6 The Catholics of Ireland. [JAN. 



mix up the question of Catholic rights " with the conduct of the Catho- 

 lic leaders, or even with the conduct of the Catholics themselves. What- 

 ever excuses may go to palliate the conduct of the Irish Catholics within 

 the last five years, we have no choice but to avow our disapprobation of 

 that conduct, and our more than disapprobation of the individuals by 

 whom it has been advised. We have not a word to say in favour of 

 Catholicism as a system ; and we take it to be an error which time and 

 not a very long time will be sufficient to disperse. We look upon Mr. 

 O'Connell and his friends as disturbers, on whom the law should keep 

 its eye ; and for any thought of growing authority, or ascendancy, 

 attaching to their creed we would hazard the peace of England almost 

 upon the bare suspicion of any such event to-morrow. But we believe 

 it has been shewn, by all history, and all experience, that men's opinions 

 it matters little upon what subject are seldom to be changed by 

 coercion, and still less by advice or importunity. The conduct of the 

 Catholic is repulsive, and his faith (we think) is that of ignorance and 

 error ; but he labours for the common sustenance, and he has fought for 

 the common safety. The true question is, then, not whether we like his 

 demeanour ? for he will hardly improve it, on being told that we do not. 

 Nor yet, whether what he demands (ungraciously enough) will benefit 

 him? for of that it is for himself to judge. But the question is, whe- 

 ther we are withholding from the Catholic no matter how his manners 

 seem to us that which is his due 9 For we have no right to punish inso- 

 lence with the penalty belonging to treason ; or to refuse payment of a 

 creditor's money (especially where it has been long owing), because we 

 quarrel with the way in which he happens to bring in his bill. If we 

 withhold from the Catholic even the slightest privilege the smallest 

 point of freedom or immunity more than we are compelled to bar him 

 from, for the public safety and the public good ; then, at once, without 

 more argument, we are doing him injustice, and he is entitled to relief. 



Our opinion is favourable to the removal of many of the restrictions 

 which now affect the Catholics ; but it does not extend to the conceding 

 quite all the liberties which they claim ; nor does it arise from any expec- 

 tation of immediate advantage to be gained by such concession to 

 Ireland. 



It seems frivolous to us, for instance, and almost impertinent, that 

 Catholics should talk of being allowed to " practise as lawyers " in our Pro- 

 testant Spiritual courts ; and still more unreasonable that they should 

 think of holding " beneficial offices " say teacherships, or church- 

 livings ? in the universities of Oxford or Cambridge. To talk of ground- 

 ing any . such " claim " upon the fact that those universities were 

 " founded by Catholics," is just as absurd as if Dr. Doyle were to claim 

 a right to turn the Protestant clergy out of three-fourths of the churches 

 and Cathedrals in England, and convert them into chapels for Roman 

 Catholic worship for they also were " founded by Catholics." 



In the same way with respect to the sacrament of marriage, which the 

 English Catholics complain can only be legally solemnized by a Pro- 

 testant clergyman. Looking at this point fairly, marriage partakes so 

 materially of the nature of a civil contract, that it becomes highly con- 

 venient, with reference to civil interests merely, that some fixed rule 

 should be laid down for its execution. And, for the satisfaction of scru- 

 pulous consciences, there is the immediate remedy the ceremony may 

 be performed twice over performed by a Catholic clergyman, either after 

 the solemnization of the Protestant rite, or previous to it. 



