The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-09-23

BY J. RUSSELL LOWELL.

W NC Baihto Oy II we do not clearly see,
but the popular leaders seem to have. adopt
cd the principle Of reform il they can get il,
and a rebellion at all events. They have
resolved that the people shall metaphorically
get belly-lull, and that, after the Barme-
eide entertainment Of the last two years, a
dessert OF grape and a gunpowder-tea shall
follow. Their counuymen ask for bread,
and they give them pike. They ask for
education and instruction, and the infantry.
drill is offered them. We cannot help
thinking that the drills it were wise to be
busiest about are those in which their pota.
Toes are planted. If the tenuues of land
could be changed. or the potatoe-rot cured,
by an instruction, we could see some rea.
son in it. We are not Of those who be-
lieve that the Tree Of Liberty must be wa
tered with blood.
We are not aware that the present Irish
leaders have any plan except downright
anarchy. That they have an earnest de-
sire to remove the evils under which their
unhappy county is suffering we have no
doubt, out they offer nothing as a substitute
Tor the present state Of affairs. Mr.. o..
Connell was not By any means profound
statesman, but he saw the necessity Of con-
centraung the popular mind upon some
point oil peaceful agitation. Wheeler re-
peal would have proved to be the panacea
ne expected, is doubtful; but tie cOrtinunl
agitation of the question drew attention 10
The state of the country, and forced upon
the English Government the necessity of
some measure of relief.
We cannot see that MeSsrs. O'Brien. Do.
heny and Meagher are at all wiser than tie
ignorant multitude whom they are propos
ing 10 had-nowhere. Ii is very plain
that they had no comprehension Of tie
causes which brought about the French
Revolution, or they would never have sent
an embassy to Paris to ask for aimed as
sistance. The Irish masses, at least, know
what they want-wOrk and food. That
their leaders are quite unable 10 solve tie
problem proposed to them, evidently ap-
pears by their putting arms into the hands
Of the people instead Of tools, and cries for
vengeance into their mouths instead of
bread. That they have no constructive tai
ent is proved by this-that, If their insnr-
rection were successful and the indepen-
dence of Ireland attained, the first thing 10
be done would be TO tear down all which
they have been so busy in building, and to
get rid at all risks Of the love of arms and
hatred Of the Saxon.
An instruction in Ireland would be
godsend to the British Ministry. Ii would
distract attention while measures for reform
in England were quietly buried out Of the
way, and would enable Lord John Russell
to seem to be doing something. 1t could be
put down with ease, and would furnish an
apology Tor governing The coantry worse
Than ever, if that be possible. Moreover,
the leaders have done all they could to de-
prive the rebellion Of what sympathy it
would gain as the last mad expedient cf de-
SPAR, by constantly holding up revenge as
its motive and end. If all the wrongs Of
the past are to be answered for, Mr.. Smith
O'Brien himself might be called upon to
atone for some misdemeanor Of the petty
King whose lineal descendant ne is. No
doubt it would be gratifying to him to offer
50 fine an example Of poetical Justice.
Suppose for a moment that the English
Government should send no troops into
Ireland, and should make no attempt to
suppress the projected rising, what would
the rebels accomplish? Ii can hardly be
imagined that Mr.. O'Bnen, himself large
landholder, would head a movement for the
extinction Of the present titles to real es-
tate. Nothing short Of some radical meas
ure OF this complexion will afford eff,ctual
relief to Ireland. The only permanent
safeguard against famine is to give tn, peo-
pie deeper interest in the soil they cult
vate, and the crops they raise. Ii is the
constant sense OF insecurity that has made
the Irish the shiftless and prodigal people
which they are represented TO be by all trav-
elers. Education will be OF no avail un.
less at the same time something be given
them on which they can bring il TO q prac-
teal bearing. Take away English oppo-
sition, and the present instruction is d.
rected against-what? We confess our
selves at a loss for an answer. The only
insurrection which has done Ireland any
real service was the one headed by Father
Matthew. The true office OF the Irish
Washington would be TO head rebellion
against thriftlessness, superstition, and dirt.
The sooner the barbados are thrown up
against these, the better. Ireland is in
want OF a revolution which shall render
troops less necessary, rather than more so.
Mr.. Mitchell seems 10 have perceived
that one great curse of Ireland was her land
tenures. Every square foot OF the country
is covered with its bit Of sheep-skin, and
the peasant must pay for its removal in or
der TO thrust his spade into the soil. But
the armed preparation now going on does
not, as far as we can learn, contemplate
any lettering in this particular. Nor
would it have, even il successful, any ef
feet in lessening the other evil Of absentee
ism, unless it should in some way contfivc
to make Dublin more desirable place to
spend money in than London. Irish land
lords after the revolution will be Irish land
lords still, and we presume that distress
for rent would be very much the same
thing in the hands Of Celtic or Saxon
constable.
In the mean time, meetings are held all
over the United States to raise money and
sympathy in aid OF the revolt. AT these
assemblages the same inspired talk is heard
which gives dignity to similar gatherings in
Ireland. Geography, history, political eco