14 JANUARY 1871, Page 3

Mr. Martin, the Nationalist elected for Meath, on the declara-

tion of the poll made a strong Separatist speech to the electors. lie regarded the election as a proof that Irishmen believed Ireland to be an independent kingdom by indefeasible right, submitting to a Union obtained by fraud only on account of the superior tome which maintained it ; that they would give no moral sanc- tion to that rule, and that the absence of independence was a • disgrace. He did not know that he should take his seat at Westminster, or what he should do there if he took it. It suited neither his purse nor his feelings to go further than College -Green. Why did he stand, then ? Is not that just as much an Acknowledgment of the legality of the election as a speech in the House of Commons ? To fight an election on the Nationalist 'basis, and then decline to plead the cause of Nationalism before the only competent tribunal—for Mr. Martin rejects insurrection —is surely but poor logic.