The Sun. — 1870-05-07 (London, England)

ENGLAND AND GEEECE.  The Spectator thinks that it is not by arrogantly in. timidating the weak governments that we shalt diminish the foolish prejudices felt in so many English minds for a policy of what is called non-intervention, Whatever Europe supposes, it certainly does not suppose that we are afraid to take up a stern attitude towards Greece. Whatever it may think of our degeneracy, it would not be undeceived by finding that we felt no scruple in humiliating Greece. Very different, indeed, is the lesson taught us by the late Mr. Herbert in the noble self-restraint of the letters addressed by him during the last days of his life to his official superior at Athens, Mr. Erskine. These letters breathe a spirit of almost punctilious respect for the selfesteem of the Greek Government, and even intimate candidly that there are certain sacrifices which could not possibly be asked from it, even as the price of the English prisoners' lives. Such letters, of course, make us feel more deeply than ever the misfortune which we have undergone. They make us more resolved than ever to demand a strict account of that still utterly inexplicable movement of the Greek troops which led to the murders. They make us more determined than ever to take steps for the final extinction of the brigandage which has led to all this misery. But they also indicate the tone of strict and self-forgetful justice, in which we should deliberate upon the course to be pursued, and the self-denial with which we ought to reject any policy which, while it made atonement to the injured pride of England, might increase the anarchy of the unfortunate little country where we have suffered these things. Above all, whatever we demand should strike at the root of the evil, and anything which strikes at the root of the evil will hardly be likely to inflict any needlessly conspicuous humiliation on the Greek Government itself. We must of course demand justice. We must yield nothing that can diminish the sense of responsibility with which the Government of King George views the duty of extirpating these horrors. We must insist on alternatives which will drive it to suppress brigandage. But we protest altogether, as most mischievous arid un= warrantable, against any hasty steps which should anticipate the ordinary usages of nations, and of which the object should be expressly to humiliate and weaken a Government which, of all things, most needs moral dignity and independence, and strength. It is not by a policy of conspicuous selfishness that England will defeat the selfish theory of non-intervention.  MR. NEWDEGATE IN THE COMMONS  The John BO remarks that chaos reigned in the House of Commons on Monday night, when the adjourned and apparently interminable debate on the appointment of Mr. Newdegate's Convent Committee was resumed. The Governmint managed very cleverly to secure the support of such staunch Protestants as Mr. Kinnaird, Mr. Osborne Morgan, and Mr. Miall, as well as the more consistent votes of several High Church Conservatives—still that chaos did reign will be evidenced by a study of the analysis of the division list. The wisest course, probably, was taken by those who kept out of the fray altogether for while one cannot help being intensely amused at the Nonconformist saying that the time for aising a No Popery cry is inconvenient, there an be no doubt the assertion contains a certain amount of truth. Inconvenient it certainly is to the Government. But Roman Catholics have hardly improved their position with their fellow-countrymen by their excessive unwillingness to allow an inquiry. We should have thought their policy was to court the fullest investigation. Meanwhile, wo regard the modified investigation as to property (very small, we believe) held by conventual institutions as perfect moonshine. And to do Mr. Gladstone justice, he does so likewise. Only it was necessary to gild the pill for the Nonconformist palate. To the credit, however, of several Liberal Protestants, be it recorded, that either they or their constituencies would not swallow the bait. On Thursday Mr. Bernal Osborne convulsed the House by interrogating Mr. Whalley as to the facts of his having been threatened with strangulation and ejection. While pretending to sympathise with the member for Peterborough, no doubt Mr. Osborne meant " Sarve him right." But Mr. Whalley has scant justice accorded