WHAT IRELAND -MOST WANTS: Iris not ." justice-"' that Ireland
wants, nor church- approprim: tion, nor- capital:- Irishmen- can get all these things for them- selves if they are put. in circumstances to do so. Bit there is one thing which seems impossible to the:nation either as a gift or an acquisition—and. that is comnum..sense.. We -do not say: this in. derision, but in sober sadness., Plunge at random into the Irish, news- current at, any given time, and see if at: the bottom of all the trouble:there:is not some kind of madness, . some- moral deliriumi.tremens, which not only- produces the mischief, but :almost forbids:: hope: of prevention., Look at-the news of this very-week.
We will go to no exaggerated specimen.: we will not take the- ultra-typical Nation, but draw an instance from the Pilot—a Dublin journal which fairly, not to say favourably, represents the intellect of the Irish—the elite of O'Connell's " millions." At a _ former meeting of the Repeal Association,..a letter was read from Dr. O'Higgins, of the violent tone usual with. that. reverend. gentleman. Commenting on this letter,." the felon Times". re-- minded Dr. O'Higgins of the charity which England has shown in. the time of Ireland's . need. The Pilot. rejoins- after this fashion_—
" Yes, revered and beloved_ Bishop,. you, have mortally offended, the met bigobey, of England, 13olitisal and religious;:. religious and .politioal,. by daring;.aaenLnaF Catholic Bishop, to be true to the Catholic peopleef Ireland. • • • You will.. rejoice at being so assailed, and you ought to rejoice- Your countrymenwill love, and cherish, and revere you all the. more. • * • " Ohl Dr. O'Higgins not grateful for the charity of England i! Charity oi England l—when, where, or how displayed ? Charity of individuals there has., been certainly; and charity splendidly manifested as coming from individuals. To these individuals the gratitude of the Irish people is due, and has been hearttly,- .give: in th;3uotol/hewsaKacgteyn of tlegplanom. people—namely, ae—naTiliely& in chhalftt;BritggralnlYd.erl the- dominant and richest state of the empire—is- a non-existent quantity; and therefore it is entirely a mockery to pretend to make, any boast- on the subjeet: What are the evidences of this State charity of England? Are they-to be.found,' in the grudging. vote of ten millions from the State collars, supplied. by Irish: asi well as,I3ritish taxes ?—in the fixing. upon ;Ireland, exalusisely the refunding,-of more than. one half of that amount? "
There is more of the, same: sort: Now- at the bottom of thins strange fantastic view:of what England has done- for Ireland,: there hpsomethingthat.savoureof insane intellect.. Observe:they distinetion- drawn • in this.- passage between:individuals and a.na.- tion-; as if a-nation ever-did manifest itstemper exceptthroughim dividuale: Observe, too, that obstinate resolve to-overlook-or, dOi,- tort the advance of-ten millions sterling from. the Imperial fundt,.%. towards which Ireland contributes so littlethat the taxes. remitteal in her behalf would more than cover. all that is. her- share in the subsidy. An. honest and intelligent politician,,capable-of emanci- pating himself from. mere Irish delusions, would.seize the:oppor- tunity •of such a juncture to make. friends with England.. Bin the sistercislandis _still-withonta panty capable of tning England for the benefit of Ireland.
Pinto one:of the commonplaces-of the: dayi Thereiewriot
at Kilrushi The:cause-is; that the-people-do:not theirlcioeli; given as charity, to-be given- to- them in -a' cooked- state, but--raw :- they supposed that Captain Hill was the person who had -ordered-- the food to be cooked.: what. did..they- reaolveto,dts; We need hardly say that what.they resolved.was„. ta.kilLthe officer admi- nistering the. relief. Now. imagine. the intellectual health- of sr people who, liking their. food. raw rather: than.: cooked,. coolly- desermineupon.murderl The • best, service that-foxy Irish-patriot.: coulcLdo forhist-coum-• try :would he, to- teach his countrymen how tease the-passing-fads, of- the day imthesamelight of common'seeseas'other-people.-
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