Washington sentinel., 1901-06-08
ENGLAND.
Suppresslng the Press

suppTessing the Press
DRbkin FreenVGH'S S Journal, MaY IT.
| The Irish Executive has contracted
the pernicious habit of assuming judicial
functions and acting upon its own view
of the law where the law provides an
easy method Of obtaining a judicial
opinion. AS in the case ofthe Industrial
Schools, so in the case of the Press, the
Executive constitutes itself judge, jury,
and sheriff for the purpose of attaining
its objects. Such methods are utterly
unconstitutional and indefensible, and
the irish leaders did well last evening
to insist upon this aspect of the case,
| Their contentious went without an
answer, Mr.. Balfour and Mr.. Asquith,
who, in a speech that recalls his speech
on Amnesty, supported Mr., Baliour,
made the reply that If the law has been
exceeded bv the Executive those ag'
grieved have their remedy. The reply
exposes the ignorance ofboth the Leader
ofthe House and the ex Home Secretary
with regard to the rights of the subject
in an action against th e Ministers of the
Grown. The matter has been tried out
in Ireland, with the result that Irishmen
have discovered that against such at
tacks they have no legal protection
whatsoever. In the cases taken against
Earl Spencer and the Marquis OF
Harrington tor the illegal and brutal
attack upon the Phoenix Park meeting
the Irish Judges laid II down that it is
sufficient for the Ministers arraigned to
plead "an act o. State" and the writs OF
their victims will be dismissed from the
Court. So that when MIR. Baliour and
Mr.. Asquith allege that there is a remedy
they show that they do not know what
they are talking about, Such violence
as has been used in this case is wholly
autocratic and unconstitutional, II it
did not defeat itselfi its results would be,
in the long run, to force those assailed
to meet violence with violence. But
fortunately also the only result of
such performances is to strengthen and
increase the influence of the persons.
the newspapers, and the movements
against which they are directed In this
instance, the attempt to garrOtte news.
paper will recoil on the garrotters.
Belfast Eysaiag zsIegyabh. May n.
When obscene attacks we're made in
France upon the late Queen Victoria
there was a general outcrY in England,
and the foreign powers were invited, as
an act of common courtesy and as be-
fitting the comfy of nations, to take
some steps to abate a nuisance that was
grievously woundlng the feelings Of so
many people 10 the United Kingdom.
In what position, asked the Chief Sec
retary, would he have been If, with a
similar nuisance in a more gross and
offensive form at our very doors, he had |
hesitated to take immediate and strin-
gent steps to save his fellow countrymen
from having their feelings violated in a
more outrageous manner The secret |
of the publication was no doubt dis.
closed by Mr.. Iohn Redmond, who said |
the paper had been posted on the pre-. |
vious evening Ito America and to for.
eign nations" aud that the Leaguers |
have at their back "the great mass of |
the Irish people in and out OF Ireland"
The whole business has been intended |
for American consumption, and is part |
of the general scheme for obtaining |
dollars from the Irish Republicans and |
Clan ma Gael men in the United States.