New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-29

casions. They were aptly described as the first line
of defence against the new danger; against the OF
ganiZed band of men, some OF them III the hIgDer
walks of life, banded together like the assasslDs OF
the East, whose avowed object is to collect money
for general murder and for the burning down OF
civilized towns. Possibly some of these interesting
persons in the higher walks of life in America VIII
be surprised 10 hear that the British Government
proposes to take cognzance of their performances
even in America, if they haTpen TO be British SUD-
ieets. "Oyer aliens abroad" observed the Home
Secretary eve have no power But over British
subject we have authority and jurisdiction
for his acts all the world, and. therefore, II
British subject goes to France or America, and is
party either directly or indirectly, by word or deed
loud cheers If he is accessory in any manner 10
any of these transactions he u.s. when he returns 10
this country subject TO our jurisdiction, and to the
punishment imposed by our law, just as II what ne
has done had been done in this country" Messrs.
Egan, Sheridan & Co. may take note. III theV
contemplate fayoring you with their company per-
manently it is for you 10 deal with them If they
return here they will here be held liable for deeds
and for words done and uttered in America.
The section which throws upon possessor OF
dynamite the burden of proving his innocence may
be deemed novel, but it is not novel. 1t IS not
the offspring of panic, but already part
of the settled law of the country.
man found in the night with dangerous weapon,
or with housebreakug tools, must justify his pos
session of them IF" says Sir William, "a man
may be called on to show the reason why he has
pick lock- Think he may be called on to show by
what right he has hundred weight of nitro
glycerine." And most people-assassins excepted
will think so too.
The bill is TO be permanent, not temporary, and
the Home Secretary protested in terms Of much
force against the suggestion that 1t might have been
made temporary 1t is a bill, he said, which Ought
to have been passed long ago. To make 1t tenn
porary measure might give it the appearance oil
having been passed in panic, and weaken lts
authority Its severity is not meant to be excep-
tiona 1t deals with wholly state of things and
nobody can say how long this new state of things
may last. 1--WE meet il with new weapons and with
the determination TO put down tie schemes that
threaten us and arrest their authors" Society may
think itself, will add fortunate in having Its
security confded at such a moment to the hands OF
a man exceptionally well fitted to protect the in
nocent and crush the guilty. Sir William liarcourt
is Home Secretary of the first order with or eat
legal and political knowledge. famil lar with busl-
ness and with the world. judicious. energetic
resoute aud of force Of character that carries him
through emergencies which a weaker man would
have found intolerablc. The eulogy he has pro-
nounced on the police Others may well say is his
own eulogy, for he il is who his infused into
body of men heretofore somewhat sluggish some
thing of his own vigor and power of doing his duty
TO the utmost.
The one exception TO the unanimity of approval
and support granted TO this bill CONES not from
Irish obstrnciionists-they had the sense and pru-
dence to be scnt-but, of all men in the world.
from Lord Salisbury lie il is who has always been
upbraiding this Government for impotence IN pre-
venting aud Furnishing crime, and he it Is who a.
sails them with bitter reylngs for an act OF neces-
sary rigor He described the bill as obviously
brought forward in panic. rushed through both
Houses Of Parliament making large lnrOads upon
the criminal law Of an Objectionable character. His
Language was Of extreme violence aud and acri-
mony and il has the almost unanimous condemns
ton OF his own party III both Houses. Nobody sup
ported HIM in the Lords. nobody defends him in the
press, and the leaders of the Conservative party
in the House Of Commons rer1dIated him in ad
vance and gave a loyal support to the Government.
What Lord Salisbury said about panic and Objec-
tionabe novelty is simply untrue. What he has
said and done serves purpose except 10 discredt
him aud 10 give aid and comfort to the dynamite,
party. As to haste, Sir William Harcourt stated
the reasons for immediate legislation in words
which may stand sufficient rebukc 10 Lord
Salisbury: My business Is rather 10 allay than To
excite panic but should be doing wrong If con-
ccalcd from the House nv conviction, aud II did
not state upon my responsibility what know, that
the danger is very great aud very imminent, aud
that il ought to be dealt vita at once, and with a
strong hand"
To-days news is that reason for urgency Is the
xpected arrival Of fresh dynamite agents, believed
to be on board steamers FROM America due this week
at Irish and English ports Certain II ~ that no
day passes which does not bring tidngs of new
pcrls. The police believe they deal with the
danger, but they very far from understanding
the extent Of u nor are they blind 10 the pOssbI
ity that conspiraces Of which they have no hint
may be approaching maturity. q. ". :.