The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-19

The Prospects of Great Britain and Ireland.
The last news from Great Britain and Ireland
was of very quiet character. The intestine
commotions which agitated these kingdoms for
some months past, appear to have subsidized, and
the masses have been compelled to submit to the
superior physical force of the government and the
anstocracy.
The attempted revolution in Ireland has been
completely put down. and the government is now
occupied in furnishing those who were instru-
mental in exciting it. The chartIsts of England
are beng subjected to similar treatment, and from
the temper and decision which the government
have shown, repress all attempts their part, to
resort to physical force, there is but little hope
that much leniency will be shown them In the
courts of law.
Notwithstanding all the excitement, which the
newspapers describe as resulting from the agita-
ton in both countries, and notwithstanding all
ihe expectations which were enkindIed, and care
fully fostered in this country, by few crafty
place hunters, few selfish and merceRary traf-
fickers In politics, and some simple minded and
credulous enthusiasts, there was no real basis
on which to ground any hopes of success IN either
country. In England the chartists formed very
small minority of the people, had no leaders, no
organization, and very little spirit, It would ap-
pear to make the necessary efforts TO overtum
the established order of things In Ireland the
attempts at instruction, were feeble, ridiculous
and absurd. There never was such forelbIe
illustration of the hackneyed quotation
% Part uriunt monies nasctur ridieulses mus"
For years past, the public mind was stirred to
It's lowest depths. Every appliance of the pen,
and the tongue, poetry and prose, eloquence and
song, were brought into requisltlon, for the pur
pose of effectng this much desired consummatlon
The bloody old British empire" YVES cursed in
every mood and tense, and scathlng denuncla-
lions were hurled against II from every rostrum
and every press. Apostrophes were made to the
sword, in
Thoughts that breathe, and words that burn"
and sentiments worthy of Tell and Kosciusko
sounded throughout the length and breadth of the
land
II is humiheung to find that all this was mere
buster and braggedoclo-the secret aspirations Of
few briefless barrsters and newspaper editors,
who had neither the mind to conceive, nor the
ability to execute, the grand schemes they had
planned for the liberation of their country. Failure
is not always a test of incompetence but the
failure of the late abortion of an instruction In
Ireland should, in the minds Of all rejecting men,
be most satisfactory and convincing evidence of
the incompetence of the men who were at the
bottom of it. There appears TO have been no cal
culation whatever made on the subject This
long standing failing In the Irish character was
never more perceptible. Providence was expected
TO do everything; and the old nursery rhy ihm,
Open your mouth, and shut your eyes,
And see If God won't give you price,
was illustrated to the letter. Instead Of carrying
out their own injunction to Sup with the barr-
cades, and invoke the God of battles" the leaders,
10 a man, fled the metropolis, and betook them
selves to hiding places IN the mountains. Every
Thing was LETT to chance aud poetry.
If any one ofthese would-be leaders had ha
very small portion OF the tect end ability of Daniel
O'Connell, the late leader of the Irish peopM,
his would not have been the ignominious up
shot Whatever difference of opinion there may
be as to the means by which he proposed
10 effect his objects, no can doubt that he took
the most likely steps 10 accomplish them. He
won over TO his policy the Catholic clergy. and
though the Young Ireland party affected to treat
them Indifferent adjuncts to their cause il is
useless TO disguise the fact TINT they are the only
channel TO reach the Irish people The only hope
for successful revolution in Ireland must be based
on movement which ensures their cooperation
n attempt, however, to change the existing order
oil things IN Ireland, England, or Scotland, can
ever succeed, unless there is a combined move
ment OF all classes to bring it about. An isolated
or leca instruction must be always abortive The
overwhelming influence and long-estabshed pow
er Of the aristocracy cannot be shaken but by the
associated and concentrated intelligence of all
classes IL was such combination which pro-
duced the great revolution of 1910. The CONNER
cial and middle classes of that day united with
The massss,i broke down the power of the aristo.
cracy, sent Charles the First to the block. and
paved the way for the Commonwealth similar
movement now, is the only one that possesses the
least probability Of success. No one acquainted
with the social and political structure Of society
IN England, Scotland or Ireland, can nationally
entertain any other opinion. Can anyone suppose
ihsi the $500 landed aristocrats Of Ireland, the