The Home Secretary has been opening Irish letters. He. was
asked the question on Monday, and practically admitted the fact, by a reply showing that the power was given him by the 1st Victoria, cap. 36, section 25, and by declining to give any further explanation. A number of questions have, of course, been asked during the week, and answers given, from which it appears that the Ministry consider there is sufficient. emergency to justify the practice, that they will not state what the emergency is, that they seize as well as open letters, and that every legal formality is complied with. Of course, the whole matter turns on the extent of the emergency. If it is very great, there is no more moral reason against arresting letters and reading them, than against arrest- ing suspected persons and reading papers found on them, which is done every day. There is, however, a sound feeling in the country that for a Ministry to open letters without the gravest immediate cause is an unfair and even base proceeding—de like tricking a criminal into confessions—and the Minister who does it incurs a grave political, though not legal responsibility. During the emergency nothing can be said, bat when it has passed away, Sir William Harcourt will have a sharp half-hour. The House of Commons, we should add, is obviously with him.
Previous page
