RELIGION. 47 



much conftrained that no idea has been formed, ttat their be- 

 ing trufted with arms is confiftent with the fafety of the king- 

 dom. Laws founded in the very fpirit of perfecution, and 

 receiving an edge in their operation from the unlimited power 

 aflumed by the proteftant landlord, are ftrangely calculated to 

 conciliate the affection, or fecure the loyalty of a people. 

 All the emotions of the heart of man revolt at fuch an idea. 

 It was the opinion of a vaft majority of the gentlemen I con- 

 verfed with on the fubject, that no people could be worfe af- 

 fected ; all Ireland knows and agrees in the fact, nay, the ar- 

 guments for a continuation of the laws of difcovery are found- 

 ed on the principle, that the lower clafles of the catholics 

 are not to be trufted. Is not this declaring that the difarmed, 

 difgufted multitude, have not loft in their misfortunes the im- 

 portance of their numbers ? The fears of an invafion fpeak 

 the ftrength of the cpprefled, and the extent of the oppreflion. 



The difturbances of the whiteboys, which lafted ten years 

 in fpite of every exertion of legal power, were in many cir- 

 cumftances very remarkable, and in none more fo than the fur- 

 prizing intelligence among the infurgents where ever found : it 

 was univerfal, and almoft inftantaneous : the numerous bodies 

 of them at whatever diftance from each other feemed ani- 

 mated with one foul ; and not an inftance was known in that 

 long courfe of time of a fingle individual betraying the caufe ; 

 the fevereft threats, and the moft fplendid- promifesof reward 

 had no other effect but to draw clofer the bands which con- 

 nected a multitude, to all appearance fo defultory. It was 

 then evident that the iron rod of oppreflion had been far 

 enough from fecuring the obedience, or crufhing the fpirit of 

 the people. And all reflecting men who confider the value of 

 religious liberty, will wifh it never may have that effect j will 

 truft in the wifdom of Almighty God for teaching man to re- 

 fpect even thofe prejudices of his brethren that are imbibed as 

 facred rights from their earlieft infancy, that by dear bought 

 experience of the futility and ruin of the attempt, the perfe- 

 cuting fpirit may ceafe, and TOLERATION eftablim that 

 harmony and fecurity which fourfcore years experience has 

 told us is not to be purchafed at the expence of HUMA- 

 NITY ! 



But if thefe exertions of a fucceflion of ignorant legiflatures 

 have failed continually in propagating the religion of govern- 

 ment, or in adding to the internal fecurity of the kingdom, 

 much more have they failed in the great object of national 

 profperity. The only confiderable manufacture in Ireland 

 which carries in all its parts the appearance of induftry is the 

 linen, and it ought never to be forgotten that this is folely 

 confined to the proteftant parts of the kingdom ; yet we may 

 fee from the example of France and other countries that there 

 is nothing in the Roman catholic religion itfelf that is incom- 

 patible with manufacturing induftry. The poor catholics in 



the 



