On Thursday the House of Commons indulged in yet another
of its childish squabbles with the Press,—squabbles
which do much more to lower the position of the House of Commons than the newspaper articles which are resented by its Members. Mr. Redmond raised the question of privilege on an article which appeared in the Globe of Wednesday, which he alleged imputed' mercenary and corrupt conduct to the Nationalist party, and the House unanimously declared it to be a gross breach of privilege. Accordingly the editor and manager were ordered to appear at the Bar on Friday. It will be too late for us to chronicle this week what was actually done, but we presume there will be the usual futile apology and admonition. We do not in the least desire to defend the attitude taken by the Globe, and indeed condemn-it very strongly, for we believe with Mr. Balfour that the Irish Members have been free from pecuniary corruption. The fact that some of the Irish Members receive a stipend is, of course, in no possible way to their discredit. But in spite of this, we agree with Mr. Balfour in thinking that it is useless, nay, absurd and undignified, to attempt to inflict penalties upon newspapers which commit these technical breaches of privilege. The House of Commons should remember also that as Members occasionally slander the Press in Parliament, and that the Press has no remedy owing to the privilege of the slanderers. But the Press gets on very well without being able to call Members of Parliament to account. Why should not the House of Commons be able to endure Press accusa- tions with a similar equanimity? . The breaches of privilege which should be heavily and seriously punished are attempts to bribe or corruptly influence Members of Parliament.
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