Certain of the Irish Bishops have put forward a pastoral
ad- dress which is the flag of a new agitation of a reactionary order. The subject is not quite new, but the text of their pastoral ad- dress is now before us, and it more than fulfils any anticipative accounts of it, while it has evidently been used to coerce such of the Irish prelates as might have adhered to a more liberal course. This is an agitation that has been coming for some time. It was in fact kept in check partly by the admirable con- duct of Archbishop Murray, and also by the tact and wisdom of Liberals who assisted his endeavours to keep the Romanist in a truly Catholic course ; and partly the agita- tion languished some years back for want of gentlemen in the Roman Church duly prepared at headquarters in Italy. For some years past they have been endeavouring to make a griev- ance ; during the incumbency of the late Government they enter- tained decided hopes that the Irish Protestants would assist them in restoring the sectarian educational system. But the change of Government in London having overridden that expectation has at once thrown the ultra-Romanists on their own resources, and stimulated them to make the most of circumstanoes that con- tributed to increase their influence both on the Continent and in Ireland. What they now want to do is to destroy that system which has drawn 560,000 children into the schools of Ireland, which has made Ireland the model of popular education to England, and by the restoration of sectarian teaching to make Ireland once more a model to England of civil con- flict instead of education. At one time the ultra-Protes- tants might have assisted in this process. But now, if the ultra-Roman prelates are deprived of that aid, they have, through various circumstances, been enabled to put a greater screw upon the members of ;heir own persuasion, and their pastoral address has unhappily been followed by the re- signation of Roman Catholic gentlemen who have had seats at the Education Beard. In otter words, while, certain of the. Bishops have been enabled. to compel other*. of their hod," to jpin, them in the endea,your to, suppress poplar education, as it bas existed in Ireland, by banding over the Queens Colbges ant even the national schools to sect with all its Irish extremes, the more truly Catholic spirit, which had prevailed in the sister island amongst independent Liberals, actually begins to quail before the revived spirit of bigotry.. We shall watch the progress of events with anxiety, but still have confidence in the practical sense of a policy which hag had so many happy years of steady success.
