POLITICAL UNIONS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.

Si—There are some features of the struggle in which the Nation is at present engaged strikingly diaracteristic of the two parties opposed to each other, and equally symptomatic, if I mistake not, of the final issue. I allude to the political combinations or unions organized on both sides, within equally with the principles colonised, are formed upon entirely opposite bases; it may not be altogether a useless task to advert more particularly to these dis- tinctive features, as the clearer view both sides can obtain of their respective positions, the less chance there is of the contest being attended with a sacrifice of national interests.

It is on record that a combination of individuals has existed for some years,

known under the name of the Orange Association, whose ostensible object is the upholding of Protestantism in these realms. This is undoubtedly a fair and even a praiseworthy object for such as take an interest in it to engage in ; provided always that no other means be employed but those which are san

B e- oned by the religion which is intended to be thereby' upheld ; but it is not

allowable to support any causeperfas ant nefas—to do wrong that right may Mille. Now the first feature of the Orange Association, to which it is neces- sary to advert, is, that it is a political combination carried on with closed doors —in fact, in secret ; that none of its deliberations are laid before the public, whilst its internal machinery consists of various forms and solemn engagements, with the nature and object of which the rest of the community are but very imperfectly acquainted : there are likewise affiliated or branch societies, emanating from the parent or central one, secret correspondence and ordena conventional signs, impositions of oaths, inculcations of certain rules and even principles, and van ions other machinery, all tending towards a certain point. Does it not at first sight strike every one, that for the accomplishment of any really fair, upright, and honourable object, and espeeially a national one, all this paraphernalia is utterly useless and abortive ? Those whose deeds court scrutiny have no need of and never employ such means, nod a presumptive proof is thus afforded in the very l'act of a combination being wrapt up in so much mystery that its ostensible object is not its real one., but that it is got up for purposes which its members dare not openly nmsrirv, and of course deny the existence of. Let us only trace back the history of the Orange Association, and we shall be at no loss to arrive at its true eharacter as an institution ; there is one infallible test—its fruits, for by these ye shall know it.

The principal sphere of activity of this combination has been in Ireland, where it took its rise ; and what have been its nnnimni,.tratinmuis there? Alas, that

there sl Id out be a single page of its history unstained with human blood ! What have we beheld hut an endless round of violence and rapacity, perpetrated sometimes under cover of and s iiiii etimes in despite of time laws; at one time wielding or rather wresting, at another braving them ? What ceaseless denials or perversi llll s of justice, what flagrant outrages has not this Association pro- tected and encouraged ? In short, where has it not spread its accursed arms, deluging the land with misery and blood ? And yet has it the impudence to call itself and to pretend to be a purely religious body !

Now vvhat is the nature and the object of the other political combinations existing amongst its at this time, which are fostered by those who are opposed to the exclusiveisin of Orangeism ? Let ins examine the Birmingham Politi-

cal Union ; and what do we first remark about it 11'111.11'1TV Is its leading feature— its deliberations are carried On with open doors—the speeches re- ported—its deeds and its profi.ssions consistent with each other—no oaths to hind its members to do that which it is their duty to do without an 0:1111— no passwords or signs or other similar machinery—no affiliated or branch so- cieties, not even a correspondence with other similar unions—that having been interdicted by a legislative enactment : their elections and discussions lent. been carried on in the face of dav, and their whole conduct placed folly under the public eye, so that all might form a judgment of it. Is there in this any taint of weakness such as encumbers the Orange Association ? dues not this courting of publicity indicate on the contrary a more robust constitution ? The one shuns the public gaze, and shrouds itself in mystei loos rites and cerentonh s. the other asks to be examined ; it has no secrets to divulge; its sayings mid doings are alike fair and above-board : whieli of the two is the more likely, nay, sure to give way ? Can weakness and strength be made more apparent ? and if nut, to what conclusion have we already arrived ?

So long as the popular combinations were defective in the exhibition of the

principles above alluded to, and particularly in that most essential quality of publicity, they. were nearly. powerless for good : they were a rope of sand with- out adhesion of parts, consisting very much of mere noisy vociferators and per- sons of doubtful reputations, demanding incompatible and often useless changes ; but the experience gained in later, and especially during the last five or six years, having exposed the insufficiency of all such means of obtaining redress of grievances, and shown us how to combine and act in an effective way, always under the guide and protection of the laws, we may now reasonably look I r yard to more permanent and happy results to our labours in these our public .11 t es.

It is nut a little interesting to note, and it will also help to throw light on

this subject, how invariably political combinations have succeeded or failed in proportion to the absence or presence of publicity in their proceedings. We have sonic remarkable instances. The first I shall notice, is that of the Volunteets of Ireland, in 1781. This political union was an open one, and it succeeded to a certain extent in rescuing Ireland for a time from the iron legislative misrule under which it had groaned. Shortly after, in 1792, or thereabouts, followed the celebrated Corresponding Society, whose sittings were held in London. and which, though broken up by the arbitrary acts of the then Government, did riot separate without having so far roomed public attention to the vicious system then in force, as to pave the way for those ameliorations which it has been our more happy lot to witness. In 179A, the Society of United Irishmen arose, with all its paraphernalia of oaths, signs, and secrecy; this, from its very nature, proved an utter failure; its reckless infraction of the laws, its murders and rob- beries, although but the natural fruits of previous misrule, were, as in Orangeism, very unequivocal symptoms of weakness, and it went down, leaving the nation in a worse state than It found it. Not long after this arose the Catholic Asso- ciation. This wisely-constituted union accomplished much for Ireland ; it gave way, it is true, to the strong arm of the law, and was put down, nomi- nally; for its members had too keen a perception of the necessity of working by and with and not against the law, to contravene any legislative enactment ; but it nevertheless did much for which Ireland has reason to rejoice, and it left hen far better off than it found her. In this Association publicity was likewise the presiding deity ; and after its dissolution its effects were shown, first in the astounding and eye-opening mesult of the Clare election, and next in the return of a Parliamentary majority of sixty-five Irish :Members, which eventually be- came the sheet anchor of the People! Let us Rosy revert once ote to the labours and positi

L m ons of the Orange Asso-

ciation what has it accomplished for the nation? Nothing but arlisemmiet What for its members? Nothing but public execration, backed at last by strung Parliamentary censure; and all this in despite of its power and cofletence amongst the great and the wealthy.

We have arrived then at something like a result, namely, that for political

combinations to be both effective and beneficial, publicity must form au essen- tial feature in their mode of operation : it is this which chiefly distinguishes the good from the bad, the really .national from the monopolizing and exclusive. Let us, as good and faithful citizens, hold to the one and eschew the other.

I. R. T.