TOPICS OF Ti - 1 E DAY.
THE TORIES STOPPM BY IRELAND.
LORD LYNDHuRsfs aliens are returning tit for tat. Though the Tories boast of the want of agitation in England, there is plenty in Ireland. The National Association appears to have attained in a few weeks as much force as was ever possessed by the renowned Catholic Association. In aims and pretensions this new Politieal Union rises far above its predecessor ; as much above it as the dif- ference between means and ends—between the admission of Catho- lics, otherwise Irishmen, to Parliament, and all that is expressed by `Justice to Ireland." In mealier important respect, the dif- ference is wide between these two bodies. The old Catholic Asso- ciation would, at any given time, have been satisfied, forthe time, with the grant of a sery small part of its demands : of the new one, we may say that it requites more than has been refused— that its demands rise in proportion to the determination of our Tory Lords to treat Ireland as a foreleg) country. The Lords have but just rejected the barren principle of appropriating a possible sur- plus : already the Irish millions, represented by this new Associa- tion, seem bent on (not maintaining the principle of appropriat- ing, but) appropriating (not a possible surplus, but) the whole. Even O'Cosreeee, about whose anxiety to avoal going far in advance of the preseet Ministers there can be no sort of doubt, is being dragged into the line of Irish policy marked out by SHARMAN CRAWFORD'S letter to himself. He finds that if he would continue to stood between the Tories under Lori
Lveinuuese and an Irish rebellion, he must move beyond the point at which Lord LYNDHURST has stopped him for the
present; that " the It all question is no longer one of concessions, but of rights—of petitions, but of Senands—of partial participation, but of perfect equality. It was sure to come to this at last; and, in the long run, perhaps, there may be- no reason to regret that the Tories should have put the Irish nation upon this sudden demand of a complete union. Nothing short of one law, if there are to be one King and one allegiance, will henceforth satisfy Ireland, which again organized more effectually than ever, and with sufficient representation in Parliament to turn the scale in all party arrangements, possesses the means of enforcing her fair and righteous demand.
Let the Tories look to it. They do so already, and with rueful countenances. England and Scotland, almost disgusted with the incapacity of the present Ministers for accomplishing the measures of' Reform which they propose, might have submittel for a time to another dismissal of Lord MELBOURNE; but Ireland, with its re- organized agitation, forbids the coop delta. Lord Lvivenense, bold and desperate though he be, dares not, in the face of what is going on in Ireland, find fresh employment for Mr. II unsoe. Let Lord MELBOURNE be dismissed—who will take his place ?—PEEL, who prudently yielded to the old mid comparatively weak Catholic Association ? or WELLINGTON, in his old age, who prefers any thing to civil war ?—None but LYNDHURST the reckless; whom, thanks to Ireland, we may now defy. His recent policy has been successful, inasmuch as, by placing tee Whigs in a pitiable light, it has tended to break up the Whig-Radical union in England and Scotland ; but as. respects Ireland, it has been carried so far as to defeat his own object. The sudden and unexpected agitation of Ireland, produced by the Tory Lords, comes as a death-blow to Tory hopes. Let the Whigs also look to it. O'CONNELL still upholds them, but with a faintibg voice. If he is to direct the storm which the Tories have raised, he must go along with it. Unless the Whigs desert the policy of " mere proposals for rejection by the Lords." he will be forced by events and his own nature to desert them. If the Whigs have not taken leave of the bare principle of appro- priation, the Irish people have; and will soon take leave of the Whigs, unless the latter alter their policy with altered circum- stances. Ireland alone may prevent Lord LYNDHURST from be- coming virtual Prime Minister, but will not sustain the Whigs through another session of mere proposals. It does not follow that because the Tories cannot get into office, the Whigs should stay there much longer. Lord IllurGe AVE and Lord MORPETH are something more than Whigs. Lord MELBOURNE, let us be sure, will not become a Tory. The time when a Whig must choose be- tween desperate Toryism, rind sound, sober Radicalism, is fist approaching. We have reason to think it not impossible that Lord DURHAM may soon reach England.
• Admirably stated in an artiele, at Winded to Mr. Wyss., in the last Number of the Brilsh and E,reign &rive. • %■hiell we had hot read a lieu we noticed other papers in the Number, in last Sixth:for.
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