A tremendous- scene occurred in the House of Commons on
Wednesday. DUring a discussion on a Newspaper Registration Bill, brought forward'hy Mr. Waddy, which provides that the proprie- tors of every newspaper shall be registered, Dr. Kenealy stood up and said that the only difficulty in punishing libels was when the libelled in high *eels were afraid to face their accuser. He hated libel, but loved out-spokenness. An ironical cheer at this moment excited the speaker, who, looking at the bench on which Mr. Sullivan sat, said he had no feeling but scorn and contempt for exhibitions from miserable quarter. Mr. Sullivan there- upon jumped up and poured out a boiling flood of sarcasm and thinly veiled invective on Dr. Kenealy, a speech which delighted the House, who 'Molted to see the member for Stoke bludgeoned, but which quite over-stepped any limits usually allowed. Dr. Kenealy was told, almost by name, that he was a coward and a slave, and a charge twenty-five years old was quoted against him. Dr. Kenealy therefore followed Mr. Sullivan into the lobby, and there called him a liar. Mr. Sullivan, very properly, reported the words to the House, and on the motion of Mr. Forster his assailant was " ordered " to apologise, which he did. We cannot say we think the incident creditable to the House. Mr. Sullivan is a master of invective, and Dr. Kenealy may want putting down, but there is a limit to abuse within the House which Members ought strictly to enforce, and Mr. Sullivan, no doubt under strong provocation, passed it. That the Englishman and some other papers will shortly compel an alteration in the law of libel is quite possible, but the conduct of their conductors is no reason for allowing language with which freedom of debate cannot co-exist.
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