The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-06-14

ENGLISH POLICY AT NAPLEs--LoRD PMMERs-
TONS DEPESCE or Nh. ElLIorr.-In another
column will be found an interesting
debate In the House Of Commons on
the policy of England In regard to
Naples. The discussion arose on fierce
attack made BY Roman Catholic mem
Der, Mr.. Bowyer, on Mr.. Elliott, the British
Minister at that court, for the famous despatch
In which he denounced the government Of the
Two Sicilies as one merely of spies and police
Mr. Bowyer called the attention Of the govern
nent to the language used by their representa-
live, and demanded If they endorsed 1t. Lord
Palnerston, in strain Of manly and indignant
eloqusnoe, not only defended the terms
employed in the despatch, but went much
farther in sdgmatizing the atrocities per.
petrated by tho Nespolitan government
On unofending and innocent persons
who had fallen under their suspicion.
He showed that, 30 far from the British Minis
ter assisting to weaken the government, be had
done Ill he could to strengthen it, by advising
the King not to depart from the constitution
which his father had, for himself and his success
sors, 20 solemnly sworn to observe. His repeat
ed and earnest remonstrances had been
diregarded, and the government Of Naples
had, a was stated, become one simply Of
police. In exposing this fact Mr.. Elliott had
done no more than bis duty, and he saw no
thing in his conduct or language to censure.
Az to the charge Of the British agents shelter
ing Neapolitan subjects, the principle on which
the BriHsh government acted WAS this: where
persons who fed from . criminal prosecution
applied for refuge on board British vessels,
they had given orders that in no case should
they be received. Where the offence was
simply O. political one, their instructions were
that they should be afforded temporary shelter,
for the, doctrine they had always maintained
was that British ship was British territory.
The impression produced by this frank and
spirited reply cannot but aid greatly the SYM
patty which is being everywhere manifested in
favor Of the gallant struggle which is being
carried on for the liberation Of the Two Sici-
lies 1t, in the FIRST place, establishes the truth
of the facts which the Neapolitan and Roman
journals either fatty deny or endeavor to pal
late by the plea of necessity; and next, it
plainly indicates the course which the English
government are prepared to pursue the moment
the revolution shall have accomplished the ex-
pulsion Of the existing dynasty. Whatever
may be the views Of Louis Napoleon in regard
to Naples. England will undoubtedly insist on
her people being left the free and unfettered
choice of their future political condition.
Should they declare In favor of annexation to
Sardinia, it seems to us that, with the aid of
the other Italian populations, and of great
maritime Power like Great Britain, they will
have no difficulty in compelling respect on the
part of the other Powers to their decision.
We cannot close our reference to this debate
without expressing our contempt for the part
taken in It by the Roman Catholic members,
both Englsh and Irish. For the sake of pre-
serving an ecclesiastical oligsSchpdv ION, and
tyranny they shut their eyes to the great politi
cal principles involved in this Neapolitar
struggle. The people of the Two Sicilies
should, according to their view of the case, con-
tnue patiently to endure one of the meanest
and most cruel despotisms that the world has
ever seen, merely that the weak minded old
man who occupies the Papal chair shall pre-
serve the relics Of the possessions which be has
imperilled by his foolish obstinacy. And yet
these Irish members belong TO the same party
who clamored so loudly for emancipation
from the civil disabilities to which they were
subjected on account Of their religious faith.
Their language on this occasion goes good
way to justify the arguments which were used
to keep them in state Of political enslave-
ment