The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-23 00:00:00

BR[TANNIA.

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L9NDO_V, WEDNESDA Y, OCTOBER 23.

Ir will be the fault of the Liberal party if the
ininioril tactics of Conservatism really gain the
approval of the people. A desperate attempt is
being made to take the popular leadership out of
their hands, and to confer it on the followers and
holt:tors of Mr. DISI:AELI and Lord Diaaiv. Such
an attsnpt could only possibly succeed for a time,
but it cannot succeed fur a moment if the Liberal
party is true to itself. Yet it initst be confesaed
that in their satisfaction at the triumph of Liberal
principles sonic Liberal politicians brave aluwst
seemed to approve the means by which the
triumph has been obtained. Thejbad political
morality which has been taught the people by the
Conservative leaders, and which they are now
preaching all over the country, may do more to
confuse and corrupt public opinion than the most
obstinate betrayal of popular desires and hopes.
But there is probably a better means of counter-
acting this teaching than oven that of prophesying
against it. Although no Liberal politician should
lose an opportunity of saying a word for political
morality and political honour, and though it must
be made as clear as day that no upright man can
share the responsibility of the Conservative sur-
render, it will be needful to direct the attention
of the people forward as a ell as backward. Su
long as we remain on the field on which the
Reform battle has been fought it will be difficult
to enable the people to distinguish the friends
of liberal progress from its foes. But as soon as
the army is re-formed and the advance is sounded,
friend and foe will separate of necessity. Thi:.
therefore, the work of the hour for the Liberal
party. It must be on the move. The word
must be " forward." The Liberal programme
is not exhausted by Reform—it is only begun ;
and the people must be at once familiarised
with the more important reforms which yet remain
to be made. Tho question is everywhere
being asked by the people, "Now that we have
" the franchise, what shall we do with it ?" The
reply of Toryism is everywhere the same, "Sup-
" port those who have given it to you." Of
course, Liberalism has to reply, " Use your fran-
" chises to ensure necessary reforms." But
though a lar4e number of the working classes have
a complete knowledge of what such reforms are,
there are probably yet larger numbers who require
to be taught. The political education of the better
class of artisans has been completed by exclusion
and agitation. They have learned to understand
politics and to know themselves in the school of
political discussion and debate. But among the
classes which have now been admitted to the fran-
chise are many who never dreamed of enfranchise-
ment, and whose knowledge of politics is of the
most limited kind. It is to those classes Toryism
is appealing, and it is such classes that Liberalism
must instruct. Their political education has yet
to begin, and any political knowledge they may be
expected to act upon has yet to be communicated
to them. It is for the local and national leaders
of the Liberal party to undertake this work. They
must come more and more into contact with the
people. Instead of descending into the arena once
a year, they must go down frequently and instruct
the people on great political questions, and indoc-
trinate them with great political principles. They
have the popular ear, and they must use the ad-
vantage it gives them, not merely to rally the
people to their flag, but to confirm them in the
principles of political morality, to teach them the
doctrines of political liberality, and to guide them
in the path of political progress.
We are glad to know that some active steps in
this direction have already been taken. At the
request of some political organizations of work-
ing men some leading Liberal politicians and phi-
losophers have agreed to deliver lectures during
the next few months on political questions. Pro-
fessor FAWCETT and Mr. STANSFELO are already
announced to lecture to the working men of Lon-
don, and in several provincial towns gentlemen of
local rc;eitation are undertaking a similar task.
Before the present recess is at an end this effort
will, we hope, have become general. By such
means, and by the general popularization of its
methods, the Liberal party will take the load of
the newly enfranchised population. Contact with
the people is the condition of popular sympathy,
and popular sympathy is the necessity of leader-
ship under popular rule ; and surely, now that
both parties are bidding for that leadership, it will
fall to that party whose sympathy for the people
is dictated by its principles and proved by its his-
tory, and not to that party whose popular sym-
pathy is contradicted by its constitution and is
only simulated by its fears.

ALDERMAN ALLEN is about to begin his mayor-
alty well. At the request of a number of the
most eminent bankers, merchants, and other
citizens of London, he is going to reduce the

1 aruual i. rd Mayor. 6 %%HMI reitsonid de limits.
The public expects seuaihle oanloct of Alderman
ALLEN, and next to suppressing the maisance
altogether, which we suppose is not to be thought
of at present, he could do nothing wiser than miti-
gate it. The aim of any reform should he to make
the Lord 3layor's customary visit to We ,Iminster
as little of a " show "as possible. There is no
reason why the Chief 3lagistl-ate of the City should
not go to see the Judges like any other t:catle•
man. At present it is that very siwctacul:.r cha•
racier which City conservatives are most anxious
to uphold that makes the procession of the 9th of
of November a yearly danger :u:d a scandal ; and
as long as the " state coach" is paraded, there will
be a mid) of roughs to escort it, and make the
streets impassable for decent people.

As we led our readers to anticipate, the credi-
bility of the woman JAN u uN, who has been
exainniol before the o Tuner for Middlesex
as a witness against the prisoner Cluov
has completely broken flown. The police
have made inquiries into her antecedents, and
it appears that she is not so unaccustomed to
giving evidence as might be sapposed from the
maladroitness of her statements. Neither the
police nor the counsel for the prosecution place
the least confidence in what she says, and,
in fact, they yesterday took care to
shi.w, by their free reference to her
past life, that they do nut intend to rest
the charge against GuovEs in the slightest degree
upon her story. We must expect such scenes as
that which was exhibited in the St. Pancras
Vestry Hall yesterday as long as wo are under the
neces,ity of offering a money reward for evidence.
It is a temptation which weak natures =mot
witln:tand, and Mrs. JANNIAN does not appear to
have been in the habit of resisting temptation.
In the meantime, the mystery of poor M cc-
Niff.f.'s death seems as far as ever from eluci-
dation.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
(THIS DAY.)