The Irish standard., 1909-02-06

the Catholic Church and nearly AL the
heads of the Established Church IN
II Gland approved of what he vas do
ing" and he further notes that Will
berforce showed no disapprobation at
the manner in which the Union was
carried. Castlereagh himself, in let
ter to Alexander Knox, his private
secretary, declares that the measures
which he and others Lad to take were
pursued honestly in the interests OF
ireland. The method adopted TO: Sc
curing a majority in the Irish Parlia-
ment for the Union, was bribery Of
the borough owners; 236 members sat
for 11s boroughs, a large number OF
them would be disfranchised by a I'm
ion. The compensation Of the owners
was perfectly justifiable. and. more
over was essential for the success ct
Pitts policy Eventually the price Of
each borough was fixed at E15.0O0,
and 81 were disfranchised. Bribery.
however, played a considerable part in
the history of the Union. During
1900 numerous vacancies occurred In
the Irish House of Commons, and
many Of these were filed up by Gov
ernment nominees. Moreover, a ceT-
tain number of peeraEes were con-
ferred, and a large number Of places
and pensions We're giveE away In o.
der to strengthen the Unionist Party
in the Irish Parliament" 1t does not
look at all so bad when stated in this
placid style, as If by way of no harm.
Mere compensation for disfranchise-
ment, and the rest of it,. But We ven-
ture to doubt If on this episode the
paragraph will do much to sweeten
the conduct of Pitts uEscrupulous in
strument. Mr. Has.sall is constantly
reminding the reader that Castle
reagh was honest about Catholic
emancipation. He certainly gave 1t
to be clearly understood that he was
staunch on the question:. In his speech
before the final passage OF the fatal
act he was precise and definite. Mr..
Hassall says he did not promise Cath
ORC Characterization Perhaps not, but
nc declared that IAN arrangement
both for the Catholic and Dissenting
Clergy had long been in the contem-
plation Of his majesty's government"
and Mr. HassalI goes on to assure us
that he held the view that the Union
was merely a necessary preliminary
necessary to remark that he was sub
seuuently far moro solicitous that his
corrupt premises of peeragcs should
be redeemed than that Justice should
be done to the Catholic population
Mr. Hassall does not dwell long on
Castlerca CHS Irish performances. He
is right not to do 81. Since Castle
reagh is his hero, i; was better 20
pass on to incidents from which nc
emerged with something like clear
hands. IT may be said that England
owes Castlereagh much. He saved
her by his persistent friendship Cor
Wellington. 1t would. perhaps. he far
too much to say that he discovered
wellington But we can go so far as
to admit that. Wellington having re
vealed himself. Castlercagh had intel
ligence enough TO estimate his full
value, and to see to IL. as far as Ie
could, that the great ccm mmander had
the fullest scope for his talents. The
Peninsuar war was excellent policy.
and Castlereagh had, at least as much
to do with it's inception and steady
pursuit as any other man. He also
gave valuable services at the various
European conferences which attended
the fall of Napoleon. In these re-
spects he did valuable work for Eng
land, but it is surely doubtful II the
cursed legacy Of the Union which ne
left her did not outweigh any services
he performed in her regard. Mr. Has
sci has shown no reason why Ireland
should not continue to loathe his
memory.