The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-01 00:00:00

PRIYCIL3.i :9.

.....
Thin Evcvnio. THE HoNEYSIOON.—And HARLISQUIN
LITTLE TWA rtretaat mews. **ion, Cathcart. A. and C.
Leelrmi. Huhn* and Son, Milano, Saylor, and Chapin°,
Meadatnes Barnett. Adams. and Howard

LYCZI

True Emma, THE awiiiru.D. Mr. Wlddlcomb and
Him P. Lederon —BEL DEMONIO, a Love Story. Amara
Irectitei. Brougham, Emery, Charles, and Jordan ; Maim
Terry, Laramie, and EJawaiMy, and Mrs. Lee.

BRITANNIA.

Tius ErCNINCS. the New Pantomime HICKORY. HICKORY,
D 4 IcK Mrs Lane and tint-rate Pantom —The Harrel,
of Prru. • THE GREAT GHOST trthur and Bertranol
—ma Fair) Yountaiu.Aud THE GORILLA HUNT.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON MUDD".
Tim DA? Nownhac. 6h. 15m... .Atterooes. 6h. 317.
Tu.stohhor Mceolna. 6h 61w. . All Goss. 7ra. 'um

LONDON, FRIDAY, JANUARY L

THE importance justly attached at the present
time to the action of the Austrian Government in
the atlairs of Europe has, to a great extent, di-
verted attention from • crisis in the internal
politics of that Empire, which is serious enough to
occupy the anxious thoughts of her best friends
in this country. The progress of Constitutional
Government in Austria hsa been watched in
England with various degrees of faith in the chief
agents in its development, but with only one con-
viction as to its desirableness and necessity. In
the eyes of intelligent Englishmen the security of
the Empire at home, and the measure of respect it
may command abroad, must all depend
on the extent to which the Imperial Go-
vernment can inform the various parts of the
heterogeneous monarchy with a true national life,
sustained and perpetually renewed by the exercise
of public liberty. With us this belief is elemen-
tal and out of doubt. But we are a people in the
old enjoyment of constitutional rights, whereas
Austria has only lately made trial of Parliamen-
tary institutions. Rulers who have inherited
traditions of personal government and unlimited
power find it hard to adopt fully and frankly all
the conditions of the representative system—a
system which only flourishes where it is accepted
heartily. Difficulties arise ; the new method does
not at once yield all the profit that was looked for ;
coutidence fails to meet its expected return ; the
new bodies of the State claim more power
than it was hoped they would be content
with, or use that which was conceded otherwise
than was expected. Thereupon ensue misgivings,
regrets, and hesitation ; councils are dubious, the
champions of the old vicious systems suddenly
recover voice and courage, the patriotic are sad-
dened, and all progress is suspended.
Something like this is the situation of the
Austrian Government at this moment. The Vienna
papers,which have respectively affirmed and denied
the existence of a hlinisterial crisis, may settle
among themselves the precise meaning to be
attached to that well-known phrase. The fact
is, that within the Ministry for the last month
harmony, decision, and confidence have given place
to discord, uncertainty, and distrust. It would be
well if personal rivalry and personal antagonism
could be assigned as the adequate cause of this
deplorable state of things. If the question
were merely what eminent men should carry
out a method of government fully and finally
accepted by all parties, it would be different
we might then congratulate the EMPEROR on
the patriotic zeal and statesmanlike ability at
his service. But while personal jealousies
count for much in the present crisis—while it
is true that the advancement of M. &Hass-
the pillar of the constitutional system, is
most distasteful to the crowd of illustrious
personages who before his advent brought
the Empire so near to ruin, the great peril of
Austria at this moment is the growth of a reac-
tionary feeling, a longing after the old
system, a desire to get rid of the restraints of
coustitutionalism in the highest regions of the
State. This need not surprise us much. The Reichs-
rath has lately been unmanageable, as Parliaments
at times will be, and the persons composing the c ntim-
ra fp of the Emei:Hou are reactionary to • nm.
These persons tell him that the true national re-
presentation of Austria has always been, is now,
and ever must be—not a Chamber of talkers,
managed by a Frankfort lawyer, but—the Army.
They tell him that Parliamentary triumphs are
beneath his notice ; that only the victories of
the battle-field are worthy of his line ; and that
among the great Powers Russia is the one with
which he should cultivate a peculiar friendship
and form a close alliance.

It need hardly be said that the knowledge of
these facts--the weakness and want of union
among the Ministry, and the misgivings and
regrets in a higher region--are causing distress, and
almost dismay, among intelligent patriots, who are
compelled to hear wild and guilty hopes that have
for three years been suppressed now proclaimed with
hardihood. They may well be dismayed, for what are
the prospects of the Imperial Austrian State without
a Parliament truly representing the tuition 7 To
the revival of national life which has accompanied
the inauguration and developmentof Constitutional
Government, Austria owes an increase of material
prosperity and mural order at home, and of respect
abroad, such as she had not known before in modern
times. If her rulers mean to retrograde, to what
are they to go back Not to the situation of 1858;