The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-04 00:00:00

CORK AND DERRY.

Cork and Derry, the North and the South of
Ireland, the city of Roman Catholicism and the
Orange Corporation, are in an equally unsatisfactory
state. The language of the mayor of the former city
is not, unfortunately, denounced on all hands. He
has found defenders; and, amongst a class by no means
insignificant, he is the hero of the hour. He does
not stand alone in the council room, but has friends
ready to adopt his language as their own. Only
when amongst the magistrates does he seem to be
friendless. The patriotic citizens, as they call them-
selves, have been holding fetes to commemorate the
courage which Mr. O'Sullivan has shewn. A large
open-air meeting has been held, and passed a vote
of confidence in the spouter of assassination. His
" persecutors "--thcse who interrogated him at the
Town Council—were condemned as traitors, spies,
and informers. The Mayor has also addressed a
meeting. lle disavowed all sympathy with assassina-
tion, and expressed confidence in Messrs. Gladstone
and Bright. Tar barrels were then set alight in his
honour, and the Nationalists rejoiced with exceeding
joy.
All this is most sad ; but the worst part of the story
is that it is very doubtful whether Mr. O'Sullivan
will be removed from his post. "A B arrister," who
writes to the Times, giving the law, leans very
decidedly against the possibility of calling the chief
magistrate of Cork to account. The law, as
laid
down by this correspondent, would make a distinc-
tion between treason and the words of the Mayor of
Cork. The only statute under which he could be
indicted provides against inciting any person to
war against the Queen. The Mayor did not do that.
His words are too vague to be laid hold of. If a crime
were to follow his words, he might be brought up as
an accessory. But the words themselves are not a
crime. To attempt the life of any other but the
sovereign is a mere capital offence, not treason.
Lord Cairns thought the Mayor might be unseated
by an ex (I/fie/0 information in the Court of Queen's
Bench. The correspondent seems to doubt, however,
whether this would be effectual. Mr. O'Sullivan said
what is imputed to him when outside his
official capacity. A special statute (10th
George 11., c. :A) was found necessary to
displace the Provost of Edinburgh, who was
accused of neglect and misconduct in relatiOn to the
famous Porteous riot. Will not the same be required
for Mr. O'Sullivan ?

Meanwhile, the police-court is the scene of d:s-
zraceful squabbles. The magistrates are quarrellinc•
v.;*!-‘ :.!!e •,('. I. t:. .:r.t'.Z•l . ;1 ..ses
;;:st. Pr7llco enollgh.
refesed in T,l :6 :,.;:>!.e 11,3 could
not go there.
The origin of the riots at Londonderry are being
in To lay the principal fault on either
side is impossible. The Ilibernian band in the pro-
cession was allowed precedence of the 'prentices'
band. This produced unpleasantness in the latter
company, which was increased as the Ilibernians
c.ntinued to follow them about. Stone-throwing,
however, seems to have been commenced by
the Orangemen, and was succeeded by pistol-
firing. The firing of the police will probably form
the subject of a close inquiry, and the old question
of firing without orders in riotings will be raised.
The place has been proclaimed by the Lord-
Lieutenant, under the Peace Preservation Act.
There seems, however, to be very little re-:son for
apprehending any renewal of the disturbances.