The Express. — 1867-07-12 (London, England)

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.  (THIS DAY.)  TRADES. UNIONS COMMISSIONS.  Though the public a ill share the very natural reluctance expressed by several members yesterday to extend any further the indemnity already enjoyed by the Sheffield murderers, the rib4f4 thinks the public will, ups" the whole, agree with Mr. Bouverie that we are not paying too high a price fur the revelations elicited, and that it is clear that unless these indemnities had been granted such revelations would never lave been obtained. If anything, however, could make the T,us,, hesitate in coming to this conclusion, it would be the attitude now assumed in Sheffield towards these convicted inurtlent». Itroidhead is the landlord of a public-house, and is said to have driven a thriving trade since be achieved such infamous notoriety. But the case of Crooke* the most extraordinary and the most disgraceful instance of the tone adopted in Sheffield on the subject. As Sir G. Grey says, it is amazing and di.graceful that any of Crookes's fellow artisans should consent to work with him. But what can we expect when a clergyman and several gentlemen of the town are all absorbed in grief at this man's "sufferings"? The pardon of the government means nothing but that they have consented to bold justice in abeyance for a great public advantage, and this entails on the Sheffield public the duty of inflicting, in souse degree, the punishment from which the law is restrained, and to make the ruffians feel that they are not spared on account of any extenuating circumstances in their crimes.  The question is a fair one, says the Dais., ./Ct ue., whether the knowledge which has been gained at the risk of inverting the object of the law, is worth the price which must be paid for it. lint this question should have been considered before the commissioners were appointed. The promise of indemnity is the grout instrument of discovery placed in their hands, and its use implies all the dangers which are now tardily recognised. Having commenced this inquiry, it is the duty of the country to go on with it to the end, to face the truth, and to leave nothing that can be discovered undetected. To shrink beck in terror from revelations which might have been, and were anticipated, instead of following tho track which they point oat, is the surest way of making the investigation fruitless. The remedy will not be disclosed until the worst i 1 known. It is in the highest degree important to know bow far the taint extends, who are free from it, and who are polluted by it. The demoralising effect of seeming to condone murder and of feeding a perverted appetite for horrors is undeniable ; but having laid bare the wound, it is nooeasar► to probe it to the bottom. The Standard believes Mr. B. Cochrane's assertions that criminal violence is characteristic of the whole system of trades-unionism ; that murder, of a kind peculiarly horrible and difficult of detection, is practised by the masons ; and that brutal outrage, short of murder, is inflicted by the generality of these societies—to be terribly probable. It is impossible, says the Standard, agreeing with Professor Beesley, to put any trust in indignation meetings and professions of astonishment and horror.