The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-07 00:00:00

ENGLAND AND GEEECE.

The Spectator thinks that it is not by arrogantly in.
timidating the weak governments that we shalt diminish
the foolish prejudices felt in so many English minds for a
policy of what is called non-intervention, Whatever
Europe supposes, it certainly does not suppose that we are
afraid to take up a stern attitude towards Greece. What-
ever it may think of our degeneracy, it would not be un-
deceived by finding that we felt no scruple in humiliating
Greece. Very different, indeed, is the lesson taught us
by the late Mr. Herbert in the noble self-restraint of the
letters addressed by him during the last days of his life to
his official superior at Athens, Mr. Erskine. These letters
breathe a spirit of almost punctilious respect for the self-
esteem of the Greek Government, and even intimate
candidly that there are certain sacrifices which could not
possibly be asked from it, even as the price of the English
prisoners' lives. Such letters, of course, make us
feel more deeply than ever the misfortune which we
have undergone. They make us more resolved
than ever to demand a strict account of that
still utterly inexplicable movement of the Greek
troops which led to the murders. They make us more
determined than ever to take steps for the final extinction
of the brigandage which has led to all this misery. But
they also indicate the tone of strict and self-forgetful
justice, in which we should deliberate upon the course to
be pursued, and the self-denial with which we ought to
reject any policy which, while it made atonement to the
injured pride of England, might increase the anarchy of
the unfortunate little country where we have suffered
these things. Above all, whatever we demand should
strike at the root of the evil, and anything which strikes
at the root of the evil will hardly be likely to inflict any
needlessly conspicuous humiliation on the Greek Govern-
ment itself. We must of course demand justice. We
must yield nothing that can diminish the sense of responsi-
bility with which the Government of King George views
the duty of extirpating these horrors. We must insist on
alternatives which will drive it to suppress brigandage.
But we protest altogether, as most mischievous arid un=
warrantable, against any hasty steps which should antici-
pate the ordinary usages of nations, and of which the
object should be expressly to humiliate and weaken a
Government which, of all things, most needs moral
dignity and independence, and strength. It is not by a
policy of conspicuous selfishness that England will defeat
the selfish theory of non-intervention.

MR. NEWDEGATE IN THE COMMONS

The John BO remarks that chaos reigned in the House of
Commons on Monday night, when the adjourned and
apparently interminable debate on the appointment of
Mr. Newdegate's Convent Committee was resumed. The
Governmint managed very cleverly to secure the support of
such staunch Protestants as Mr. Kinnaird, Mr. Osborne
Morgan, and Mr. Miall, as well as the more consistent
votes of several High Church Conservatives—still that
chaos did reign will be evidenced by a study of the
analysis of the division list. The wisest course, probably,
was taken by those who kept out of the fray altogether
for while one cannot help being intensely amused
at the Nonconformist saying that the time for
aising a No Popery cry is inconvenient, there
an be no doubt the assertion contains a
certain amount of truth. Inconvenient it cer-
tainly is to the Government. But Roman Catholics
have hardly improved their position with their
fellow-countrymen by their excessive unwillingness to
allow an inquiry. We should have thought their policy
was to court the fullest investigation. Meanwhile, wo
regard the modified investigation as to property (very
small, we believe) held by conventual institutions as per-
fect moonshine. And to do Mr. Gladstone justice, he
does so likewise. Only it was necessary to gild the pill for
the Nonconformist palate. To the credit, however, of
several Liberal Protestants, be it recorded, that either
they or their constituencies would not swallow the bait.
On Thursday Mr. Bernal Osborne convulsed the House
by interrogating Mr. Whalley as to the facts of his having
been threatened with strangulation and ejection. While
pretending to sympathise with the member for Peter-
borough, no doubt Mr. Osborne meant " Sarve him
right." But Mr. Whalley has scant justice accorded