The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-11-30
London.
Correspondence Of the Herald)
LONDON, Nov. Sd, 1874:
The Irish Question.

nat VIII " COnnell QO! lStne question WHICH
has been put many millions of times in the United
States since it was first known in your noble
country that the Government had resolved on prose-
cutting the leaders of the repeal movement in Ire
land. Some OF the more sanguine spirits have, UNI
doubtedly, predicted that he would call around
him all the talent, patriotism, learning, and elo-
quence OF the country, and that he would consult
them, rouse them, warm them address them, and
excite them. Well, he has done such thing
Others will have declared that he would sound the
cry, rouse the aarmsts, ring the tocsin in the
ears of all Ireland, and would light ON every hill
bonfire, and in every heart passion to get rid of
the Union. Well, he has done no such thing
Others will have anticipated that the mass of the
people, excited by the monster meetings, would
have refused to wait to forbear, smper, to shrug
the shoulder, and to look wise and cunning any
longer, and would have resorted to open rebellion
to downright war against taxes, against the govern
ment, against the Viceroy's, the Privy Council, and
the magistrates; and that the chiefs of the repeal
movement, with O'Connell at their head, would
long this, have been surrounded by an Irish
provincial parliament, and by an indignant and
determined people in for their liberties and in
dependence! Wel-nothlng of this sort has occur
ed. There have been monster hres' indeed on
the hill tops, and on the mountains of Galway,
Clare, Limerick, Kerry, Tpperary, and portion
of the County Of Cork; but, O'Connel says, "God
forbid they should be regarded any repeal signals
Oh no nothing half so determined or decided as
that! Some declared that they were lighted to sig
nifty that "the war was over" that concessions
had beeu secretly made to O'Conne" that sort
of federal parliament was to be convoked, and
that "lreland was to become happy, peaceful, and
prosperous!' This version of the simultaneous
''monster fires was not very easily believed by
people who had any portion however small, of COM
mon sense-so another was attempted. That second
explanation was that cit had been reported that the
prosecutions against the repealers were to be
abandoned-that MIR. Bond Hughes's evidence was
admitted to be inadequate-and that O'Connell and
his friends would not hear further OF the intorma-
tons filed against them, provided no more monster
meetings were convoked" So in fact these
'monster fires" were to become the tombs, blazing
and hot indeed, of the monster meetings, For
few hours this story was credited-but shortly after.
to declare ''that the whole was fabrication" and
that =" the state prosecutions would be persevered
in with redoubled zeal. The tory prints had
counter-story to all this, and they said that the
'monster fires" were lit up !" as measures OF ntm-
dation-as intended to prove to the government that
the repeaers were all agreed; that they were ready
to rise every where at the bidding of OConnel as
one man. and that the State proclamation had ex-
ercised no real influence either on public opinion
or on public determinations" When O'Connell
heard this he became not little alarmed-and he
gave his version OF the story, which was really the
least credible of all. He represented the "monster
fires as mere local occurrences-as sort of
"Welsh Rebeccaite" triumph on occasion of the
destruction of some Objectionable toll-gates IN the
parts of Ireland where the fires occurred, and that
they had nothing whatever to do with politics or re-
peal. Now, TO be honest with you, must add that
this statement is not at all credited, and that "the
monster fres' are still thought to have meant
much more than has as yet met the eye.
The State prosecutions have evidently not only
greatly annoyed, but much perplexed and embar-
raised Mr.. O'Connell. He is SO tame, SO harmless,
so moderate, that he has even become the cham
ment inquire into the state Of the law nt tenre
and lie will no, hear word against so falr and
honest measure. This is such very different Ian
guage to that which we have all been used to from
the lips of the agitator, that We cannot help asking
"what has happened, then, thou leader OF public
opinion, thou tribune of the people, thou, chief OF
that the lion is changed into lamb, the eagle into
dove, and the big manly voice into childish treble
pipes, and whistles in its sounds q
"Aye," exclam some, "you do not understand
O'Conne yet. He is playing deep game. He is
avowedly by his affected moderation seeking to OBJ
tain verdict in his favor on these State prosecu
tons but when once that object shall be attained
again he will summon his leglons; and monster
meetings as well as monster fires, will be seen
and convoked from one end OF Ireland to the
other" But is Mr.. O'Connell sure of an acquittal
Is the jury he will have to address one likely to be
favorable to his policy' Will the semblance of
moderation now, deceive the willy Irish jurors
Will his mock submission and Difference now, in
duce any twelve men in Ireland, whether friends or
middle-men, to believe that unless the British
Houses of Parliament and Queen shall repeal the
union act he (OConnelD will not seek to attain
his object in any other manner! trow not; and,
therefore, think that Mr.. OConnelPs present line
of proceeding will only terminate in his own dis
grace and confusion.
1t must not, however, on the other hand, be ina
gined in the United States, that because MIR
O'Connel is playing most extraordinary and mex
picable part at the present moment, therefore, that
the cause of repeal is less popular with the mass OF
the people. They have indeed been so long used to
follow The directions and listen to the voice of
7 - af
would not take any very important steps but yet
meetings are held both at Dublin and IN the pro-
vinces in favor of repeal, though all IN houses, or
at public rooms, and none in the open air. Smith
O'Brien's adhesion to the repeal movement has
greatly ANNOYED the government. He is ordinarily
cool, calm headed man, and his influence is con-
sequently very great. The government has met
this adhesion of O'Brien, by removing two magis-
rates who had been present some weeks since at
| one Of the monster meetings This Is poor and
pitfu revenge. Either the monster meetings are
legal illegal II legal, the magistrates ought not
to be removed from their posts in the commission
of the peace for attending them. II illegal, then
the verd!cts OF the Juries IN the approaching state
prosecutions will declare them to be 80. Thence,
forth, supposing verdict of ilegalty be pronounced
against those assemblies, all magistrates attending
them would be Justly subject TO- removal. But
whilst this question pending, and whilst nothing
is settled hold il to be act OF petty tyranny to
remove any more repeal magistrates.
Yesterday being the first day OF Mlchaelmas term,
Chief Justice Pennefather was to take his seat In
the Court of Queens Bench In Dublin, and was TO
address the county and city grand jurors to one OF
which would be referred the indictments against
the OConnelites and repeaers. II is much ques-
toned however, whether the trial will take place
Immediately. Some parliamentary friends OF
O'Connell are of opinion that "a long day" will be
applied for and that the Attorney General will not
object to the application. A very different feeling
to this is entertained by the repealers. They say
"let us know at once what we have to trust to
we cannot gain any thing by de ay-there is no
matter of fact dispute-the meetings were held
the objects are clear and defined-we want no chi;
canery TO be resorted TO relative to our plans and
proceedngs-we are downright repealers, and we
desire to be at decided whether it be illegal
or unconstitutional to seek to repeal an act OF par
lament by passing another act"
But the answer to these gentlemen Is this; mo,
YOU do not propose to wait until act of parlia
men shall be passed to repeal the union act, since
il that were your intention you would not propose