The Press.
London, England, 1856-06-21 00:00:00

THE WEEK.

Mx Government, whi:•h seemed in danger of being overthrown at the
close of last week, has saved itself by its announcement on Monday
that it did not intend to dismiss Mr. DALLAS. In its case it cannot be
said, "All is lost, save honour," but rather, "All is lost, save place."
It refused to recal Mr. CRAMPTON and the incriminated Consuls at the
request of the United States Government, but it accepts their dis-
missal as an act not calling for retaliation. It made common cause
with them up to the time of their• dismissal, but it now practically
disowns them, and, at the suggestion of Mr. MARCY, frees itself from
responsibility by casting the whole blame of the recruiting business
on the agents whose conduct they had previously approved. The
fiction that our Envoy at Washington, and the other officials con-
cerned, acted without instructions from home, is too transparent for
belief. Did they contribute the funds from their own pockets ? For
what purpose was money placed at their disposal except for that pur-
pose to which they applied it ?
From the language of the Ministerial organs at the close of last
week it was supposed that the Premier had made up his mind to dis-
miss Mr. DALLAS. The Times, the Post, and the Daily News loudly
called for that. act of vigour. The long Cabinet Council on Saturday
e'aanged their tine. Last week went out like a lion, this week came in
as a lamb. We have not far to look for the influence which decided the
Council. Mr. BAILLIE'S skilfully worded motion would have com-
manded the support of the Conservative party, which has consistently
opposed the Enlistment Act, and, in the event of the dismissal of Mr.
DALLAS, would have received the votes of a number of the Liberal party,
sincerely desirous of avoiding the calamity of a war with the United
States. The chances were closely counted, and, through fear of an
adverse majority, the Government determined to shrink from the
responsibility of its acts.
Unfortunately the concession does nothing to settle the dispute
with the Washington Cabinet. In common honesty only two courses
were open to the Ministry. They might have insisted that the dis-
missal of their officers was undeserved, and have suspended diplo-
matic intercourse ; or they might have frankly acknowledged that an
error had been committed, that they were prepared to accept its con-
sequences, and to send a fresh envoy to Washington. They have done
neither. Mr. DALLAS will represent the United States in London, but
England will be unrepresented at Washington. It is not likely that
diplomatic relations can go smoothly on while this system continues ;
and meanwhile the critical points involved
.in the Central American
question urgently require settlement.
It is not true that. the United States Government consents to refer•
the whole matter to arbitration. Mr. MARCY says that it is first neces-
sary to define what are the points requiring arbitration ; and, with
great subtlety, he lays down certain principles on which his Govern•
ment can submit to no arbitration. Then he argues that the two
Governments had much better settle their• differences themselves, than
call in any third party. Next, he politiely insinuates that the States
of Europe must be too much occupied with their own affairs to care
to mix themselves up with the delicate questions to be decided ; and,
lastly, he suggests that a scientific commission would be the best
tribunal for disposing of so much of the points in dispute as related to
boundaries, that the issues raised might, as far as possible, be simpli-
fied. But on the most material points—as the occupation of the
Bay Islands and the protectorate of the Mosquito country—Mr. MARCY
plainly declares that his Government will submit to no arbitration or
compromise whatever ; and that the Bulwer••Clayton Treaty must be
annulled, as wholly different from the treaty contemplated by the
United States Government, if its construction on those particular
points be not submitted to. The treaty declared to be void, each
party would, of course, have to fight for supremacy in the region
which it was intended should be independent of both. While the
difference continues, we all know what our Government will do. The
Premier will insist on our North American fleet being" strengthened,"
and will vapour that the Yankees must be crushed ; and Lord CLARENDON,
solely anxious to postpone the challenge of the Washington Cabinet as
long as possible, will write long despatches, without the slightest idea
of what is to result from them.

We are not accustomed to think in this country that reading the
Bible should be visited with a penalty. But our Government, through
its Chief, has declared that it must and shall be so visited in Ireland,
and he calls on the House of Commons to support him in his determi-
nation. Is it possible that the House will reverse its vote of Tues-
day night? The whole question is this :—The State supports schools
from which the Bible is systematically excluded; ought it not, in
common fairness, to support schools in which the Bible is systemati-
cally introduced ? The Protestants of Ireland do not want to break
up the National system, but they do want to increase its usefulness.
They say this—and surely it is plain and just—if you enable a Roman
Catholic patron to have a school supported by the State grant, from
which he can at his will and pleasure exclude the Bible, irre•
spective of the wishes or demands of the parents of the children,
should you not in common justice allow the Protestant patron
to require the children who choose to attend the school to be daily
instructed in the Bible? The rule of the National Board is thoroughly
one-sided--it is an anti-Bible rule ; and hence the system fails to com-
mand that support of the clergy and gentry of the Establishment
which would otherwise be liberally accorded to it. It is not possible
that their just and righteous claim can long be resisted. On this
question it is to be hoped that the Conservative part) will he com.
pletely united and act with spirit. They will certainly have the feel-