The Express.
London, England, 1859-11-25 00:00:00

iONDON. PAIDAT, NOV. 25.

Tue. public wee informed with considerable
solemnity nn Tuesday, and enjoined to be extremely
grateful for the &weeny, that by the side of the
meet enormous material power that ever existed in
society there had grown up a moral power which
could control it. A diligent study of this oracular
utterance brought us to the conclusion that this
teemeodoue power was the army of France wielded
by L01:14 NAPOLEON, and the controlling opinion
the prim of Eoglaud, or, strictly speaking, a single
journal which gives itself out as the press of
England, if not of Europe and the world. This

discovery—made, we presume, since the commence-
meet of the late war, which the united English
press so vainly opposed—is of infinite value, sup-
posing that there is no mistake about the matter.
If, however, there is the least uncertainty as to the
fact, then the ostentatious claim to so much power
over a great and sensitive neighbour is the silliest
and mast dangerous freak ever performed by
• newspaper. It is doubly unsatisfactory to find
that the only pretext for this magniloquent boast is
the alleged issue by the French Government of one
more restriction on the French press, becalms the eon-
cession, if it were made, would be utterly worthless to
us, and because to be held op to Europe as desiring it,
degrades us in the esteem of the world and in our
own. How could we ever boast again of a free
press if we had given any one a right to ask in oar
name that the French press might be pat soda re•
straict for our conveniecce ? To the honour of the
country, we are glad that no one can pretend to
such a commission. As far as Englishmen are
concerned, we only wish that the press of
France was altogether as free as we are.
Whenever we form a wish for France it Is tk•t her

ressou—certainly not that the reason of say &Win
power—should control her material forces. If, how-
ever, we must speak of opiaioo, which sometimes
canicides with reason and sometimes widely diffsre
trim it, we shall do well to remember that the tre-
mendous power of France is indubitably the child
of opinion; WiMISTOT opinion •hall declare against
the rest ainraineuts of France, of England, and of
Europe, they will wither and die.

Scrope is sow trembl;ng with the tramp al
armed hosts, in ocumequence of the opinion that mu
country most be armed for its defence. Fora hag
period opinion in France has demanded large arma-
ment• for protection both at home sad shrub&
Lucre PnitirrE bad a rut army, though be wee
afraid of it, and his son. the Prins DI 'Menai.;
laboured amiduouely to form a navy. MOW Nero.
LION bas rocammifaUy carried out sad Weeded
the designs of hie prediceasers. Opinion is Irene,
may be 'game the couseriptioe, and against the
heavy taxation accessary to support a large army
and navy, ►at it is madly in favour of large arma-
ments. We are not contented with the preps-
wione of ear Governa.ent, and the balk of the
youthful middle class is arming itself for the
national safety. It would be very agreeable if one
nation could arm without alarming seedier; but sea
is the mutual depruda.ce of satiate, that this 4 set
peseible, sad new all Europe Is a parade grenei.
if sat • camp. To repirsect armamsam as empmed
to vista% I. palpably a mistake, and it wesidessas-
rage a lamentable delusion to alley the meerties ha
peer asetiallenged, that sulitity power exam is
•,iposittos to °plain, sad ass be controlled ►y the
prom.

All *aim is ultimately corrected by facts, sad it
WM UAW= SI to itactrtain the (seta which, in cco.
beauty with the general *pinion that every nation
rant peeskis kr lb own safety by arms sad military
arriaimadsm, wake opinion threashost Europe is
6Year of inunener amasser% flees were is
moo armactieste in Frames subs Loris Pet-

Wes. ►at there wee not gear& alarm. The
different, arises from the ditlereet Minster sad
realties of hie esecesser. Loots Natation is ems of
s►rewd istelleet sad romantic ambition. He is srest
dose. He wields seseessfally hinnies's power. His
atroitort to the throne of Frames oft the mama
eebversios of all the political relations settled in
lel& It am the reversal, in spit* of the Powers
at Europe, of the ban they had primer:led against
the family of Bo . It war the restoration
of the Empire w►ich they bad fonght to pat down.
It toes lato shreds all the remove trusties of Visas%
the reluctant eutiaiseftare of Europe making
it naivesselly smaifeet that these treaties
were not founded Oil ju.•.ife, au was said by
moderate and wise men at the time they were
mode. Iconiediately, therefore, on the assoodoo
of
Locu NA POLION, distrust and alarm pro.
veiled ie all the contiumtal Courts. This IMO&
sees was for a time alle3ed by his profeesione and
coaduct. The Socereigt4 of Europe were just then