The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-13 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, DEC. 13, 1867.

Mr. NEWDEGATE has been addressing himself to
the Conservative Association at Rugby. He en-
tered upon some explanation of his views with
respect to the meaning of Conservatism. Although
he had called himself the Aunt SALLY of the House
of Commons, he declared that the meeting before
him represented his opinions. He wished to pre-
serve their great principles of order, which
in themselves were tolerant, and which in
this country had " enabled the nation, whose
love of civil and religious freedom has never
waned, to live together as the centre of the mighty
empire, still enjoying the privileges of the citizens
of the freest State, and individually and personally
more free than the citizens of the great Republic.'
This is a very true definition of that spirit which
has made us free and kept us so, despite the
ravings of demagogues and the strenuous efforts of
monopolists in different directions to mar the efforts
of our time-honoured institutions, and either
to restrict their influence or to extend too
widely their range of action. Mr. NEWDEGATE,
as we all know, is extreme in some of his views, but
he is very consistent and hence he deserves the re-
spect of all, even those who differ from him on
political grounds. In descanting upon public
affairs, Mr. NEWDEGATE observed that he was a
Pittite, and when people had asked him how it was
that he came to vute for the Reform Bill, he bad
replied, " Who was the first great Reformer ? It
was CHATHAM. Who succeeded him ? Pirr."
In pursuing this topic, however, the honourable
member hardly did jus!ice to the leaders
of his party, for had they followed out the
rules he laid down they would never have carried
the Bill of last session. As for his notion of giving
more to the counties, it would never have answered.
His scheme for Church-rates would not be likely to
succeed anywhere. Respecting Earl RUSSELL'S
grand propositions in the House of Lords the other
night, Mr. NEWDEGATE made some telling remarks.
As HOOKER laid it down, education was one thing
and instruction another, and Earl RUSSELL
seemed to .be desirous of substituting one
for the other by the adoption of his mar-
vellous reforms. As for our following the
example of Prussia, the hon. member emphati-
cally asked, " Would a system which fitted Prussia
to live under a ' military despotism' also fit an
Englishman for the functions he had all his life
performed ?" There is no doubt a good deal of
truth in this, and those who are in such a hurry
as to tread in the footsteps of others had better
wait a little while and see the consequences of those
experiments which they seem to think so much of,
for in all probability they may yet turn out to be
great failures.

We are not surprised to find that the Irish
authorities have at last fouLd it necessary to inter-
fere with the Fenian funeral processions. It was no
doubt wise to allow considerable latitude to the
excited feelings of those who sympathised in earnest
with the Manchester attempt, and during the first
few days after the execution of ALLEN, LARKIN,
and GOULD many extravagances of language and
action would haVe passed unnoticed. But it has
now become clear that these repeated funeral pro-
cessions are not the expression of wounded feel-
ing or the outburst of indignant, if mistaken,
patriotism. They are part of a systematic plan of
a careful organisation, intended not only to foster
discontent where it exists, but to create a sentiment
of resentment and resistance to oppression in the
minds of those who are peaceable and well dis-
puaetl. Thu whole EChe2.llC 1,3 akilfuny arranged.
The processions, the solemn music, the coffins, the
funeral oration, are all especially calculated to move
the quick sympathies and inflame the vehement
natures of the people who unite in the cere-
mony. Again, it needs no profession of faith,
no oath of brotherhood, to join a crowd
walking towards a particular spot, and thousands of
curious and indifferent idlers might very well do so
without much thought beyond the desire of tempo-
rary excitement, and of seeing what was to be
seen. Before the end of the march, and the dis-
persion of the throng, such persons would very
likely be worked upon to sympathise heartily in the
declamations of the leaders. The repetition of
these processions, Sunday after Sunday, has become
in fact a dangerous nuisance, and far from having
exhausted the excitement of the people, it has in-
creased and intensified it. Their number has been
steadily increasing, until at last processions were an-
nounced to be held in Killarney, Kilkenny, Mallow,
Fermoy, Queenstown, Youghal, Ennis, Clonmel,
and Belfast. Great preparations have apparently
been made for the Killarney demonstration,
and THE O'DONOGIIUE has presided at a
meeting to arrange for it. The prohibitory
proclamations which have been issued refer
to the processions of Kilkenny and Killarney, but
no doubt the others will be afterwards included in
the prohibition. It warns all persons against taking
part in such displays, as at that in Dublin language
of a seditious and inflammatory character was used,
and as the processions only tend to serve the pur-
pose of factious and traitorous persons. It further
declares that such meetings are calculated to bring
hatred and contempt on the constitution of the
United Kingdom, and to impede the administration
of justice. Such statements are fully borne out
by the facts of the case, and we hope all loyal
and well-disposed persons will endeavour by every
means in their power to discourage the repetition
of such displays.
The Government intend, moreover, to teach the
leaders of the Dublin movement a salutary lesson.
Their extravagance of language and conduct were
such as to call forth a considerable amount of in-
dignation among those who were not prepared to
sanction murder, and accordingly we find that sum-
monses have been issued against Mr. JOHN MAR-
TIN, the chairman, and the three honorary secretaries,
eho organised the procession. Mr. MARTIN'S speech
to the crowd will be remembered as most intem-
perate and rebellious against the law.

In New York the brotherhood have been holding
meetings and organising funeral processions, but
little excitement is felt respecting them beyond the
immediate circle, and what little there is is pro-
bably due to the coming election. The procession,
the addresses, the banners, and the sentiments were
all of a very similar character in New York as in
Dublin. The leaders, however, were dis-
appointed of one important addition to
their ranks. Some members of the committee
called on the Superintendent of the Metropolitan