The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-25 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.

The Times is somewhat sceptical about the strength of
the agitation for the disestablishment of the Welsh
Church, and satirises Mr. Watkin Williams for
the recondite character of his last night's speech.
Mr. Williams must have known one would think
that he was only giving Mr. Gladstone an oppor-
tunity for displaying his superior knowledge on
such subjects, but the Premier did something more than
dilate on Welsh ecclesiastic:l history. The ques-
tion raised by Mr. Williams cannot be considered alone,
for England and Wales are one, and cannot in such
matters be legislated for separately. The English people
are proud of their Church, though they may desire
reforms, while the Welsh are, as Mr. Williams himself
confessed, apathetic in the matter. The advocates of dis-
establishment had better be cautious, for premature
action on their part will only entail defeat, and lead to
vigorous preparations for defence.
The Standard says that the House ?of Commons was
determined to get through the Irish Land Bill at
any cost on Monday night, and perhaps it was as
well, for the public will be glad to think that the
measure may be laid before the House of !Lords without
much loss c! time. The Comervatives have had a great
deal to do with ;,his successful issue, for had they adopted
an obstructive course the bill could never have been pushed
through committee in time 'to pass the Upper House
before the close of the session. The Opposition do
not seek to gain a partial or temporary advantage
through the failure of the chief measure, and the dis-
grace of their opponents. Even as it is so much time has
been wasted by mistakes and mismanagement that Par-
liament will not have much to show for its months of
labour and never-ending discussions.
The Telegraph asks what has befallen us that murder
is so rife among us. Scarcely had the Chelsea murder
been fully comprehended before a new horror of a more
appalling character frighted and perplexed the public mind.
The story of the Uxbridge catastrophe revives the story of
the Tropmann massacre, and it is a painful thought that
the perpetrators of such crimes are permitted to wander
among us. The murder does not seem to have
been prompted by motives of plunder, and
revenge is spoken of as the primary cause.
We must trust that the usual infatuation of crime will
lead the guilty man to the commission of some act which
may insure detection, and that society may be spared
the scandal which would ensue from his escape.
The Daily News says that the Fenians have begun
their march upon Canada, so at least we are informed by
telegrams ; but it is certain if they carry out their inten-
tions that they will find themselves in a different position
for that which they looked for. We must expect the
United States Government to perform its part in the
event of a collision between the Colonists and
the Fenians, and there is no reason for misgivings
on that score. The Canadians are evidently
anxious to dispose of their troublesome visitors in the
most summary way possible, and we may therefore look
for a speedy termination of the affair should this last
account prove a correct one, and the Fenian raid an
established fact.

The Post says that a most extraordinary event took
place last night in the enforced ,withdrawal of strangers
from the House on the motion of Me. Craufurd. The
public may not care to know the rparticulars of any one
debate, but the principle invoked in the matter is an im-
portant one, for they have an undoubted right to know
what takes place in the House. It is idle to talk of the
freedom of the press if such an occurrence is sanctioned
by authority and precedent. The French will naturally
ask what advantages we enjoy over their own when a
scene of this character can take place.