The Press. — London, England, 1854-07-08 00:00:00

"r -----,.. -:--- - .-.r-..~ CI b f rt ounommunn No. G2.—VoL. 11. reL) - 1 2 t Vrtss. LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY 8, 1864. Tneanswer of the Emperor of RUSSIA to the Austrian note has not yet been received, but we have reason to believe that its contents are not altogether unknown. It will not in any way resemble those opposite versions of its import which have been given, with equal authority and positiveness, by English journals of considerable character. The Austrian note was not an ultima- The reply of the Emperor of RUSSIA will recognise the result of recent events, and will indicate, in a spirit of conciliation, the basis of eventual arrangements. The anticipated collision between the Rus sian and Austrian armies is at present imaginary. The mission of Comte LEININGEN to Con stantinople, which was the prototype of that of Prince MENSCHIKOFF, was undertaken with the knowledge and approbation of the Emperor of RUSSIA. It is not, therefore, pro bable that the consequences of Prince MENS CHIKOFF'S mission, however deplorable, will lead to any material misunderstanding between the two Imperial Courts. The state of health of the heir to the Russian empire, the Czarowitsch, occasions the great est anxiety at St. Petersburg. His disorder is that of rapid decline. The accounts from our own forces are not satisfactory. The anticipated attack on Cronstadt has no foundation. In the Baltic the want of gun boats, and in the Black Sea the total break down of our commissariat, have crippled all our operations. Admiral DIINDAS has reported to the Government that it would be as useless for the fleet alone to attack Sebastopol as to attack Gibraltar ; that the great fortress must he assailed, at the same time, by an army ; and that the army must consist of not less than 100,000 men. It is not likely that anything of importance will occur at the seat of war in either quarter during the present year. In the meantime, the proposition of an armistice will shortly ensue. THF uneasiness and dissatisfaction which, a fortnight ago, we noticed as prevalent in the political world not only continue, but, as might be anticipated, present even aggravated symptoms. We have fallen into a condition of parliamentary paralysis at a period when, of all others, energy and spirit, and all the happiest evidences of life, were most desirable tum. LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY 8, 1854. in the great Council of the nation. The nominal Leader of the House of Commons, who at the commencement of the session was so bold and brave that nothing less would satisfy his " historical career" than carrying on war against the EMPEROR OF RUSSIA and reforming the House of Commons at the same time, as an adroit equestrian vaults upon two horses in the circus, now whimpers like a child, as each night furnishes fresh proof of the utter want of power of those who should be all-power ful. Lord Join; RUSSELL appears to have suc ceeded in nothing but in ejecting Lord GRAN mut from the Presidency of the Council, and in preventing Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT from be coming a Secretary of State. The history of the Ministry during the week has been a history of surrender. Their only mode of avoiding defeat is to abandon their positions. The most important mea sures which can engage a deliberative assem bly have been introduced to the notice of Parliament, and withdrawn at the first indica tion of opposition. A bill is brought forward to establish a general system of police throughout the country ; the towns combine to resist its progress ; the Minister, declaring the measure of first necessity, yields to the towns without a struggle. A new measure is introduced. which applies only to the coun ties; the counties murmur, and menace op position; the Minister, intimating that rapine and arson will be the probable consequences of the withdrawal, nevertheless takes the bill off the table, and leaves the responsibility of the catastrophe to Parliament ! After months of preparation and prolonged delays a day is definitively fixed for the second reading of the Testamentary Jurisdiction Bill, the first great step in the reform of the eccle siastical courts. The bill is considered crude, incomplete, and unsatisfactory. Notice of resistance is given by the Opposition, and the matured measure, promised for two sessions, is withdrawn. These are some of the conse quences of attempting to carry on parliament ary government without party. The system cannot be persevered in without materially injuring the English Constitution. There are many who look with distrust and alarm on the schemes of Lord Jospi RUSSELL for the reform of Parliament; there are some who contemplate with trembling the ulterior ob jects, in the same fashion, pursued by other distinguished members of the destructive party ; but, for ourselves, we doubt very much whether the Reform Bills of Lord JOHN Rus- SELL or the more advanced designs of other members of the Chesham-place confederacy are so likely to impair the authority and influence of our representative system as the continuance of a Coalition Government ad. ministering affairs amid nightly discomfiture and defeat. A few months ago, when the career of dis comfiture commenced, the Ministerial runners accounted for the perplexing disasters by the ingenious reason that the country was so ab sorbed by the war that it could really think of nothing else ; the adherents of the Ministry were so full of the Baltic and the Euxine that they forgot to support the Government. According to this principle, the members of Opposition should have equally omitted to PRICE SIXPENCE. oppose. As this happy excuse has long worn out, the more plausible reason now substi tuted is, that the Ministers have attempted too much. This might account for partial failure, but hardly for entire defeat. An admiring House of Commons might suffer from a satiety of confidence, but they would at least extenuate their occasional insubordina tion by an appeal to a devotion that was habitual. In the present instance the House has distinguished itself by successfully resist ing every measure of the Government. It is a virgin session ; and those who remain will be presented by the Lord President, on the day of prorogation, with white gloves. The inventors of the new apology, however, quite forget that the nominal Leader of the House announced, at the commencement of the session, that one - of the principal features of its management would be the introduction of few bills at the same time ; and that the Ministry were resolved not merely to introduce mea sures, but to pass them. The reform of Parliament, the education of the people, the Protestant character of our Constitution—these are not light subjects, or which a prudent statesman would leave in doubt or uncertainty. They are themes on which a British Ministry should have made up its mind. They arc matters which should not be stirred but for settlement. At present the depository of political power, the principles of national education, the relations of Eng land with the Church of ROme, are matters of controversy, not merely in the country, but in the Cabinet. Definite and decided opinions on such subjects ought to form the basis of political parties, and it should be left to the free discussion of Parliament to decide which of the contending theories should be reduced to practice, and govern the State. Nothing of this sort, however, is now the vogue. Parlia ment without party, that happy Government eulogised a year ago at Manchester by the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, is Parliament without opinion. What should reconcile a nation to he governed by an elective body of some five or nix hundred individuals, but that those persons represented their opinions ? Parliament without party is a bad club—a miscellaneous horde with little mutual sym pathy and respect, and with no root or influ ence outside its walls. In ordinary times such an aggregation, however false to its pur pose, might be iunoxious and unnoticed ; but in times of trouble, of danger, of exigency, a popular assembly with no organised opinions becomes the weakest of all forms of govern ment. We are involved in war, and on a great scale. Our taxes are much increased, our revenue is considerably declining; there are many symptoms of coming trouble. We want a strong Government; no Ministry can be strong that does not represent the predomi nant opinions of the country; no Ministry ought to be suffered to exist that does not represent some opinion. The Ministry of Lord ABERDEEN represents nothing. PROJECTED INVASION OF CUBA. THERE is good reason for believing that another " filibustering" expedition is preparing in the Southern States of America against the island of Cuba. The affair is proceeding in strict accordance with established precedent. Men meet to subscribe dollars, to charter