The week has disclosed two new features in Irish politics.
The first is the adhesion of the Ministerialists to Mr. O'Coaregt.t.'s Precur.or agitation : and the second. which we hold to be more important, the establishment of a new journal as the representa- tive of a really independent Liberal patty. The determination of the Ministeralists to aid in the Pre- cursor movement, which they had previously discouraged, is in- ferred from an article in the Castle newspaper, the Dublin Even- ing Post. All the Precursor demands are gulped down, save that of Repeal in case "justice" shall be denied next session. An objection is al-o stated, though not strenuously urged, to the mune " Precttrsor ;" in which name is implied the intention to use the agitation as a preliminary to obtain Repeal. But the Pilot declares that the Irish people will agitate for nothing short of Repeal ; though it intimates, that the alternative will not be in- sisted on so early as the close of next session, if there should re- main any " rational hope" of obtaining the other demands of the Preeursors. The plain truth, we take to be this—" If the Tories get in, we shall harass them with Repeal; but if our place- giving friends, the Whigs, should be in Downing Street next autumn, then there will be ground for ' rational hope,' and Re- peal shall be postponed." The real end and aim of the movement being to support the Whigs, and Repeal being a mere lure to the multitude, "qui vult decipi," the party represented by the Even- • ,:;:g Post will scarcely stick at the Precursor title, or the empty pledges demanded from members of the society. In no other country could this impudent Repeal pretext be carried on with success. In England it is scen through; and the thrfat of Re-
peal is everywhere derided; though the thing itself, doubtless, is open to discussion on its own merits.
The new journal, as we learn from the prospectus in our adver- tising columns, is to be published on three evenings of the week, and to be called the Dublin Monitor. In looking for a key to the object of the undertaking and the principles of its conductors, we find it stated, that "passing over the Tory portion of the Dublin press, every paper which professes to reflect popular opinions, has not only the reputation of being the shackled instrument of some individual or political coterie, but unfortunately acts in such a way as to justify the prevalent impression formed of its literary servility." Whether this severe remark is justified in its full ex- tent by the conduct of all the Dublin Liberal newspapers, we are unprepared to say. Our acquaintance with the Dublin press is limited. One paper only we see regularly, others occasionally; and, to be sure, we read copious extracts in the London journals from the columns of their Irish brethren. Many country journals are sent to us ; and, in the sense of direct inspection, we are better acquainted with the provincial than the metropolitan press of Ireland. Having thus shown the limits of our experience, we must add, with regret, that we think the character given of the Dublin Liberal press, by the new candidate for the honours of journalistn, is not unmerited. There appears to be an opening for a really independent paper : at least there is need of one, if not to represent any large portion of the community, to lay before the Irish public the whole truth, instead of fragments and corners —broad views of national policy, in opposition to the sectional, selfish, slavish, or factious interests by which the country is kept in bondage. That the conductors of tile Dublin Monitor have a right idea of their mission, we gather as much from the following short passage of their prospectus as from all the rest- " As regards the Irish Church and Municipal questions, the Monitor will advocate the total abolition of Tithe ; and in dealing with Corporation Reform, it will, as far as its power will enable it to do, take care that one set of jobbers are not displaced to make room for others equally rapacious."
We shall soon see how the new paper will turn out; it cenii tainly stalls on sound principles.
