THE MEMBER FOR IRELAND.
THE O'Coreeitee Rent for 1834 will probably equal, if not exceed, the amount of any previous year's contributions. The Agitator himself has, according to his custom at this season, been labour- ing with a view to stimulate the liberality of his tributaries; and if he bad taken into pay some of the leading London journalists, they could not have worked more effectually for the same end. Nothing tends more certainly to increase the ardour of devotioa
which a party feels towards its leader, especially when that party consists mainly of uneducated, injured, and fiery-spirited men, than the abuse which is showered upon him by his political op- ponents. The worst thing, probably, which could befall O'Corr- ssia., would be the neglect of the newspapers ; as the best is
most certainly the series of indignant articles which the Times, the Globe, the Courier, and the Dublin Evening Post pour forth so the approach of each recurring Tribute-day. The contributions of these journals to the Rent are always exceedingly well-timed.
They swell the importance of the Agitator precisely at the period when he is most desirous to occupy a large space in the eye of his
countrymen. Whether they censure or praise him, is of little con- sequence. If the former, they are envious, or afraid : if the latter, so much the more to their credit ; the honour and glory of the "Counsellor" is not affected in the opinion of his devotees by any thing that falls from the " Sassenach."
Besides, there is a vast deal of nonsense uttered on both sides of the Channel about the selfish cruelty of O'CONNELL in taxing the poverty of his countrymen, " robbing the unfortunate people of their last farthing," &c. The fact is, that, calculating the Irish Catholic population at seven millions, the Rent takes less than a halfpenny per annum on the average from each individual : supposing, however, that one seventh only of the population are contributors, the payment is a fraction over threepence a head. This is the grinding tax which is levied upon Ireland for the Agitator's support. Whether O'CONNELL has been or is of real service to his country, or the reverse, it is certain that the great mass of Irishmen think him the guardian angel of their isle. They know also, that if lie were to change sides and desert them, vast would be the reward of his treachery. Then indeed the payment of his salary or pension would be felt as a tax : it would be a forced contribution to a hated object ; it would be considered in the same light as the pensions and sinecures of the BERES- rem's, KNOXES, FITZGIBISONS, and others, whose only claim on the country arises from their, or their progenitors, having been thoroughgoing agents of British misrule. Yet our con- temporaries, whose sympathies are so strongly excited for the Irish peasantry when O'CONNELL is the recipient, suffer quarter- day to come and go without uttering a word of indignant remon- strance to those iegular and rapacious pensioners on the country. But can they suppose that the Irish people do not reflect on these things ?—that they are not aware of the essential difference be- tween the O'CONNELL Rent—a retaining fee for what they at all events deem important services in the cause of freedom—and payments which are the result and the badges of political servi- tude?
We put aside, then, all the palaver about the oppression of the people in respect of the O'CONNELL Rent. And as to O'CON- NELL himself, we say that the labourer is worthy of his hire;— though, if it be true that his estate is now in a great degree re- lieved from embarrassment, and worth 40001. a year to its owner, be would certainly cccupy a much higher place in the regards of Englishmen were he to content himself with his private income, and dispense with the Tribute. At the same time, it should be remembered, that O'CONNELL spends the money he receives from his countrymen among them, in the exercise of unrestrained and profuse hospitality — that his doors are ever open to high and low of all sects in politics and religion : he does not hoard, or selfishly expend his income: the stranger may hunt with his beagles, and dine in his hall. This Irish hospitality must have no inconsiderable influence in preserving his popularity and aug- menting the Rent.
But although we disdain to join in the periodical cry about the oppressive nature of the Tribute and the meanness and cruelty of him who receives it, we disapprove of the methods which are used by O'CONNELL to urge the people to make a liberal subscription. We look upon the series of letters he has recently addressed to Lord DUNCANNON, merely as artifices to attract public attention to himself, not written with a view to the public good. He never could have supposed that Lord DUNCANNON would have acted otherwise than he has acted. The whole affair, from the com- plimentary commencement to the violent denunciation with which the letters closed, was mere rhetorical artifice. What stuff it is to tell Lord DUNCANNON that he is utterly ruined in public es- timation, because Mr. BLACKBURNE continues Attorney-General, instead of being removed to the Bench! Whether Lord DUN- CANNON be unworthy of confidence and respect or not, is a ques- tion which his conduct during the interval between Mr. O'CoN- Nsts"s first and second letter cannot determine.
Having given up Lord DUNCANNON, Mr. O'Coannzas has turned to Lord DURHAM. But he is strangely mistaken if he thinks that he has gained much by the move. A fortnight ago, we enlarged upon the difference between the objects of Lords pRoucmAm and DURHAM, and their modes of pursuing their ob- jects. Mr. O'CONNELL may have—we hope he has—the same end in view as Lord DURHAM,—the welfare of his countrymen: as often as he pursues this object in a clear, rational, straightfor- ward manner, he may count upon Lord DURHAm's cooperation, as upon that of all rational and honest Englishmen; but unless he abandons his manoeuvres, caprices, and splenetic personalities, we must say of him, as we said of Lord BROUGHAM, O'CONNELL and DURHAM cannot act together. The trickery, blarney, and fickle waywardness of O'CowsraLL, are repugnant to the manly, dlrect, and consistent course which the noble leader of the Briti,h Reformers has persevered in since his entrance into public Mr. O'CONNELL will find, notwithstanding his industry, know- ledge, eloquence, and the unequalled influence be possesses over the masses of his countrymen, that his power to be of real service to the good cause, which we believe him to have at heart, is most seriously diminished by the reluctance which men of Lord DUR- HAM'S steady habits must have towards being associated with him in public life. Such men cannot place confidence in one whose behaviour is so variable and so wayward. Had he the power, no one could say where he would not have the will to lead them. Were he a man of only common abilities, his faults would be less dangerous; but the talent and vigour which are his attributes,. would enable him to ruin almost any cause or party.
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