it ; they would itill remain hi ignorance,
in poverty, and in a state of aliject submission to
their spiritual guides, without either the growth or
influence of true ritty ever appearing among them.
Who indeed can expect any thing else of a people
whose minds are utterly dark, and whose domestic
economy is so nearly allied as it is to barbarism. It
is certain, that hardly one-fourth part of the popu-
lation of Ireland know any thi4g of reading or
writing. Of this number, three-fourths are Protest-
ants: the other fourth consists of Catholics, who
take the laiis of God on trust kiln their spiritual
• guides, aad the laws of the country from any other
41ass-nrinen in whom they think they can place im-
Vita confidence. Incapable or unwilling to inform
tlsensselves, as to their true interests, they will ever
continue poor, ignorant, and debased, unless power- I
tat exertions are made in their behalf. In our last,
'ere/pointed out the severe hardships which the pea-
santry of Ireland labour under, through the exist- ,
ence of a series of sub-landlords and tenants, each
receiving a profit from his lessee, without having any
other interest in the soil. As this iniquitous system
has already attracted the notice of the legislature,
'we flatter ourselves it will soon be abolished. But
the almost savage state of the lower classes among
the Irish demands, in other respects, a speedy ameli-
oration.
To look at the wretched hovels which they
.occupy, we are compelled to acknowledge, that they
arc a race not many degrees removed from a state of
nature. The walls and the floors of what are term-
ed dwelling-houses are of clay; the roof of turf or
thatch ; they have no glazed windows; an open door
serves, at the same time, le purpose of admitting
light, and as an entrance to these dreary mansioas. I
The interior is divided into two apartments :—the I
one, without either grate or chimney, is occupied by
the family ; the other by *the pigs, which they are
petniitted to feed only to satisfy the rapacity of their
landlord. Furniture they neither have nor want.
The preparation of their food, which consists of po-
tatoes or oaten cakes, sour milk, and sometimes
salted fish, is as simple as the ingrediepti themselves.
In their partiality for strong liquors, they resemble
all other nations who are in a• state bordering on
nature. The squalid and mean appearance of their
dress; their neglect, of personal cleanliness; their,
children generally altegether naked, hording together,
'without dislinction of sexes, in dirt and mire, fro- I
:quently along with the cattle, all afford Melancholy
.proefs of the. degeneracy, or rather barbarity of these
:brave and unsuspecting islanders. Among a people
so situated, it will not appear surprising that
`customs arc retained of a most superstitious and
pernicious nature : Popish legends and Pagan
traditions are constantly confounded and revered.
They entertain'extraordipary re§peet for certain holy
wells and sacred places; to which the sick and the
sinful repair for cure and expiation; and their priests,
deluded or deluding, enjoin those pilgrimages as
penance, or applaud them, when voluntary, as acts
of devotion Peculiarly acceptable to the Deity.—
They are neither active nor expert in their agricultu•
141 pursuits. Such. indeed is their indolence, that
rather than cultivate the earth, and wait upon the
seasons, they would take up arms either for or
•ogatinst their country. • Some of the sons of the old
possessors of lond,• are seen, at this day, suspected
of belitg snore ready to regain the inheritance of their
forefathers by their blood, than by their 1ab0ur....-
Even when they assemble together for amusement,
they seldom part without fighting, and for that puss
pose they always carry clubs with them, which they
frequently use with considerable dexterity. In short,
except when driven by necessity to labour, they wil.l
lingly consibne whole days in sloth, or as willingly'
employ them in riot. This is-no overuharted
titre of the situation of the great mass of the Irish 1
pqtple. It is what has been frequently delineated,
even by writers of their own country; and its truth'
may be ascertained by all who feel inclined to visit it.
Hese, then, are powerfel iooentives—irresistiblemo:
tires-tor emancipating the w hole Irish station. Com-
pared
to the real grieVances of the people,, and in
reference to the security of-the Empire, says a late
eloquent writer, Irish politico, strictly understood,
are like iurshore waves, which fret and foam against
rocks and 'shallows, whilst the 'troubled deep behied
moves with less surf, but a heavier swell. The Irish
people, he observes, do' not want no 'Agrarian leis-,
or perfect equality ; they only reqpink* 'what reason
and justice would-sancsion, that ajar *figural con-
anion in the state be made what it ing.l4l to be. What
then is'the natural condition of the Irish people ?
We answer,. that as they are born British subjects,
C.:ey (ought to enjoy 1,11 the privileges of Britons, 1