The Cullen party has continued its demonstrations in favour of
the Pope ; and addresses of condolence have been adopted by mobs at Clonmel, Mallow, and other places. It is worthy of re- mark that the Roman Catholic laity do not give support to the Cullen agitation. Mr. Shine Lawlor of Kerry, Mr. Rickard Deasy of Cork, have added their protests to those of Lord Castle- rosse and Mr. Michael Barry. The agitation, indeed, is led by the priests, who find backers in ignorant mobs. Bishop Moriarty has taken a separate line. He declares that the "Catholic Church" and not the Pope is the holder of the States of the Church in fee ; and he advances the ingenious but rather impu- dent theory that the territorial possessions of the Pope were given to the Church by Europe in lieu of Peter's pence!' Bishop Moriarty arraigns the Emperor of the French as the responsible author of "the present condition of Italy,"—meaning the pre- sent condition of the Holy See.
While these demonstrations are in progress, public spirit of a far different kind is awake in 'Ulster. A large number of gen- tlemen have combined to form an Association for the purpose of upholding the great principles of the present system of National Education against the determined attacks of the Cullen party, and especially of preventing the extension of the plan of denomi- national grants to Ireland, and separate Boards. This is a wise measure and much needed.
At home the season is not favourable to political activity. A few agricultural gatherings, like that at Horsham, an abortive Income-tax meeting in the metropolis, a memorial from the Leeds Chamber of Commerce against a war policy in China, these are favourable specimens of public movement. The forming of volunteer corps takes up the most prominent position in our chronicles just now ; in many respects the healthiest sign of the times that has appeared for years.
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