The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-24 00:00:00

infatuated to put faith in them. There seems
room to doubt the truth of the assertion made
by the hon. member,as to its being the best portion
of the Irish who emigrate. To judge from their
acts when they reach the land of promise in the
Far West, it would seem far otherwise. All these
exaugerated and extravagant statements are how-
ever common among those who dilate on the sub-
ject, but it is going too far for Mr. MAGUIRE to
charge the Government with insincerity in the
matter of their dealing with the insurrectionary
movement. The absurdity of the charge is almost
Equal to its unfairness, as wh 1t possible good could
it du to the Government to have renewed dis-
turbances take place ? "The Government," he said,
"were aware of the secret movements of the Fenians
and their designs, and yet they declared in February
that no necessity existed for further exceptional
legislation, while they allowed an attempt at in-
surrection to be made in the following month."
Mr. ROEBUCK'S remarks were much to the point.
He addressed himself to the chief thing in Mr.
MAGUIRE'S statement—namely, that the Govern-
ment had men tried and convicted upon the evi-
dence a informers. " Why," said he, "no con-
spiracy can ever be proved but upon the evi-
dence of conspirators." He fully agreed with the
honourable member for Sheffield in his declaration
that there are obstacles in the way of improving the
state of Ireland, and among the chief of these was
the "language used by the hon. gentleman." Mr.
ROEBUCK defended the policy of the house towards
Ireland, and denounced in strong terms the course
pursued by Mr. MAGUIRE. Referring to the de-
claration made that the emigrant carried out of
Ireland a burning hatred to England Mr. ROEBUCK
said, " Is that just? Is it the feeling of a wise man?
No, it is the feeling of an ignorant peasant, but it
ought not to be the feeling of the hon. member for
Cork, and he concluded his admirable speech by
declaring that the hon. gentleman talked of his good
intentions while he delivered his mischievous speech,
but there was a place, which he would not mention,
that was said to be paved with good intentions."

Lord NAAS met the observations of Mr. MAGUIRE
very successfully, and showed that no pains had
been spared on the part of the Government to
ascertain the state of the case as regarded the dis-
turbances in Ireland, and the progress that Fenianism
was making. It need not be said that on the part of
the House there was no desire or demand for the
said explanation, he was perfectly satisfied that the
best had been done which could have been effected
under the circumstances, but it was as well to have
the repetition made of the ridiculous charges pre-
ferred. When the QUEEN'S Speech was delivered,
it was naturally thought that nearly all the danger
was over, but the occurrences at Chester and else-
where showed that much mischief still lurked abroad,
and hence precautionary measures were adopted with
renewed vigilance on the part of the authorities.
Mr. BRIGHT made a few of his intemperate
observations on the subject. Ireland and its wrongs
is his last subject that be has taken up with great
power and zeal ; he endorsed all that Mr. NIAGUIRE
had said on the subject of the great injustice done
to the Irish, and laid great stress upon the danger
that we should run in the event of a war with the
United States while Ireland is so disturbed and dis-
contented. This is another most untenable argu-
went, and the members of the English Parliament
are not to be influenced in their legislation on
Ireland for fear of what the Americans may
think of their policy. It sounds very grand to talk
of Ireland being in an angry and disloyal state with
" another and greater Ireland within, ten days of
steaming, to hold out its hand of sympathy to a
discontented people," but the Americans do not
seem to find it so easy to settle their own diffe-
rences that they should undertake the solution of
the problem that has baffled generations of states-
How is Ireland to he governed ? If
uncertqin of which are the best means to
adopt we know the worst at any rate, and that
is to foster and encourage the spirit of discontent
which sets remedies at defiance, and regards friends
as foes if they tell unpalateable truths, and what but
encouragement to discontent and murmurings is the
sum and substance of the impassioned notions of
Mr. BRIGHT and Mr. MAGUIRE. They either mean
nothing, or they mean that Fenianism is the result
of the gross injustice heaped upon Ireland, and this
is not a statesmanlike or a patriotic manner of treat-
ing the question, as a little reflection must show.

mcn.