THE Irish Quarterly Review. VOL. I. DUBLIN: PUBLISHED BY W. B. KELLY, 8, GRAFTON-STREET. LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO. EDINBURGH: OLIVER AND BOYD. 1851. THE IRISH QUARTERLY REVIEW. No. I.-MARCH, 1851. ART. I.-REMOVAL OF THE IRISH LAW COURTS. It is unhappily, too much the custom of the Imperial Legislature, to view matters connected with the social condition of Ireland with an anti-Irish feeling. From whatever source this sentiment be derived, whether it springs from ignorance or prejudice, or a desire to carry out the principles of centralization to their utmost limits, or all of these sources combined, it is not necessary at the present to inquire; the fact, however, is so; and centralization appears to form, the alpha and omega of political faith with every Englishman of the present day. Ireland has ever been and still continues to be the battle-ground of faction. Ireland has over and over again been declared by successive statesmen to be their chief difficulty; and that difficulty still continues, the monument of their ignorance and weakness. But it is a difficulty created and perpetuated by themselves; it is a difficulty sedulously kept in existence by party spirit, to serve as a lever, in the hands of an opposition, to overthrow whatever party may be in the enjoyment of political power; and there seems to be but one policy with respect to Ireland which has been consistently adhered to by English ministers, the policy of "divide et impera." Different governments have entertained different views as to the manner in which Irish affairs ought to be regulated, but all, by their acts have shown that this maxim is one of general and universal repute. If the Whigs are in office, the Liberal party in Ireland are excited to antagonism with their Tory fellow-subjects; while again, VOL. I.-NO. I. B |