The Express.
London, England, 1858-12-25 00:00:00

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Tax Anniversary has agate some round which
reminds as, exciting ever new surprise, of the num-
ber of centuries during which the Religion of Peace
and Goodwill has been preached and professed. not
only in Europe bet in the world. With ever new
garprise, because of the discrepancy between the pro-
!gallon of Christian nations and the condition of
human affairs. It may be doubted whether the
spectacle could ever have been more striking, and
we may add more affecting, than now. Considering
that, as has been said by both BACON and Pascal.,
" prosperity is the promise of the Old Testament,
" and adversity of the New," it can never be matter
of astonishment that wars and persecutions exist in
the world ; because it is the lot of every high
faith to be persecuted by all the lower. It
can be no wonder that at this time of day
there should be such difficulties as exist between
Mussubman and Christian ruse in Turkey, each
feuds as are troubling Syria and Arabia, such
revolts as have occurred in India, and such inter-
national struggles as mud sooner or later take place
between China and the Western nations. Eighteen
centuries are not ennugh to extinguish strife between
faiths so fundamentally different as the Pagan, the
Mohammedan, and the Christian. Nor will any
number of centuries establish goodwill between the
lowest and highest classes of the moral hierarchy.
Those who are " little lower than the angels " will
never have the goodwill of the self-seeking and
the corrupt. Ambition will rage, envy will per
tyranny will oppress, licentiousness will
destroy, while the human rue, with its range of
passions, endures. Thus there is abundant provision
made for that adversity which is the promise of the
Gospel. The marvel is about the mutual ill-
will and hostile demonstrations among Chris-
tiana themselves—among Governments which pro-
tege to be founded on Christian theories, and for
Christian objects---among such nations, such societies,
and such dames as we see to-day at war, actually or
in prospect. A survey of the Christian portions of
the two hemispheres on this anniversary is se strange
that we can hardly say whether it ie moat afflicting
or fearfully absurd. The head of Christendom is the
representative at once of tyranny and of slavery.
He is the slave and the tool of France ; he dreads
Russia ; and he is the butt of the contempt of the
whole Italian peninsula; and, on the other hand, be
robs Jewish parents of their child, and under his rule
there is not a human liberty that men can exercise
without fear, nor a hope of justios and security left
among his wretched subjects. As for Naples, the ,
natural calamities which have afflicted the two king-
doms—the earthquake, the storm, and the blight— I
are light in comparison with the suffering inflicted
by the Sovereign who makes more bout of his reli-
gion than the Pore himself. The dungeons,
the madhouses, the graves are the testi-
monies to his Christian rule ; and the starving
minds of his noblest subjects, and the starving
bodies of the poor, show what he has dose towards
cherishing peace on earth and goodwill among men.
In Russia there is evident progress--programs even
within this year; but the conflict with evil is only
began ; and whether the ancient popular liberties
will be restored daring the present reign, and tbs
corruption prevalent in high places effectually
checked, most be doubtful for some time to cane.
As for Germany, the prospect is uncertain and
chequered, as usual. The lapse of Prune' is 11
arrested, and the best qualities of men have a fairer
chance of development there than any of us antiei-
pated a year ago; but Austria a meditating war.'
and if that war is called defensive, it is in defence of
a rule so oppressive as to make Christianity a
laughing-stock to the victims of that tyranny which
tempts to Atheism. There is retrogremdon there, too.
as saeroachmut of Peril rule over whole districts

and peoples which had enjoyed some of the benefits
of the Reformation. Things look brighter in the Sub-
alpine kingdom, where the purer traditions of an older
frith afford a promise of a new Reformation. Ills
Waldenses regard themselves, and are regarded by
others, ma the appointed agents of a new RA:forms-
ties—qualified as they are by not being Protestants
beeines they have never been Catholics. While
they are free and dowelling, as they now are in
Piedmont, the depression of the Catholic nations
amidst which they live is not hopeless, and the
Gavel, which the Apostles themselves might search
for in vain among their neighbours, is kept safe till
the day for it. new diffuswa comes. This is what
those ancient Christians themselves declare, when
strangers gees at their new cathedrals, and observe
their speeedieg numbere and influence. In Spain
all is yet dust and ashes; bet in Portugal there is
life and hope. The Sovereign there mane to know
something of the religion he profemea. Re lives for
hie people—not ally •isiting the fever hospitals in
pings* time, but exerting himself to govern well.
Throughout the whole range of Catholic kingdoms',
his, the smallest, is the brightest in such hope as
depends on the personal character of the Bavertign
—a precarious reliance, bet one for which the nations
have learned to be thank I al. Of France it is needier
to speak. All free nations are agreed as to the
weight of its calamities, and the mockery with
which superstition insults its woes. Sainte-days,
chapel-building, and gins to the Virgin are the
mint, anise and cumin, which are substituted for
the weightier matters of the Christian law. All
mem retegare there the eine and agreeing, which
mei everywhere ander the rids of Yamashita..

France is no happy illustration of Christianity in its 1
nineteenth natality. Nor do Christian libertine
flonrish in Protestant Sweden: and the:worst of the
matter is that the intolerance resides in popular
opinion, and not in the .61(1,111 of a ruler. The King
is more liberal than his people, whose clamours for the
pan ishiannt of oonyersion from one Church to another
show them to be a long way from the Religion of
Peace and Goodwill.

In the Western hemisphere there is a great Chris-
tian nation, spreading fast is its Catholic and Pro-
testant sections. Instead of ganging its character,
and sketching its prospects, we may simply refer
to the published opinion of its President.
The picture he draws is anything but a re-
presentation of an Age of Peso° end Good-
will. International disputes, sectional strife,
political corruption, judicial degradation, with
negro-slavery at the bottom of all the trouble, is
but a sad epcotscle to Christian eyes : but in that
case there is the consolation that the strife and
struggle are themselves a promii 3of good. Where
there is room for oonfl;ct between right and strong,
the right may prevail; and, at all events, the oars.
is not lost. The Pilgrim Fathers may yet be jinti-
ned of their ehildren—a multitude of them, worthy
of that parentage, being brave in the battle at this
hoer.

As for ourselves, we cannot but believe and feel
that, amidst many faults and failures, we are happy
and progressive as a people. We see our course
clear, or we believe we do. While the world is full
of rumours of war, we have only pacific desires and
intentions, though eager to manifest sympathy with
all who are called to fight for liberty and against
wrong. In order to Peace, we sell willing and anxious
to be fully provided for War. We shall count no
cost which may be necusary to sustain our manifest
strength as the leader of the free nations of the
world ; and Englishmen have abundantly proved,
within a few years, that they are as strong in oppo-
sition to Limier force as any Christian martyrs ever
were. The spirit of liberty is, we hope, u high and
bright within us as in the most trying seasons.
At the same time, the goodwill seems to be
strengthening and expanding, if we may judge
by the amelioration of class distinctions, the
extension of education, and the way in which vice
as well as ignorance is taken in hand for remedy.
Far from us be all Pharisaical busting ! We have
ilia enough upon oar shoulders to impel us to eos-
in' wrong rather than claim praise. Bet the
question is not whether we are a perfect Christian
nation, but whether we are in the way of improve-
ment. We trust that we are. Circumstances are
favourable, on the whole. There is less hunger,
more chance for everybody, than of old. 'There is
domestic virtue in high places ; and, with political
privileges, there is and will be a growth of social
conscience. We cannot say that within its
own bounds the practical religion of the country
is one of unmingled peace and goodwill ; for
theological strifes are sore hindranoss to our
best schemes, and the mart ineradicable root of bit-
terness in the pleasant places in which oar lines
have fallen. Yet have our Jewish citizens obtained
justice since the last birthday of Rim who told us
that all men are brethren ; and this is an encou-
ragement to hope that we may get rid of other un-
I Christian bigotries in course of time.
Meanwhile we have every reason to greet this
return of the day with cheerfulness and good hope
of every kind. In this spirit we beg to wish to
every household, from the palace to the cottage, a
merry Christmas and a happy new year.