6 JANUARY 1923, Page 11

Such procedure against a British subject must surely be unparalleled

since the fall of the house of Stuart. The article which Mr. Roberts published was obviously highly libellous. We have seen no reason stated why he was not proceeded against by the two members under the ordinary law of libel. A Royal Commission has indeed reported that the Quebec Government neglected nothing in its search for the girl's murderers. But this surely is not relevant to the case, which is one of principle as to whether this is the age not for the disuse of that formid- able instrument, the Bill of Attainder, but for its enlarge- ment so as to include private individuals as well as culpable ministers of the Crown. Truly Democracy hath its tyrannies not less renowned than monarchy.