The members of the Irish Metropolitan Conservative Society had their
first public meeting in Dublin en Wednesday. We recognize but few of the names which are given as those of" distinguished" persons. No Peer was present, and the" dons" seem to have been, Mr. Randall Plunket (Johnny M'Crea's protege), Sir Harcourt Lees, Marcus Beresford, and Mr. West, M. P. Mr. George Hamilton, the other Member for Dublin, declined to attend ; because, as was stated in a letter from him, read at the meeting, he could not conscientiously join a society which, in point of fact, was a mere Orange Society under another title, after having come under an engagement to abandon Orangeism. The time might come when abuse of Protestant for- bearance might render it necessary for them to combine ; but then he should prefer the reorganization of the Orange Institution.
A good deal of speaking followed the reading of this letter. Mr. Plunket delivered himself of a profusion of vehement Toryism. He was followed by Colonel Acton, the Venerable Archdeacon Magee, the Reverend Mortimer O'Sullivan, (not a word of whose speech is reported—Mortimer, thy glory is departed !) the Reverend Mr. He- therington, the Reverend Marcus Beresford, and Mr. Vest. Among the noticeable resolutions, was one moved by Marcus- " That this Society, viewing the national system of education, either in a political or a religious sense, see ample grounds for condemnation in it. But when they reflect that the subjects of the three United Kingdoms the majo- rity of whom are Protestants are taxed for the support of a system that ex- cludes the Bible, they feel that no language could adequately convey in terms sufficiently strong their just indignation against those who defend and seek its perpetuity." Let it be remembered, that not only was Sir Robert Peel prepared to support the system of education so denounced, but, as Lord Wharn- cliffe declared at the Halifax Tory dinner, he and his colleagues were prepared to double the sum appropriated to it by the Whigs, us order to give the system extension. Therefore no language is suffi- ciently strung for the lash Tories to use against Peel and his col- leagues.
Another resolution announcea that a system of bribery is to be pur. sued by the Society under charitable pretencas.—
" That whereas the Society has witnessed with satisfaction the great advan- tages to thr poor of all denominations of the working of the loan funds system, they dee.. it advis ible to establish a loan fund for the exclusive benefit of the poorer 11.i-wirers of this Society, upon such principles as may appear upon due investigation best adapted to the peculiar circumstances of Ireland."
That is to say, all who will vote for Tory candidates are to have loans, not returnable: all who take the money and vote for Liberals, will be put into prison for their debts. Charitable men these Dublin Tories !
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