Moved by the widespread character of these demonstrations, the Government
resolved at bat to suppress them. On Thursday, the Lord-Lieutenant issued a proclamation, stating that such pro- cessions, as tending to excite hatred and contempt of the Govern- ment and leading to breaches of the peace, were prohibited; and measures were taken to enforce the order. Upon the whole, the Government are in the right. It would have been most oppressive to prevent any such demonstration, if directed to a practical political end; but the only object of these was to encourage an outbreak, which can only end in the loss of thousands of useful lives. It may be a wise policy, on some occasions, and in some places, to allow rebellion to gather to a head, but it is never a• moral policy, and it has always failed in Ireland. There has been more plotting since the Fenian rising of last year than ever before. We believe that the procession in Glasgow will also be arrested, for the Scotch are threatening to put the procession-makers to death. The first duty of every Government is to prohibit civil war.
