The Sun.
London, England, 1852-07-02 00:00:00

=E SUN,

afterwards remarked as a matter of satisfaction that
the affairs of Holstein and Schleswig—those affairs
which seemed to be interminable in their in-
volvement, and which threatened at one
period to set the whole of Northern Eu-
rope in a blaze, and through Germany to
kindle a war throughout Christendom—had at length
been brought to a definitive settlement. Allusion
was likewise made to the amicable close of the dis-
cussion between the Sublime Porte and the Pacha of
EGYPT, while hopes were expressed that the signal
successes obtained at Rangoon might speedily lead to
the pacification of that portion of Hindostan. Mean-
while the renewal of the struggle of the French
against the lilabyles in Algeria, and the prospect of
bloodshed opened up by the United States' Expedition
ai Japanese, would scarcely seem to indicate
any st the
movement likely to lead to more than local dis-
agn
turbance. Even the conspiracies discovered within
the last few hours at Paris appear, on rigid examina-
tion, to threaten no more remarkable consequence
than the avoidance of the explosion cf an infernal
machine, and the punishment of the infamous traitors
who have thus attempted to overthrow by a
heinous crime the entire framework of the Napoleonian
Government. Amicable relations, indeed, between
our own and the rest of the European powers would
seem, on more careful scrutiny, to be more securely
established than has for a long while been anticipated.
At peace with France, at peace with Austria, at
peace with Russia, at peace with Turkey, with Bel-
gium, with Spain, with Portugal, with Sweden and
Norway, with Greece and with Switzerland, with the
minor principalities of Germany, and with the various
states of the Roman peninsula—England has but very
recently removed the latest source of contention by the
arrangement entered into between the representatives
of the Court of St. James's and the representatives of
the Court of Tuscany. For this advantage Lord
DERBY'S Government is indebted to the diplomatic
adroitness of Sir HENRY LYTTON BULWER, as much
as to the good sense of the archducal counsels at Flo-
rence. Thanks to the skilful management of that
distinguished Ambassador, indisputably one of the
most able of living diplomatists, the anxieties of Mr.
SCARLETT have been already relieved, and the
blunders of Lord MALMESBURY repaired almost as
soon as they were detected. Frequently as the
abilities of Sir HENRY BULWER have been rendered
manifest upon extraordinary emergencies—and these,
moreover, in the capitals both of the eastern and
t
western hemispheres, in New York as well as in
Madrid,
of
i n negotiations
,
withas in others monarchicalwih the Go-
vernment
the
re-
publican Government of the United States—perhaps no
more brilliant evidence has ever been afforded of
the quickness of his capacity and
the decision of his
judgment. Within a few hours he contrived to dis-
entangle what it had taken the Earl of MALNLESBUUY
several weeks to ravel into a state of apparently in-
extricable confu,ion. The news of this satisfactory
settlement of the MATLIE.R. Difficulty arrived very
opportunel therefore, immediately prior to the
pro-
rogation, or rather the dissolution of Parliament—af-
fording, as it could not fail to do, another as-
surance that our amicable relations with foreign
powers are becoming every day more extended and
consolidated.
Encouraged by the pacific prospects revealed by the
survey of our external administration, we con now
turn with larger satisfaction and more deliberate care
to the situation of affairs in regard to the labours of
internal government. Unhappily the general elec-
tion is rapidly approaching at the moment when re-
ligious dissension appears to bra growing more rife
than it has been since the last among,tlae fatal days of
persecution, or at any rate since the last of those
disgraceful scenes of riot which preceded the out,
break of the first French Revolution. Elsewhere
will be found reference to the disgraceful proceed-
ings of the mob at Stockport—proceedings which,
unless at once interrupted by the vigorous inter-
position of the authorities, may arouse feelings
of animosity such as must prove fatal in the different
electioneering contests throughout the United King-
dom. Those contests should, on the contrary, at the
present moment, be conducted with more than ordi-
nary sobriety and circumspection. Party feuds and
sectarian fanaticism should be alike disavowed as in-
centives to the display of political enthusiasm. The
electors should bethink them of the responsibility de-
volving upon each man amongst them individually.
They should endeavour to acquit themselves with
honour of the duty reposed in their hands as citizens
of a free country, under a representative system over-
shadow ed by a venerable but enlightened Consti-
tution.

A very deplorable and disgraceful riot has just
taken place at Stockport—a riot the more to be de-
precated as it appears to have originated partly in
national,‘,but chiefly in religious dimensions. English-
man was arrayed against Irishman, Protestant against
Roman Catholic, and vice venci. The matter was
fiercely contested on both sides, and many serious col-
lisions took place between the opposing parties.
These personal encounters were by no means the
worst parts cf the transaction. They might easily be
accounted for when the excited state of the popula-
tion on either side is taken into account.
But we find that several buildings and
dwelling-houses, including two Roman Catholic
chapels and the residence of the Roman Catholic
clergyman, the Rev. R. .L. V
RITE', were broken into and
wrecked, under circumstances that would seem to
indicate some previous organization on the part of the
rioters ; serious injuries were inflicted on some of the
inhabitants, and much property was destroyed. The
disturbances, too, were renewed from time to time,
and it can scarcely be said that they have even yet
been tbr‘roughly and completely suppressed, although
the magistrates exerted themselves zealously and
efficiently for the purpose of restoring the peac and al
time sufficiently lamentable, is more
tranquillity of the town.
i.this unfortunate occur-
rence, at any
peculiarly so at the present time, when we are on the
eve of a
general election, when the feelings
of religious animosity thereby engendered may be
stimulated to a very dangerous point. It is,
therefore, of the utmost importance that the particu-
lars and causes of the outrages now under notice
should be strictly investigated, and that the origina-
tors and ringleaders should be snbjected to severe
punishment. Every possible precaution,
be taken to prevent the feeling from spreading
too, should
through the neighbouring towns, and t, suppress the
slightest indication of quarrelling or disturbauGe,
might by a possibility lead to a rancw 3li al of that
th atro-
cious conduct.
It would appear that an angry feeling had for 8p,,,,
time existed between the parties. English workmen
complained that the Irish were " working under
price, and ruining trade." The supposed of-
fenders were, therefore, insulted on every possible
occasion, and the Irish were ready enough to
resent the smallest provocation, more particularly
as religious differences inflamed the mutual ani-
mosity. It is much to be regretted that while such
inflammable materials were scattered around, any-
l',l". ing should have occurred that could, by a
havepossibi-
iity,
occasioned new disputes. Under favour-
able circumstances procession of children, belonging
to the different a P
excite the angry affairs have occasioned Roman Catholic schools, could not
any unpleasant feelings ; but in the
critical state of
the parties morefeethlings of the mob, and to render
a slight cause was sufficient to
therefore by
have had some effect in bringing no
cessions of the school cl
It is, however, but justice to on
improbable that the pro-
on Sunday
meansa usually irritable ; and it is
last might
in that demonstration, to say that the crisis.
into a course of offence. The en°rll'id.
concernedpnaarrtyiedsre_ s
in everynoFrdi
was taken to avoid anything- that
party,nothin g butto
show
wy athpepierareedhar•
character be construed
possible care
priests beaded the
dresses, with
.orie
friends and relatives of the children also . The
but there were no banners orparty ttended,
emblems
the female scholars even laid • aside the handk ' and
or vests usually worn on such occasions. erehieft,
This dis-
c played a laudable anxiety to avoid giving offence,'
and should have been duly appreciated
by the oppo-
site side : such however was not the case, for although
the procession passed over Without
.disturbance, and
the tranquillity was not interrured d the suc-
ceeding evening, a foundation was laidur i"
for disputes
among the more turbulent
spirits,
which accordingly
broke out the evening after.

The origin of the transaction, from which side the
first aggression proceeded, is not eery clearly known.

140 N DON,

Two drunken men (appropriate champions of re-
ligion !) were fighting on Monday evening in the
Bishop Blaise public-house, in consequence of in-
sulting expressions used respecting " the procession,"
and " Popery," and " Protestantism." The cora-
-1 batants were, however, separated. Another collision
between larger parties, but probably growing out of
the same transaction, subsequently took place in Hill-
gate, one of the principal thoroughfares of the town,
but it was speedily suppressed, and all remained
quiet for the rest of that night, and until the follow-
ing evening. A strong feeling appears, however, to
have sprung up on Tuesday morning among the
Irish that the other side were the aggressors on the
previous evening, and the Rev. Mr. FORSTER, one of
the Roman Catholic clergymen, apprised Mr.
SADLER, the chief constable of the borough, of this
feeling, and of the danger of an outbreak. That
evening there was some fighting in Hillgate—this
was speedily suppressed. Shortly afterwards,
however, the combat was renewed in the neigh-
bourhood of Rock-row—a district almost exclusively
inhabited by the Irish. The police again interfered,
but they were attacked by the Irish party, who,
when their passions are excited, seldom regard with
favour the conservators of the public peace.
Some
of these parties were taken into custody, and the riot
was, for the time, suppressed in that district.

Up to this point it does not very clearly appear
which were the assailants, or which party
may be considered the originators of the unfortunate
transaction. There is only the negative evidence in
favour t,f the Irish that it has not been po-
sitively directly charged against them, as i 5
usually the case when any doubts are entertained
in similar disturbances, and also that the conflict
at Rock-row was on their own thresholds,
they must have retreated and been followed by
their opponents. It is remarkable, too, that all the
prisoners were taken from the Irish party, and none
from the other side, not even when the more serious
outrages had commenced. to which

Prom that time, however, the English party
appeared to have acted in a manner unparalleled
since the days of Lord GEORGE Goßpori• Houses
were broken into, the inmates, men, women,
and children, violently and brutally assailed ;
buildings dedicated to the worship
inoffensive
the
DEITY plundered and destroyed ;
men dragged from their beds, severely wounded, and
then taken into custody ! ! while not one of the
rioters was apprehended. This demands a searching
inquiry, and that no exertions be spared to
bring the ringleaders to justice, so that they may
answer for the aggravated offences of which they
have been guilty. Let us teach all parties that the
laws will b'.! impartially administered, and that equal
justice will be dealt out to all, whether English
or Irish, Protestant or Catholic. It is essential
that examples should be made before the elections,
and that every party dispute should be promptly
suppressed, and the ringleaders punished. Care
should also be taken to suppress all processions
which, however innocent in themselves, may by any
possibility give offence; and this we say not as re-
gards the Roman Catholic merely, but those of every
kind. If prohibitions are to be enforced they should
be universal, ED as to give no well-founded cause
wni lalt übrea l l cyb 2 ce ra funs lel y
doilis
ce
oyne
tde, n
tb uat n if
of complaint or jealousy to any side or party. If
ognene-esriadle,d,tbeit lv,awill
heartburnings.