The Express.
London, England, 1858-06-01 00:00:00

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LONDON, TUESDAY, JUNG 1.

IT may be questioned whether her hisrscres
Opposition are not making too mach of Mr. Ma-
mma's speech at Slough. That the speech was as
indiscreet as it was clever has been denied by no one.
Had it been left without comment its effect assuredly
would not have been to gain an accession of public
confidence for the orator. But these reiterated
attacks are in not a few quarters construed to imply
a sense of soreness in the assailants ; and
some people are beginning to think that
there mast have been more in the speech
than they at first imagined. Lord JOHN
RUSSELL'S remonstrance and rebuke was all very

well; but when Lord PALMERSTON is seen to return
to the subject, and when Lord CLARENDON
announces his intention to follow suit, is not this
equivalent to an admission that the noble lords are
wincing under their rivers remarks ? Their tactics
are perfectly consistent with the rules of Parlia-
mentary warfare ; but are they judicious ? The
solid thinkers of all parties those who
ultimately give the tone to public opinion—
are little moved by the issue of these wit-
tights. Victory in such conflicts can ensure but an
ephemeral advantage at the best. Even though Mr.
DISRAELI be convicted of a lack of judgment in his
/6 Peron chaunted to the feasters at Slough, his fol-
lowers will allege that his indiscretion may pair oft
with that perpetrated by Lord PALMERSTON when
he blew his war-trumpet to tickle the ears of the
feasters in Guildhall. What the real adherents of
the Party of Progress want to know is, not whether
Lord PaistEasrox or Mr. Disit.ssu have by rash
language given the greater opening to hostile criti-
cism, but which of the two statesmen is prepared to
come forward with a programme in accordance with
the honour, the interest, and the wishes of the nation.
As to Mr. DIBRAF.LI'S declaration, that he and his
colleagues found the country on the eve of a war
with France, and that they restored a good under-
standing between the Governments—with all defer-

awe for Mr. DISRAELI we must say that we cannot
believe it. No doubt the French Government
was very irate ; but between such a mood
and a declaration of war there is often a wide
distance. The actual state of tbe cue appears
to us to have been nearly as follows : The truckling
of the English Government to French bravado and
dictation in the Jersey affair naturally led the
Cabinet of the Tuileries to expect that more might
be got out of it by continuing the preseure. The
affair of the Rue Lepelletier was accordingly destined
to be worked in this sense. Lords Eu.IOIEBI.OIJ and
CLARENDON were all submission. But by this time the
English public, which, irritated by an affront offered
to our justly beloved Qussx, had overlooked the
immense importanos of the constitutional principle
sacrificed by its toleration of the outrage in Jersey,
_ . _

began to be alive to the encroachments of the Court
of the Tuileries. Lords PALMERSTON and CLAREN-
DON, aware of the jealous mood of the English
public, attempted, in sporting phrase, to " hedge."
They declined to tamper with our general. system
of penal procedure as regards political offences,
but undertook to carry a Bill—the Conspi-
racy Bill—through Parliament, which they nat-
tered themselves might operate as balm poured
into the wounded feelings of the EMPEROR.
Their attempted compromise proved • miserable
Aaiun. The EMPEROR sneered at it, because it
could not serve his purpose; the English public
growled at it becalms it was an obvious concession to
unwarrantable and insolent threats. Not only was the
Bill thrown out by the House of Commons, its authors
were obliged to trudge after it. These events were ac-
companied and followed by various angry demonstra-
tions on the part of the French authorities. M. DE
PERBIONY retired from his Mission ; bellicose French
Colonels petitioned to be led to an English invasion ;
and their valorous and loyal effusions were duly
chronicled in the Moniker. Bat nobody acquainted
with the actual state of affairs in France dreamed of
war for a moment. It was certain from the begin-
ning that Ancient Pistol would eat his leek. And
so it has happened—no thanks to the dexterous
diplomacy of MALMESBURY, DISRAELI, and Co.;
but simply because when the French authorities
had said their say, they, not being in a
condition to act, had nothing for it but to cease
talking and do nothing. The French nation and
all the better spirits in the French army bad no
mind to a quarrel with England. All Lord DERBY
might say, " that cock would not fight." The angry
discussions between the two Governments died out
under DERBY, as they would have died out under
Psucuarox. Assuredly the change of Ministry had
no effect in hastening their termination. If MALMES-
BURY was complaisant and deferential to Count WA-
LEWSICI, CLARENDON had been at least as obsequious.
If the inadequate proffer of a Conspiracy Bill—and
its failure—was a bitter pill for the Government of
the Tuileries, the trial and acquittal of BRA-
N ARD was not a sweet morsel. The simple
truth is, that Louts NAPOLEON knew that the COM-
serratives PALmERBToN and CI.ARENDON were quite
as eager to fawn upon him as the Conservatives
DERBY and MALMESBURY; and his own ngseity and

prolonged opportunity of observing England taught
hint that neither the one nor the other could do
, for him in the existing mood of the
public. He had more prudence AIM le
with England, and accordingly did net plbse
Government hard any mare than he weal;
pressed the old. Peace bee bean preserved, est
diplomatic skin of the present Government.bet 1
sturdy, quiet dimesenear of the Bogle
And peace was endangered, fret by are
.61 hes bean dose re said by the ;t#°
bat by the weak yieldiag d Lord Cheeeil•
the tilandlidunents of hire%e despotism, end
kediteg the &sparer of tits PIEItCH to be-'
he could dpti ihrgeglish nation into