The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-05 00:00:00

POLITICS AND THE PRESS.

- -
Two Irish newspapers have just given rise to
actions for libel on account of remarks made during
the recent elections. The Tipperary and Clare
Independent had called Mr. Munster, who opposed.
Mr. O'Beirne, (lately unseated for Cashel), "a down-
right political adventurerand hypocrite, who should re-
ceivefrom the people of Cashel neither encouragemen t
nor countenance; and added, "on corruption and
political prostitution does Henry Munster depend to
fight the battle and oust Mr. O'Beirne;" and again,
" that his punch and porter flew more plentifully
than pump water in the City of the Kings." On
applying to the publishers of the newspaper for
some apology or explanation, the MS. was handed
over, and this was found to be in the handwriting,
and admittedly so, of Mr. O'Connor, who was
engaged. in no way with the staff of the journal, but
actively engaged in the interests of Mr. O'Beirne.
Thereupon Mr. Munster filed a criminal information
against Mr. O'Connor, and a conditional order was
granted. But the judges sittingc, in bane() refused to
confirm it, on the ground that Mr. Munster
had his remedy in a civil course of
action, and also because neither party had come
into court with clean hands. In the other case, the
Roman Catholic Dean Mawes proceeded against the
Irishman for an article commenting upon a speech
delivered by him in behalf of The O'Donoghue. The
strange thing about this action seems to be that the
article complained of should have been thought
libellous. It simply stated that The O'Donoghue
and Dean Mawes had insinuated that " certain men
who had given up their lives and liberties for the
sacred cause of Ireland were guilty of infamous
conduct." The action was demurred to on the
ground that it disclosed no course of action. The
demurrer was allowed. Considering the excited state
of Ireland, the marvel is that every paper in the
kingdom is not being prosecuted for libel.

TIIE ECCLESIASTICAL TITLES BILL.
This bill, which has been brought in by Mr.
ill'Evoy in order to repeal the abortive Act passed in
the pinic of the "Papal aggression," appears to be
hanging lire. The second reading is put off until
July 14, at which time it is scarcely likely to be-
come law. This is to be regretted, because it com-
promises the dignity of Parliament to have upon the
statute-book an Act which is infringed every day,ancl which no one ventures to enforce.

DENEETT
CASE.
Sir Robert PlTiiiillimE
ore has evidently no wish to
hear the charge of heresy against Vr. Bennett.
Nobody bat the Church Association seems- to care
to have anything to do with the prosecution,
from the Archbishop of Canerbury downward. But
the decision of the Dean of Arches is called in ques-
tion. The Daly Telegraph is quite angry about it.
" When Parliament," it says, " authoriscs a bishop to
send a cause ' to the Court of Appeal of the Province,
to be there heard and determined,' it is not easy to see
how the judge of such court can escape the obliga-
tion of hearing and determining the cause so sent.
There is not a word or syllable in the statute nil-
catng that the judge has any option in the matter;
and this is the first instance in which any such option
has been claimed."

MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED lIIISDAND'S BROTHER.
Mr. Collins thinks that if the licAise means to give