The Press. — London, England, 1856-08-30 00:00:00

AUGUST 30, 1856. of the "Conservative party," and also the general tone of its remarks upon the articles in THE PRESS. I% appears to me that the Herald assumes that the only basis udon which a p lay preten ling to ad vocate Conservative sentiments can be founded is the repeal of the Maynooth grant.. I have always considered it to be a great error the giving a political signification to questions which are, and ought to be, entirely religious. If the repeal of the Mayuooth grant were to give any additional strength or protection to the interests of the Protestant Church in Ireland (I say Ireland, for Maynooth is eminently and entirely an Irish question, and ought strictly to be treated Si such), if any good were likely to accrue to the Protestant Establishment. in Ireland from the repeal of the grant, then I for one would be its most strenuous advocate. But it is because I am convinced that such repeal would in no one way benefit the Protestant faith in Ireland, but, on the contrary, would create discontent, if not rebellion, from one end of the land to the other— would turn the present peaceful attitude of the Irish nation into one of fierce sectarian and polemical hatred towards this country—that I think any attempt to awaken and put in motion such bitter results as the repeal of the Maynooth grant would undoubtedly lead to, should be deprecated and repudiated by all true Conservatives. And when I reflect who it wag who advocated and instituted the grant to Maynooth—no less a personage than Mr. Pitt—a name ever to be remembered with the deepest gratitude and reverence by gentlemen espousing Conservative doctrines—l must pause beiore I presume to advocate the repeal of an act originating from the greatest Minister and statesman this country ever produced. Far better would it be for those gentlemen who cry so lustily for the repeal of the Maynooth grant to turn their attention to soothing and quieting the differences which un fortunately disturb the serenity and calm of our Protestant faith ; far better discern " the beam in our own eye before we attempt to pull out the mote which is in our brother's eye." Sure lam that it would be more in accordance with the spirit of Con servatism to repair rather than destroy; and it is by strengthening and repairing our Protestant Estab lishment at home and abroad that we shall in a far higher degree promote its efficiency and usefulness, than by any attempts we may make to undermine and destroy a hierarchy which, if left to itself, will slowly but surely perish. I am also opposed to the doctrine laid down by the Herald that it is the duty of an Opposition un ceasingly to oppose the Executive. Such a doctrine may be held by a Whig, hut surely not by a Conser vative, Opposition. That was the doctrine held by the Whigs during the Peninsular war, and doubtless such would have been their policy had they been in Opposition during the Crimean war—at least, if the conduct of L trd John Russell and the Whigs after the formation of Lord Derby's Cabinet can be taken as any criterion. Unceasing opposition to a Govern ment is faction—and is unworthy of, and antagonistic to, Conservatism. The conduct of the Opposition during the Crimean war was in every way worthy of the Conservative party—in a word, it was the em bodiment and essence or Conservative patriotism. Again, I cannot understand the policy of the Herald in assuming the present position of the Con • servative party as being divided and disorganised, and that it is so is the fault of its leaders. But, sir, is this the fact ? Is it the fault of the leaders of the Conservative party that dissensions exist and that differences of opinion have arisen within its ranks ? Is it not rather the fault of the mistaken zeal of some of the followers of that party? The policy of Lord Derby's Administration was Conservative in the strictest sense of the word—it conserved the sound while it, reformed the bad; it was the sub stance and not the shadow of Conservative progress ; and happy would it have been for the nation had it not been so factiously driven from office! One word more, sir, upon the ungenerous attempts to write down the right lion. gentleman the member for Bucks. If any man were better suited for the lead-r of a political party than another, that man is Mr. Disraeli. By his own untiring exertions and ability, without the extraneous aids of high birth and large .ortune, he has attained to a position of the highest. political eminence. Indefatigable in attend. ing his parliamentary duties—of splendid oratorical powers —an acute and apt debater—ever ready in " reply "—a keen observer of the political signs of the times—manifesting the purest principle and the soundest sagacity on all leading questions of the day—such are the qualities which Mr. Disraeli possesses ; and such are the qualities which should belong to any man who presumes to " lead" a party. Whatever be the present position of the Conservative party, it is, I maintain, in no way owing to any neglect nor inattention on the part of its leaders; but is the result rather of defection of those in the real ranks, than in consequence of any infraction of duty by those in the van. Let but the Conservatives place implicit confidence and unqualified support in THE PRESS. their leaders, and there can be no fear for the result.—l have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, August 27, 1850. Juvzsis. MAYNOOTH. TO TILE EDITOR Oli "THE PRESS." Sir,—l am obliged by your insertion of my letter. I have no wish to enter into a controversy with you on this subject, but I wish merely to make a remark on what you say. I would deprive the Papists of political power and re-enact the restrictions, "not penal laws," as you say, against them. Ido con sider the Roman Catholics as dangerous, because they do not acknowledge the supremacy of the Queen, but of the Pope, and a divided allegiance will never do. That I am not very far wrong in my reasons for alarm, look at the appointment of Lord Castlerosse as Comptroller of her Majesty's House hold.—l am, sir, yours obediently, FREDERICK JAMES PERCEVAL, J. P. for Middlesex and Kent. Colesbill, August 23, 1856. PS.—When we have done wrong, ought we not to retrace our steps, instead of continuing to do wrong ? lortign (tartzsganbtnte. BRUSSELS, August 27. THE success of' constitutional government has been amply verified in Belgium by the unanimous testi mony of gratitude which the country has given to its King for his upright conduct during a period of twenty five years. Bruges, Antwerp, Namur, Mons, Luxembourg, and this week Liege, setting aside party differences, "le politique du clocher," have spoken out in the language of sincerity, free from all conventional verbiage, that cannot be mistaken for other than the genuine expression of loyalty and truth. King Leopold is everywhere proclaimed to be "le meilleur des Bois." In this jubibe of national thanksgiving, which at the moment has an especial value, there is no drawback. Even the ultramontane malcontents who would disturb foi their selfish ends the cal dins' statutes of the consti tution are willing, for the nonce, to hold their peace . The members of this faction may learn from the example of Mexico the fatal consequences that their unwise projects would entail upon Belgium. The estates of the landed proprietors of Mexico yield 90,000,000 pesos; that of the clergy, under the law of " mortemain and dimes," for which the Belgian Ultramontanes clamour and conspire, rather exceed 300,000,000 pesos; and the exemption from taxation of this enormous property, by throwing upon the smaller share of the land the burdens of the coun try, has brought about a revolution. such injustice will always bring about a revolution. Let the Ultra montanes reflect upon this truth. Lord Granville, on the 15th, bad his formal recep tion at Peterhoff. Prince Esterhazy, the Austrian Ambassador, with his suite, consisting of the Prince of Tour and Taxis, Princs Schwartzenberg, Counts Aponyi, Chotek, and Gallenberg, were also pre sented to the Emperor Alexander on the same day. There was no lack of imperial courtesy towards the English Ambassador. Every minutia of official de corum was punctiliowly observed; thqie was even the fitting semblance of a dignified cordiality, but there was an undisguised absence of sympathy. An " arri ere pensee " lurked throughout, and the play of the facial muscles in the constrained smile did not serve to light the cold and passive eye of the Sclave courtiers. The reception given to M. de Morny was frank; that to Lord Granville formal. In the jour nals of the Russian Court the mention of the Eng lish Embassy is made with frigid politeness, whereas of the French Ambassador it is said, " L'Amba.ssa deur de France a pu juger de la sympathie que son pays inspire en Russie ; cette sympathie, qui n'a jamais cesse d'exister, se mainfeste avec une expan sion peu commune." There is no real ground for offence in this distinction. Towards Austria the Russian Court is studiously teserved, neither have the good offices of Prussia to soften the northern austerities been of any avail, since the two Courts, to make use of a Russian expression, "Sont toujours unties dana lea relations les plus froides depuis la 821 fin de la guerre d'Orient." Each day brings its mark of especial favour towards France. A ban- Inet has been offered tq and accepted by, the )fficers of the French Embassy, from the imperial ecole du genie ;" and on the return of General £odtleben, of Sebastopol, who id to be present, a day will be fixed for its celebration. On the evening of the 15th, the fête of Saint Napoleon, the saloons of M. de Morny were overflowing with the nobility and grand officers of the Russian Court. A flotilla is preparing with the utmost expedition at Dantsic to extertninate the Riff pirates, and the deter. initiation has been officially signified to the Emperor of Morocco. The Emperor of Russia also has placed at the disposal of bis relative two frigate and two steam corvettes. Prince Adalbert is slowly recovering from his wound, which is severe, and to superintend and cheer his convalescence the Countess of Barnim, his morganatic partner (Fanny Eisler), has taken her departure for the south. A deputation of Hun garian Protestants, headed by the pastor Maurice Kolbenbeyer, of Oldenburgb, lately arrived at Berlin with the ostensible object of soliciting subscriptions for the construction of a Protestant church in Hun gary. Their real mission is to protest against the treatment of their co-religionists in that country, resulting from the provisions of the Aastro.Papal Concordat. Much sympathy has been evinced for them in Austria itself, and they are powerfully sup ported in their petition for theinterference of Prussia in their behalf. Not satisfied with the defeat of the unfortunate victims of his pernicious advice at Massa and Carrara, nazzini concocted another revolt at Orbitello, in the rwican maremma. These hapless insurgents were .nere boys—to the number of thirty or forty—and, were dispersed by a dozen gendarmes without any dif leaky. They never waited to fight—flying in all diree t ions—and some few were taken prisoners. Mazzini's revolutionary committee holds its sittings at Geneva, *rom whence come the proclamations that keep the vild republicans in a ferment. Fresh reinforcements - If Austrian troops are on their march into Lombardy. On the other hand, the subscriptions for the Aleseart- Irian ordnance come pouring in at all hours. Florence, Pisa, Pistoja, Rome, and Naples have furnished their contributions, and these are forwarded furtively, yet safely, to the committee in Piedmont. Under he active superintendence of General de la Marmara the work of the fortifications at Alessandria and Casale are in active progress. The Buorgintento has lately directed public attention to the time ap pointed, and which is near at hand, for the seques tration of the property of Lombard refugees resident in Piedmont. Notice has been given to the meta 'tiers by the Austrian officials, and should the menaced sale take place, reprisals will be surely awl instantly made upon the possessions of the Arch bishop of Milan and others situate in Piedmont. A difference, short. and sharp, has occurred at Rome betwixt Cardinal Antonelli and Monsignor Ferrari, Papal Minister of Finances. The latter would not consent to certain propositions of the Cardinal, in consistent with the poverty of the Roman exchequer and in other respects injurious to the fiscal prospects of the States. The Minister sent in his resignation, which was not accepted, and the point of dispute was eonceded instead; but the conscientious prelate is loomed to be shelved by the presentation of a car dinalete, whereupon he will vacate his present office. ['he proposition for a railway from Rome to Bologna, liming by Ancona, has been granted, in opposition to the desires of Cardinal Antonelli, and the deposits fir that from Florence to Areggo and the Papal fron tier have been naid into the Swiss bank at Florence. Of all the arms wielded for Italian independence, none will be more effective than a system of railroads. Considerable importance is attached to the mission of M. de Hubner to Naples. His task is not facile, for each remonstrance that he may make to the King on the misgovernment of the country will doubtlessly be returned in no conciliatory language by the monarch, in reference to the state of things in Lom bardy. There would be no justice in this recrimina tion, for the Government of Austria is especially favorable to the development of the agricultural and mineral wealth of Lombardy. Therein lies a selfish and not a virtuous interest. On the contrary, the Government of the King of Naples is not only ne glectful of agriculture, bat peremptorily refuses to permit the landlords of ths interior to• do tits► nhisl►