The New York herald., 1870-04-30
Ens,an.'s War Upon the Press.

w MOilHys tIc itu VI 3apTll, tHo TOyh uBS6nC
was given IN London 10 an act OF Parliament wh ch
may well exc te The amazement OF the civilized
world. On the British statute book this measure Is
mildly ehtltlei the Peace Pleser, alton Act" out
Size OF the Westminster leg lsative buildings it is
better know IS the Irish Coercion Bil" In Ire
land II is "a ed "Tne Message OF War"
Wnen Great Britain, far into the nineteenth CEN
tury has passed such q law as that whose vertable
terms shall quoie for your readers it l. matter
startling and fun OF grave and sad significance for
all who believe in human progress. Many men Will
question whether 'the world movesr after all when
they nnd the "ilnl OF Shakespeare and Mlton"-oi
that Milton 81 gloliei in as the champion of "free
and unC en- Ell plintnGn-res 0rting to a crus lde
asairsi the press, war upon lree thought, such
no tlrant however vile, has attempted since CaX-
tons great III ention preached the emancipation OF
the human mind.
On Monday, April a, by special act OF Parliament
liberty Of the press ceased t. exist in Ireland The
printing press does not even exist license. Il ex-
lists only on suder nee by the police-on hazard-at
the peril Of tie man who ventures through agency
to give ute an o to opinion. 1t Is not that he Is
lgr5dden u censure or commanded to praise; IL is
not tint he is liable to prosecution, no matter how
igorors 70 lie followed by punishment, no matter
how severe, for Gispeasing the S6trrl. That wOull
be blessed lot by comparison with what the
Irish press Is now condemned 20. IL is
that the journalist is liable to punishment-to beg
gary and utter ruin-on mere suspicion and without
any iosln OF Trial or previous pro ess Of law what
ever. The English glrlo er caught In the act, the
English wife murderer seed red.handcd over Il 8
Victims crose must hive a jury Trial; the vilesJ
wretch that plies his trade OF crime IN the English
Sodoms and Gomorrans can claim the rigAt OF jury
verdict before penalty can be laid upon HIN. But
the Irish journalist who res to utter sentence
unpalatable to tho melnest underling In Dublin.
"a tie may be Ut erly destroyed without judge or
jury, without indictment, inquiry, investigation or
trial.
II is absolutely necessary. as one goes through the
terms OF this enactment clause by clause, sentence
by sentence to repe With fre IL ency sThs is that
same England, tae m0n1tress OF nations the Sc f.
eXtOle model ior all the wor d, who was always so
ready TO lie tare Bom1a and Nicholas and Francis
Joseph and Louis o,eo1 wi h wise saws and mag.
nitcent moral aAoms on tn futity OF laws az linst
free opini)n.' Sure the Uriah Heep OF European
nat.o IS fou out to-1ay.
TO realize the aims ana objects OF the British gov
ernmen IN their war AGAINST the printing press, IL is
necessary 10 read the famous press clauses" OF The
Irish Coercion oil as they were introduced by the
Ministry. They run as foiiows:-
Where any printed Ireland any
sonabe or scdiiious engraving matter, expressions
indictments the committing of any felony any
encourage propagate sediion,
cInery types implements utensils paper and osher plant
and materials aseds empoyed Intended g be used
newspaper or found IN about premises where
such newspaper, found be orfeted to her
nd IN d sdpsn eSnaa a sch tsS m
craving matter expressions or indictments aforesaid all
tOhsr Majesty.
paper printed circulated Ireland any
M mattel @ an or IL @ osm as the he
schedule W to this act annexed or to the like effect
Sr bis or their upon premises
ing such raging matter expressions or nciements As
aiSrssad g rraisa puDlsSe where pria!1g
other plant maerlals ":'ti e Be to have been
sper as Aforesaid shall be- or sha be- to
& s Or a copy Of IS Is
buted published, kept deposited for ds.rieu
sale, di.tsiSaiion paeestion Kept
seize take away such printing, printing presses,
zines ma achnss types papers, implements aeass and
no action hereinafter mcnonsd shall be brou hsor
or for Search or seizure or other sc matter
or thing done or under the authority of
Where any authorized by warrant aforesaid
lance and Ee nocs o, such warrant and tho door Of any
premises sh no be within reasonable time the
making Of such 1t shall be lawful for any sach per
beeat for the purpose OF making such search and seizure
IN ha, or bis %
o a 4s o
hinder such his assistants aforesaid In the
goods Articles. att and things % wsicS may
ing wilfuy resisting officer the due execution
OF his duty and convection sba be punished accordingly
Where who b. for the provisions o. th part
search made under the authority of
as @ Pa % s s o % h Any
within fourteen days after such search or seizure com
against the or 70
whom such warrant IS addressed OF any 0 me assistants S
ground tina. lega because the
which search seizure made did not contain
sS reason " which WHICH, snch Newspaper was for
@ e e. 70 & asr as a:s sns the in s
plead defence to such action the defence n the schedule
action shall except herein specially provided be
sa fnS II any Of e he
and copies OF the said newspaper published be-
the deendaat proof The tendency
hewpaSer in 20 which the search or
nS s such and I IN as al tho
oesad the a s ss Of to sSs and S
bis costs of suit. and they shall find that such
as se p se s Be-
verdict and such damages as be lawfully awarded by
tce OF the court applicable TO such action where
s s aa .nfe % s s1 be PIG 70
dom the damages awarded him, together or
All orfetures incurred under this part this a shall be
punisheni which the pTopfeto Of my nswspapsr nay
be subject under any other act at common law.
Observe the word 'sedtonp IN those clauses
Therein lies the real point and secret of the whole pro-
ceedng. The "treason" is merely thrown In az color
Ing matter II journalist takes TO writing treason,
or even s'treason felony "a new crime invented by
special act of Parliament for the conviction OF John
Mitchell he knows what he Is about; he acts with
his eyes open and Il. ought to be- ready to face
the consequences manfuly But 1t Is not the
English arLstocracy now seek to crush. IL Is fair,
lawful and legitimate criticism OF their hypocrislcs
and crimes. For what Is "ssditiono according to
Rrit sh lawf Anytrng t'ten ling " rrng the gov
ernment or pubic funcionar es into dis s:so3m." Is
an American reader siartedY Is he inoredulousS
Take OF the numerous cases cl,ed or referred TO
IN the recent dc ates. quoe orthodox author "
Ia nnJp
marnock IN his speech against the dis2raceiu clauses
above set for add