The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-12 00:00:00

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

(THIS DAY.)

TRADES. UNIONS COMMISSIONS.

Though the public a ill share the very natural
reluctance expressed by several members yesterday to
extend any further the indemnity already enjoyed by the
Sheffield murderers, the rib4f4 thinks the public will, ups"
the whole, agree with Mr. Bouverie that we are not paying
too high a price fur the revelations elicited, and that it is
clear that unless these indemnities had been granted such
revelations would never lave been obtained. If anything,
however, could make the T,us,, hesitate in coming to this
conclusion, it would be the attitude now assumed in Shef-
field towards these convicted inurtlent». Itroidhead is
the landlord of a public-house, and is said to have driven
a thriving trade since be achieved such infamous
notoriety. But the case of Crooke* the most
extraordinary and the most disgraceful instance of
the tone adopted in Sheffield on the subject. As
Sir G. Grey says, it is amazing and di.graceful that any
of Crookes's fellow artisans should consent to work with
him. But what can we expect when a clergyman
and several gentlemen of the town are all absorbed
in grief at this man's "sufferings"? The pardon of the
government means nothing but that they have consented
to bold justice in abeyance for a great public advantage,
and this entails on the Sheffield public the duty of inflict-
ing, in souse degree, the punishment from which the law
is restrained, and to make the ruffians feel that they are
not spared on account of any extenuating circumstances in
their crimes.

The question is a fair one, says the Dais., ./Ct ue., whether
the knowledge which has been gained at the risk of
inverting the object of the law, is worth the price which
must be paid for it. lint this question should have been
considered before the commissioners were appointed. The
promise of indemnity is the grout instrument of discovery
placed in their hands, and its use implies all the dangers
which are now tardily recognised. Having commenced
this inquiry, it is the duty of the country to go on with
it to the end, to face the truth, and to leave nothing that
can be discovered undetected. To shrink beck in terror
from revelations which might have been, and were antici-
pated, instead of following tho track which they point
oat, is the surest way of making the investigation fruitless.
The remedy will not be disclosed until the worst i 1 known.
It is in the highest degree important to know bow far the
taint extends, who are free from it, and who are polluted
by it. The demoralising effect of seeming to condone
murder and of feeding a perverted appetite for horrors is
undeniable ; but having laid bare the wound, it is nooea-
sar► to probe it to the bottom.
The Standard believes Mr. B. Cochrane's assertions that
criminal violence is characteristic of the whole system of
trades-unionism ; that murder, of a kind peculiarly hor-
rible and difficult of detection, is practised by the masons ;
and that brutal outrage, short of murder, is inflicted by the
generality of these societies—to be terribly probable. It
is impossible, says the Standard, agreeing with Professor
Beesley, to put any trust in indignation meetings and pro-
fessions of astonishment and horror.