THE "CELT" NEWSPAPER.

West Coast Times, Issue 838, 30 May 1868, Page 5

THE "CELT" NEWSPAPER.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE WEST COAST TIMES.

Sir — Ifc is with the utmost reluctance that I address you on subjects connected with the late political trials. None more than myself desires that they should bo obliterated from our memory, ■ and that the good feeling that prevailed ere the circumstances occurred which gave rise to those trials should be restored. In the colonies differences of nationality have not acted hitherto as elements of strife and hostility; nor is there any reason why they should so act now.- The " Celt," however, seems determined to prevent, as far as in it lies, the healing of the wound which that newspaper itself inflicted upon this community. Its writers and conductors address themselves almost entirely to the imaginations and passions of their readers. The reasoning faculties they seldom appeal to. That would be too tame; the blood must be stirred; angry, hostile, retributive passions must be aroused! I ask any rational man — can the cause of Ireland be served by such procedure as this ? Observe to-day's " Celt !" It is in deep mourning from its first to its "last page ! If an army of martyrs and patriots had been suddenly swept out of creation, no newspaper could go into deeper mourning than is the " Celt " of this day. And what for ? Because two gentlemen who pleaded guilty to the charge of seditious libel are suffering one month's imprisonment for the offence ! Can all this parade of grief by any possibility do good? On the other hand, is it not certain of doing harm ? Will not the impetuous aud unthinking portion of our Irish fellow-citi-zens, seeing all this pomposity of mourning, conclude that the prisoners are the victims of injustice — not of their own indiscretion, and rebel in their hearts accordingly? The effect must necessarily be to widen the gap occasioned by recent disturbances, which every well-disposed citizen should endeavor to close as speedily as possible. In draping the " Celt " in mourning, we are told that the example of its gieat prototype the "Nation" is followed. For aught I know, the " Nation " may have been quite right in going into mourning ; but I see no reason under present circumstances for a similar display here ; and lam of opinion that if the conductors of the " Nation" were in Hokitika and had the conducting of the '• Celt," they would have two much sense to drape that paper in deep mourning because two persons who pleaded guilty to the charge of seditious libel were sentenced to one month's imprisoment.

I must in the name of common sense flatly contradict the " Celt's" statement that the two gentlemen now undergoing imprisonment are suffering "for the old — the very old cause of Irish nationality." They are suffering for that offence against the x law of which they pleaded guilty. I have yet to learn that " the cause of li'ish nationality" is an offence against the law at all ; but the seditious advocacy of that, or any other cause, most undoubtedly is.

As one of the special jurymen in the late trial fpr " unlawful assembly," I must call attention to the prominent manner in which the " Celt" has published the names of the jurors. For myself I will at once state that I am quite indifferent as to the amount of publicity given to the fact of my being on the jury. I would have preferred not to have been, but as the chapter of accidents placed me there, I discharged the duty imposed on me conscientiously, and without fear or favor ; and lam justified in saying that my fellow-jurors did the same. It is therefore, not the act, but the invidious mode, of publishing the jury-list to which I wish to refer. There is an evident desire on the part of the " Celt" to mark us out to their readers. The names do not fqllow as is usual, but a whole line is devoted to each ; and in order to ensure our identify, our respective occupations are carefully appended to ouv names. More than this, the names are not placed where they usually are, at the commencement of the account of the trial. No, we are honored by a paragraph all to ourselves in the most conspicuous part of the paper. Why does the "Celt" take so much trouble about us ? Does it wish to hold us up for the esteem of its enlightened readers, or for the reprobation of those who have become mentally diseased by its rabid teachings ? I regret to confess that, in viewing all the circumstances, I am forced to the belief that in thus publishing the jury's names the idea was to damage us in the eyes of the iindis criminating. I regret this, not because I am at all alarmed about damages, but because it shows me that the late State trials have not exerted that salutary influence that I had hoped for — have not eliminated that bad blood which every right-minded man must reprobate. It is surely possible, in this corner of the world, to advocate Ireland's cause, and the redress of her grievances, without falling foul of one's neighbors. If it be not, it will be better to withdraw our puny assistance. I cannot call to mind one' single Irish grievance that the " Celt" has been instrumental in redressing; while on the other hand I unfortunately know thafc it has inflicted grievous injury here on the West Coast. Temperately conducted the "Celt" would be useful and successful. For myself I should be glad to subscribe to a paper that Avould keep me cm cow-ant in Irish news, especially just now when such radical changes arc pending. But no cause, no undertaking will ever succeed that has to be bolstered up by proceedings such as those I have narrated in this letter. — I am, &c, John White. • Hokitika, May 29, 1808.