The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-18 00:00:00

S U N,

the same time the removal of all fur-
ther inducements to the bribery and corrup-
tion recently found to be so painfully and even terri-
bly rife in electioneering. We would see the sanitary
movement of late years completed by the adoption of
measures, such as would secure for the people the
blessings of wholesome water, of sufficient drainage,
of proper venpation, of extramural cemeteries, and
extramural slaughter-houses—advantages inevitably
leading to an enormous and appreciable diminu-
tion in the general mortality. Having obtained
reforms thus reasonable and comprehensive, we would
then see the long-desired and long-despised cause of
national education triumphant over all existing diffi-
culties—difficulties not the least formidable of which
arise from the diversity of the religious opinions of
the pcpulation. Such constitute the merest outline
of the social and political improvements for the de-
velopment of which we are more especially solicitous.
That ultimately these reforms must be secured is by
this time, we conceive, rendered altogether indis-
putable. The genius of the age requires them,
and against its mandates no power on earth can pre-
vail. It is for these changes in particular, therefore,
that we look with eagerness and anxiety to our suc-
cessive Governments. 13cause Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S
Cabinet would not accord them to the demands of the
population it was destroyed, and it was because of
this very fact that we exulted in its destruction.
There is a possibility that Lord DESIBY'S Ministry
may, in bidding for the popularity essential for its
very existence, yield some, at least, of those
reforms—legal reforms, sanitary reforms, and even
educational reforms—thereby effecting more (unin-
tentionally) fur the interests of the democracy than
the so-called Reformers constituting the bulk of the
late do-nothing Administration. It is from our hopes
in this direction that we have been disposed to await
calmly the unfolding of the policy of the present
Government. From the late Cabinet we could
look for nothing in the way of real,
social, or political improvement. From its
successor there was, and still is,' just the chance that
the people may reap some advantages from the neces-
sity of its position, as above indicated. By
tarrying for thb result we are wasting
no more time than we should actually
have wasted in expecting, vainly expecting, a com-
prehensive and adequate series of reforms from Lord
JOHN and his colleagues. Besides, the Whigs are
more likely to prove themselves practical Reformers
now that they are once more in Opposition—urging
the wants of the age more and more strenuously
upon our existing administrators—men who must
strive to secure to themselves popularity, and who can
only secure to themselves popularity by taking the
initiative in reforms such as the legal, the sanitary,
and the educational. By so doing they will alone
enable themselves to be tolerated even for a while
in the offices of the Government : and to us it matters
little whether the advantages referred to come from
the hand of Whig, Radical, or Conservative, so long
as they do come, and, by coming, work out the
sublime problem of progressive civilization.

We have never been the advocates of coercion, of
any restrictions upon the liberties of the people, or
undue interference with the administration of the
law. We, however, willingly admit that occasions
may arise when, for the preservation of order and
tranquillity, and the bestowing of that protection
which it is the duty of the State to afford to every
citizen, stringent and extraordinary powers should be
conferred on the executive, for the prevention of
crime and the fitting vindication of the majesty
of the law. If it should be shown that a
deep-seated and organized conspiracy exists in
aoy district that unlawful confederacies are
in the habit of carrying on their nefarious pro-
ceedings with impunity, that there has practically
been a failure of justice, it is essential that a strin-
gent and searching inquiry should be instituted into
the causes that have led to such an untoward state of
affairs, with a view to their speedy removal, and the
establishment of a better order of things. It signifies
little what might be the nature of these causes, whe-
ther the peasantry were induced to abstain from
coming forward in the cause of order, through the fear
of the consequences which might happen to them-
selves or families if they incurred the displea-
sure of the fearful confederation, or whether the same
result was produced through sympathy with the ob-
jects of the sanguinary band. The effects in either
case would be the same, and there_would be an equal
necessity of providing an adequate remedy for the
wide-spread and formidable evils.
In whatever way, then , we regard the subject,
whatever may be the influences in operation, we
must distinctly and unequivocally admit that the
ATTORNEY-GENERAL for Ireland has made out an
ample case for the appointment of the Committee
for which he moved on Tuesday evening. The mo-
tion was temperately and ably brought forward. It
wax not framed for the purpose of obtaining tempo-
rary popularity on his accession to office. The
Right Honourable Gentleman had long before given
❑otce of his intention of applying for such a Com-
mittee. He bad conferred with the ex- Secretary of
State for the Home Department, had conformed to

his views, and Sir GEORGE GREY, with a just and
proper appreciation of the abilities of Mr. NAPIER,
had decided on leaving the matter in his hands and
offering no opposition to the motion. It was a hand-
some tribute of respect to such an opponent to confide
to his charge the important duty of carrying into prac-
tical operation one of the most urgent recommendations
contained in the Speech from the Throne. It was, how-
ever, fully merited, and one that was equally honour-
able to both parties. Whatever differences might
exist between Whig and Tory, Protectionist and
Free-trader, there would be an equal anxiety amongst
all for a due and sound administration of the law—a
perfect and complete security for life, liberty, and
property.

It is admitted on every side that the great want of

Ireland is the introduction of capital sufficient to
develop its extraordinary natural capabilities.
But capitalists are a sensitive race ; they
will not incur ri'k, no matter how great may be
the temptation in other respect. A safe 3 per cent.
will be preferred to a doubtful 30 per cent., although
the hazird may he amply covered by 2 or 3 per cent.
of that amount. The otty reason why English
capital has not hitherto found its way into Ireland,
may be found in the agrarian outrages that have
been reported. A single murder, such as that of
Mr. BATEMAN, may have nipped the most promising
speculations in the bud, and occasioned a marked
depreciation in the properties offered for sale under
the auspices of the Encumbered Estates Com-
mission. If we ask how it is that eligibly
circumstanced lands held in fee, and with an
unimpeachable title, are disposed of for less than half
their actual value, or, in other words, for eleven or
twelve years' purchase, we are told that no man, how-
ever pure his motives or guarded his conduct, can
be considered safe from the machinations of riband-
iam.Any real or fancied injury to a member of the
terrible association will be sufficient to call down a
frightful retribution. The party will be placed on
trial before a sanguinary and unscrupulous tribunal.
He can know
charge, nor is thereno any opportunity of the nature of the
opportunity of offering the
explanations that might satisfy even the bloodthirsty
The modern Vehni-gmeremiTers,list
and
nn
ds
as judges and jury on the case.
miscreants that sit
unlimited credence to their statements
accords the
romliteanalagiatrates do to those
championshould unex
staomethe almost complaintsu nlim
- ,
othfaptosloictneme
policemen.
metropolitan
pettedly arise the matter is a foregone conclusion. The
of the accuser is
implicated.has no opportunity
of and as the party
stick together
charge is preferred, the evidence of
of clearing the matter, which he might with due notice
be easily enabled to rebut, and as the gentlemen
w(Ritihbandemdeifny)ingpresuennatnimgietnye:ally
acquittals are ofl
rare occurrence. The verdict then is brought
in, the sentence is pronounced in a tone
of awful levity, and the executioners are
selected by lot, if volunteers anxious to distinguish
themselves (! !) do not step forward in abundance.
But it is not merely among the less wealthy
classes that the organization has spread. It has
entered into the jury. box. And when we find that
jurymen have, after returning their verdict, rushed
forward to exchange greetings and shake hands with
the discharged prisoners on whom they have been
sitting, and whose life or death has been dependent on
their decision, and that the liberated criminal bag