The Express.
London, England, 1866-09-21 00:00:00

FORZPSH AFFAIRS.

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The causes of discontent in Sicily whk.h have led
to the insurrectionary movement in Palermo, are stated by
the Tines to be the hatred of the islanders to the military
conscription and the unpopularity of the law for the sup.
pression of monastic bodies. The state of Sicily has been
at all times favourable to a life of vagrancy and outlawry,
and the removal of the troops occasioned by
the Venetian campaign gave the discontented an oppor.
trinity of making a fray. Their war cry is said
to be " The republic and preservation of the mons&
teries." The old alliance between bigotry and superstition
which has always characterised the instincts of the most
uneducated part of the Italian population, did not belie
itself in the present instance. Had only the very highest
and the very lowest classes in Italy the upperhand, society
in that country would soon present the same phenomenon
that is observable in some of the worst South American
republics—mob-rule on the surface, Jesuit and Franciscan
tyranny at the bottom. Fortunately, however, the middle
classes, especially in North Italy, are fit for a better order
of things.
The Post attributes much of the financial weakness of
Austria to her obstinate adherence to a protective policy,
constituting in this respect a notable exception to the
majority of the continental states. If, now the struggle
is over, she will open her markets to the rest of the world,
&prosperous future awaits her.

The Herold sees that the establishment of a more die-
tied equilibrium in Europe by the aggrandisement
of Prussia has bad • beneficial effect on the
state of public opinion in France, and that a
state of feeling, which cannot but be favourable to
pesos, has supervened smi that extravagant mood which
_ _

possessed Frenchmen when they talked of all Europe lig
under their feet. With the prospect of the Universal Ex-
hibition before them, the Emperor and his ministers may
devote themselves for the present to the task of claiming
for their country a front rink in those labours of spesce
which make our lives so pleasant to us, postponing to a
long distant future the vindication of her supremacy in
those of war.

The Daily News attaches much importance to the late
convention of Southern loyalists at Philadelphia. The
great republican party of the North has wisely recognised
its allies at the South, men who have made great sacrifices
to their love of the constitution. These Southern loyalists
have not gained even protection from Mr. Johnson, whose
later policy has distinctly favoured those who fought
against the government. The South against which the
Federal government had to maintain a four years' war,
has rallied to the support of Mr. Johnson ; that other and
far smaller South, which was loyal to the Union from first
to last, and which all through was in sympathy with the
Federal cause, declares itself on the side of Congress, and
in the name of justice and freedom appeals to the Northern
people to support the policy of Congress against that of
the President. The balance had already turned against
Mr. Johnson's schemes ; this is anoaier and a not
inconsiderable weight thrown into the scale against him.
The address and resolutions adopted by the convention are
just and moderate in substance. Their resolution to send
a deputation of 50 in the track of Mr. Johnson's progress
depends for its wisdom on the manner of its execution. If
these gentlemen observe moderation and discretion, the
fact of their coming face to face with the Northern people,
and telling the story of their own wrongs may be the
one thing to give the party which would restore the Union
as it should be, a decisive victory over those who would
restore it as it was.

The Star comments upon the extraordinary Cale of
Lamirande, who has just been brought a prisoner to France
from Canada. This man may be guilty of all that is im-
puted to him—that in no way affects the question. All that
concerns us to consider is that a man has been carried away
from under England's jurisdiction by a French detective,
by virtue of documents which were wholly illegal, and on
• charge which had not been properly presented, which
had not been legally made out, and which did not in any
case, according to the judge's ruling, bring the prisoner
within the provisions of the treaty of extradition. Who
can help reflecting that had Lamirende been • political pri-
soner the result would have been just the same?
The Daily News prints a petition, signed, it is stated,
by more than half the adult population of Nova
Scotia, protesting against the project for the confederation
of the British North American provinces. The Nova
Scotian, say that by the change they would be deprived of
self-government, and that once joined to an exposed and
indefensible province, Nova Scotia would soon be coin.
pelled to share a destiny which they believe to be marked
out for Canada—in other words, their prolonged con-
nexion with the crown will be precarious, if not impos-
sible. At all events they ask that the question may be
submitted to the people of the colony, or at least that a
committee of the House of Commons shall investigate the
probable effect of confederation upon the several provinces
in their relation to one another and to the mother-
country.
The Standard appears to hope that President Johnson
will use the power of military repression in his contest
with his opponents. It characterises the Congress as a
mere mutilated, imperfect, unconstitutional rump. Even
if the elections go against him, he may still choose to
reckon the votes of the South among those which must be
taken into account, and finding that, though condemned
by a sectional majority, he has a national majority on his
side, he may bid defiance to his opponents, and summon
the entire Congress to meet under his auspices.