The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-07 00:00:00

The Home Secretary has un,lcrtaken that there shall be a
full and searching, inquiry into the conduct of the police last
Sunday. We have not been very profuse of praiso to the Go-
vernment for their wev:ous conduct in this matter, yet it is
but reasonable to admit that they-have at last done all that
could be expected- from
.them. They- have, at any rate,
secured to themselves the support of 'the respectable inhabi-
tants of the metropolis; in case of say disturbance. As long
as fair redress was denied OS people for the very outrageous
conduct of the'police on Sunday lastour sympathies were en-
tirely with them. There is, however,' no use in referring to
the past, save; iu so far as it, may bear upon coming
events. If we thought that any juggle or dmible mean-
ing lay hidden under the assurance of Sir George
Grey we should at once denounce his professions, and rpcom-
mend,our fellow-subjects to pursue any course which might
seem to offer a more reasonable prospect of success.
,But we
do believe, on the contrary, that the 'Home Secretary is in
earnest. ,He would be socially and politically lost, as a gen-
tleman and a statesman, if he attempted to deceive the public,
after the promise-which he made- last 'night in the House-of
Commons. Here it is in his own NNrds, that they may be
brought up in judgment against him, if, contrary to our most
sincere expectations, he should fall short of his professions.
" I propose," said Sir George tirey,
- • •

"No mere formal inquiry, but a full and searching in-,
quiry into the allegations that have been made to me with
regard to the conduct of the police last Sunday. The hon.
gentleman (Mr. buncombe) assumes that this inquiry will
be conducted by the. Cornmiesioners of Police. Such an in-
quiry is not within my contemplation I assure
the house and the public that the commission ivhich I now
propose to appoint shall be one that shall effect au efficient
and impartial inquiry."
What more is to be said ? If any man hag ft reasonable
complaint against the police for their conduct ()Oast Sunday,
let him-make it at once' before this commissions If his evi-
dence be treated with indifference, or wrested em its true
intent, the ordinary channels of publicity are denied to
him. We, at least, will willingly pledge ourselves to give
every assistance to persons who may be denied the opportu-
nity of stating their grievances fully and fairly before the com-
mission*. The idea of mystification in a case of this kind can
scarcely:l3e entertained, and we entreat our friends out of
doers to believe that on this occasion, at least, the Govern-
ment is in earnest.
Herein lay the fallacy, and the mischievous tendency of
Mr. T. Duncombe's speeches last night. He repeated over
and over again to the house that the people on Sunday last
were very much ill-used by the police. We fear it was so ;
but, at any rate, there could be no good motive, save one of
aggravation, for insisting upon the point so earnestly in the
face of a promise of redress. But it was Mr. Duncombe's
cue to treat this promise as a fallacy, and to have it
believed that Sir G. Grey deliberately intended to de-
ceive the people. What would Mr. buncombe have ?
It was impossible that the Home Secretary should do more
last night titan promise the inquiry ; whether he be a true
man or a false knave may, of course, with Mr. buncombe re-
main a subject of question, but it is most positive that he
could do nothing more than engage his honour to set the in-
quiry on foot. Under these circumstances, if the interests
of the people, and not mere senseless agitation, were Mr.
Duncombe's object, it became his duty to allay, not to in-
crease, popular irritation. The whole tenour of his ad-
dresses last night to the house, or rather to the populace
I through the house, however, was to exasperate the people up
to the point of attempting some act of violence next Sunday;
and for this ho deserves severe reprehension [from every
peaceable subject of the Oueen. We will not endure
that the humblest of our fellow-subjects shall be treated with
violence and insult by any public servant, but neither do we
desire to see mob-law triumphant. Mr. T. buncombe should
consider that in such a path as the one along which he is
urging thousands of his humbler fellow-subjects to tread the
law must be too strong for the people, or the people for the
law. Which end does he desire to attain ?
But, if Mr. T. Duncombe's harangues were factious and
mischievous, what shall we say to the more frantic sugges-
tions_ of Mr. G. Dundas—suggestions for which the only ex-
cuse can be, that they were uttered in a moment of passing
frenzy ? Mr. G. Dun* reminded Sir, G. Grey that preven-
tion was better than cure, " and that nothing would frighten
a mob more than the crash upon the pavement of the trail of
a six-pounder," The crowd last Sunday was composed
of " rascally boys" and canaille. In the name of all that is
magnificent, what is Mr. G. Dundas, whose first idea is to
blow his fellow-subjects to atoms, and then to call them by
vile names? Six-pounders, quotha !--and where would Mr.
Dundas and his fellows be six hours after his six-pounders
were brought into play? The best thing that can be said in
his favour is that he acknOwledged at a later period of the
evening that he bad spoken not as King Solomon would have
spoken, withdrew his artillery, and retired into private life.
Once mere we would entreat of our fellow-subjects and fel-
low-townsmen not to meddle to-morrow With demonstrations
which can serve no useful purpose, but which may injuriously
affect their cause, by inspiring alarm in the minds of peace-
able persons. If the promised commission should prove an
,mposture it will be time enough to bring the Home Secretary
to his souses.—Times.