The Sun. — 1865-05-18 (London, England)

PERCI- offered great difficulties in its management, and it vAL, in another, fell victims to the knife and the remains to hope that such well-timed decision may bullet, there was but one sentiment—that of horror, have its effects upon those immediately connected but one outcry—that of indignation, against with the sick in other workhouses. A more discrethe murderer. The Canadians are essen- ditable case than that of RICHARD GIBSON can tially English in their feelings and character, hardly occur, but who can say how many others yet Mr. JOHNSON does not scruple to accuse them equally bad are not occurring which we are prewholesale, not only of receiving, but of harbouring vented from knowing owing to circumstances. assassins. It is this recklessness of accusation During the last year we have had two startling which makes men look with doubt and anxiety cases of workhouse neglect put before us, and it is to the future. It is but too probable that the time that something was done to remedy the evils next step will be to demand the extradition and rectify the abuses that take place in the system of all Confederates of any note from Canada, on of treating our sick poor in these places. It the plea of their being concerned in one of the many has been shown from reliable statements that so-called plots which the Federal Government has the patients are left for sixteen hours without discovered. Three hundred persons have already any nourishment, and that the doctor often passes been put under arrest, and it is very likely that by the beds without looking at their occupants. the list of " suspects" may double or treble The sad tale of the sufferings endured by sick that number, since it has been thought worth paupers is indeed dreadful to dwell upon, and the while to prepare them a special prison. When full horrors of their situation will probably never be conspirators are obliging enough to knock public fully known until the day when all secrets are disofficers down in the public thoroughfares without closed ; but we may safely infer that the ranks hurting them, on purpose to drop a paper giving of these nameless martyrs are numerously filled up. I all details of a plot to set cities on fire and then It is high time that something be done to alter the run away beyond all pursuit, there is no saying present state of things, and that such a supervision be introduced as shall render a repetition of the how many men, whose independence or patriotism c makes them obnoxious to the Government, may not case of GIBSON impossible. The authorities in a place hang too much together, and it would be become implicated. Mr. JOHNSON holds " treason," so called, in such holy horror that he would like to well if a disinterested party made examireverse the old adage, and hang a hundred innocent nations occasionally. If the Poor-Law Board men rather than let one guilty one escape. There sent an inspector, or some responsible party, is a famous old distich which tells us that treason, to inquire into the state of patients in workh when it prospers, is not treason ; and one is re- houses by personal observation, without notice of minded that Mr. JOHNSON'S own sacred Union owes his arrival, much good might be done, and a check its very existence to something which in the North is be established which would be salutary. It is cercalled Independence, but in the South is called Treatain that a great wrong has been done to the cause son. The difference between GEORGE WASHINGof justice by the treatment of this poor man, and in TON and JEFFERSON Davis is simply that the one the opinion of a Christian community the recurwas successful, the other unsuccessful. American rence of a case which shocks the best feelings of estimation may be measured by this standard, but human nature should be prevented by every mean ingenuity can devise and skill put into practice. English sympathy is not ; and the feeling which was strongly evoked a few weeks ago on behalf of the Northern States when they lost their President will now turn tenfold to the high-minded man who is now the mark for the malignity of foes who are afraid of the uprightness and purity of his fame.