The Times
London, Middlesex, England

September 11, 1872

IRELAND
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

DUBLIN, SEPT, 10.

An address, or rather a series of resolutions, has been issued by the CAVAN Grand Orange Lodge on the subject of the late riots at Belfast. The Cavan Lodge express satisfaction at the total absence of disturbance in the county on the occasion of the celebration of the 12th of July last, as well as on the occasion of the counter-demonstrations held in the same county on the 13th [15th?] of August. They desire to place on record an expression of regret that in any part of Ireland disturbances should have been consequent upon the counter-Demonstrations of the 15th of August. They attribute such disturbances to the fact that the circumstances of human society, unhappily, are such that in large centres of population a class of society, rue and ignorant, is to be found ready to take advantage of seasons and occasions of excitement to indulge in riot and excess. They earnestly desire the authorities to punish such offenders of every creed and party; and if upon examination it be found that the members of the Orange Society were guilty of such misconduct, they hope and believe that they will receive, in addition to punishment by law, such a lasting mark of censure as it belongs to the Orange Society to inflict upon its members. They further protest against such disturbances, however they may arise, being urged as an argument against Orange processions, and they complain that Orangeism is blamed whether it is the assailant or the assailed. "If an Orange procession is attacked it is urged that Orangeism is at fault because it gives offence, and if counter-Demonstrations are opposed it is urged that Orangeism is at fault because Protestants take offence." They are confident that had the recent riots occurred in connexion with the celebration of an Orange anniversary, Orangeism would have been equally blamed. They consider that "protection of all processions that are not illegal" is "the true remedy" for such disturbances, and they protest against "the exaggerated idea" that the recent riots in Belfast formed a sufficient justification for the introduction of the special clauses of the Peace Preservation Act. In conclusion, they declare that they maintain "now, as ever," that Ultramontane Romanism is "the true cause of all disturbance and disaffection in this country;" and they express a hope that the English people will yet learn to value the determination of Irish Protestants to uphold their common principles, and will sympathize with them in their subjection to "the daily practical working of that tyranny which Englishmen hated and cast off, and of which they now, happily for themselves, have no practical knowledge."

The Daily Express, following up its recent article on the redistribution of seats in Ireland, examined [?] the population statistics of the country, with a view of determining what course the Government should take in carrying out the process of redistribution. Taking as its starting-point the right of Ulster to six additional seats–which, it contends, it proved to demonstration in its first article and to which, it observes, no answer has been attempted–the consideration is entered upon of the process by which these additional seats are to be obtained, and how they should be apportioned. Carefully estimating the county population and county constituencies, properly so called, the Daily Express arrives at the conclusion that at present the counties have, on an average, one member to every 70,000 inhabitants and 2,750 electors. On these bases it claims a third member for four of the counties of Ulster on the ground of population, while taking both bases–population and electors–three of these counties would be so entitled. The three which fulfil both conditions are:–Down, with a population (exclusive of borough population) of 260,000, and a constituency of 11,500; Antrim, with a population of 225,000, and a constituency of 10,630; and Tyrone, with a population of 216,000 and 8,800 electors. The fourth county, Donegal, although possessing the requisite population, 218,000 [216,000?], has a constituency of only 4,600. Passing over Donegal, therefore, it suggests Armagh, with 170,000 inhabitants and 7,000 electors, as a fourth candidate for a trio of Parliamentary representatives. Dealing with the boroughs, it sets forth, as "worth consideration," the claim of Belfast, with a rapidly increasing population of 175,000, and a constituency considerably in excess of that of Dublin, to a third member. Londonderry's claims to a second member it thinks indisputable, while that complement is given to the boroughs of Galway and Waterford. Having thus disposed of the additional seats which it proposes should be allotted to the province, the Express adds, that as one or two of the Ulster boroughs–Dungannon, Downpatrick, and Enniskillen are hinted at–can scarcely escape disfranchisement, two or three new boroughs may be formed, and it mentions the claims of Lurgan, Newtownards and Ballymona. It enumerates six boroughs which have less than 300 electors–vis., Portarlington, Mallor, Downpatrick, Kinsale, Ennis, and Youghal, and says that those towns "can hardly retain their members." In addition to these it would take one from Galway city and another from Waterford, and possibly, also one each from the counties of Carlow (with 45,000 inhabitants), Louth, with 57,000, and Longford, with 64,000. Thus, with the seats of the two disfranchised boroughs, Sligo and Cashel, there would be about 14 seats available. Six of these it would give to Ulster, two additional to Cork county, one to Dublin city, and one to the county of Tipperary; and as new boroughs it suggests Queentown and Kingstown, and "probably" Bray.

Submitted by: County Cavan Newspaper Transcription Project