The Sun. — 1870-05-26 (London, England)

SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.  Whatever the course of the Americon Government with regard to the Fenian invasion of Canada, the Times thinks the duty of the Canadian authorities is clear. The marauders must be severely dealt with. This is not the first offence of the kind. Four years ago O'Neill crossed. the border ; but the loyalty of the Canadians was aroused, and the American Government kept faith with them, so that the invaders had to beat a speedy retreat. If the Fenians, in spite of all warnings, persist in carrying war into a peacable community, they cannot expect to be treated as other than mere ruffians and murderers. The only charge they can bring against the Canadians is that they are under the British Crown, and it is intolerable that in their hatred of England they should persist in ravaging the territory of a pacific and inoffensive people. The Standard believes that it will be looked upon as a profitable business in future to steal an Englishman, that one country seems inclined to copy another, and thus we find the example of Greece has been followed by brigands from Gibraltar. It now remains to be seen what steps Lord Clarendon will take for the protection of British subjects, but unfortunately our experience in Greece does not hold out much hope for us in this respect. 'The local banditti appear .to be undisputed masters of the affair, and we must wait to see what their purposes may be before we can form any just notion of the state of the case or the chances of extrication. The Telegraph considers there are several reasons why the right of excluding strangers from Parliamentary debates should not be hastily and incautiously surrendered. There is the danger of intimidation, and it may be conducive to the public interest that some debates should be secret. We cannot see why Parliament should not have the privilege accorded to courts of justice ; but the point on which reform is urgently demanded is that one single member should be able to exert the right in question. One crotchetty man can enforce the exclusion which all the rest object to. The power of exclusion should belong to the House as a body ; and then, while Parliament retained all the privilege it can reasonably want, the publicity so necessary for the general welfare would be preserved. The Post thinks the news from Canada is most unsatisfactory, and no one can deny that the affair has become serious. Allowing for the chance of some exaggeration in reports, there still remains enough to call for the earnest attention of the Covernment. In all probability the Canadians will be able to deal with the matter themselves, and they have the advantage of being prepared for the attack. As for the American Government, they must recognise the duty that lies before them, and do all in their power to counteract the efforts of the Fenians. So far as we can judge of their future course by their present acts they will not fail to denounce the Fenian offenders. President Grant has spoken out in a forcible manner, and his language leaves us nothing to demand or desire.  The Daily News says that the second reading of the Clerical Disabilities Bill yesterday shows how much the House of Commons has changed its opinions on such subjects of late years. The principle of this bill need not be descanted upon, for there is no reason why clergymen should be fettered by restrictions when the necessity for such restrictions no longer exists. The law must prevent the infliction of hardships on the members of the clerical profession, and the claims of religious liberty exact that it should do so. As for Mr. Walpole's argument it is a very exclusive one, and his horror at the idea of changing one's profession amounts to superstition. No doubt Mr. Hibbert's bill is susceptible of improvement, but so long as the clerical disabilitieii are removed people will not trouble themselves about the manner in which the desirable work is accomplished.