The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-20 00:00:00

rkii!pswa

Ten Ivnwnta. THE eLOCiatalVB NAT.—Followed by,
at 8 o'clock, THE MAN 0' AIRLIE. James Harebell, Re, Her-
man Vezln.—boon open at seven: commons at halt-put.

ersurn.

Tins EVII/11111), REV/CR.74R Yews . Emery, Farman, Rob-
son, and Swanborough ; Mesdames Ada Swanberough and John-
stone —And THE LAMM EDITION “F FIR DIAVOLO
Messrs. Thorne & James ; Mesdames Holt, Newton, de.

ASIITAIFNLL

TVA Rvionso JACK ; OR, THE RACECOURSE,
AND THS BLUR RIBBON OR THE TCRY.—Mr. O. Backstops
Mr. end Mn. WHIM. ; the Champion Musters of England —And
MOONLIGHT JACK. Mr. J. B. Howe & Mks J. Camay.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tins DAT —Month*. 4b. Ilia....—Afternoon, th. 2,1 m.
to-Moiaow—llorning, 41s. t3w.. --Atiarnooa. M. la.

LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY 20.

Ox the appeal of the Earl of DERBY and Earl
RUSSELL, Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE 'withdrew
the resolution of which he had given notice, com-
mitting the House of Peers to a strong opinion upon
the act of the Mexican Government in executing
the Archduke MAXIMILIAN. The noble lord may be
sure that the public will do justice to the generous
feeling which inspired his resolution, although the
expediency of recording a formal censure of the
execution has not been admitted. It would have
been most undesirable to raise a discussion on so
painful a subject, whereas the opinion of a deli-
berative assembly derives all its value from the
reasons by which it is supported. AS Lord STANLEY
pointed out in the Commons, if the Parliament of
this country were to attempt to sit in judgment upon
the Mexican Government, it must take into its
consideration the whole enterprise in which
the unhappy Prince was entangled, with the po-
licy of his acts. This happily we are not called
to do. Personal regret for the terrible misfor-
tunes of MAXIMILIAN is another matter, and we
are sure the feeling is universal. Some of us may
believe that the original adventure was unjusa-
able, and that its progress was marked by deeds
unworthy of the character of their author ; but
having done justice to this conviction, we may
freely admit the private worth and the good in-
tentions of the unfortunate Prince, and cannot
but regret profoundly that the Mexicans, in the
hour of success, had not the magnanimity to rise
above the petty feelings which led them to tal e
vengeance upon a prostrate and captive enemy.

THE Tories of Birmingham persuade themselves
that they shall be able to find in the feeling en-
gendered by the recent disgraceful riots in that
town the means of placing their candidate in
a good position next Tuesday, if they do not
even bring him in at the head of the poll.
They have selected in Mr. SAMPSON LLOYD
a gentleman of high personal character, greatly
respected by his townsmen, but neither his
local reputation nor the political strength of his
party would of themselves warrant the expectation
of success, and therefore an appeal is made to the
pensions and hatreds born of religious controversy.
Mr. DIXON, who is supported by all shades and
sections of the Liberal party, was Mayor of
Birmingham when the incendiary MURPHY, whose
proceedings have caused but one feeling of disgust
throughout England, visited the town, and asked
for the use of its noble hall in which to repeat the
lectures which had led to riot at Wolverhampton
and elsewhere. Mr. DIXON, it is well known, re-
fused, and this is now brought as a charge ag►inst
him, and we are credibly informed that there are
actually people who think they are acting as good
Protestants in withholding votes which otherwise
they would have been prepared to give to the
Liberalcandidate. Such infatuation almost surpasses
belief. We might well fear for the future of Pro-
testantism if we were compelled to identify it with
the spirit and methods of the MURPHYS, WHALLEYS,
and ARMSTRONOS, men who have yet to learn that
Protestantism is inseparable from respect for
honest conviction. But it is further pretended
that in refusing MURPHY the use of the Town
hall Mr. DIXON showed himself inimical to free-
dom of discussion, and the more so as the build-
ing
had previously been open to Dr. MANNINO.
We might expect to find this style of reasoning
resorted to when a crowd of rustics is to be mys-
tified, but it surely will not deceive the intelli-
gent electors of Birmingham. As we all know,
Birmingham is a great Protestant town, and the
grant of its public Hall to a Roman Catholic pre-
late could only have been prompted by the fairness
whichdesirea to protect a minority. The refusal of the
Hall to MURPHY points to some strong reasons for his
exclusion. And such reasons we know there were.
Nobody believes that Dr. MANNINO would have
been allowed to have the Hall for the purpose of
making a series of attacks upon the Protestant
residents, and just as little does any one doubt
that Mullein, would have had it, if he had wanted
it fcr any better purpose than that of wantonly
insulting peaceful subjects of the Queen, and
distributing books which have been condemned in
the House of Commons for their obscenity by
a Home SECRETARY of the very party which
hopes to make capital out of MURPHY. No
one can fairly doubt that Mr. Dixox acted

as he did from regard to what he be-
lieved to be due to all parties. This was
so well recognised at the time that he was
supported in his refusal of the Hall not only
by those with whom ho had been accustomed to
act, but by his political opponents. Mr. SAMPSON
LLOYD, indeed, now says that everyone who wants
to deliver a lecture, and can pay the hire of the
Hall, ought to have it. This is an intelligible
principle, and might save future mayors of Bir-
mingham much trouble, though probably at the
expense of the self-respect of the inhabitants of
the town ; but its enunciation just now does not
show that Mr. DIXON did wrong when he acted to
the best of his judgment. It is truly pitiable to
see the election of a candidate for a great con-
stituency like Birmingham, which has hitherto
been distinguished for the breadth and elevation
of its political views, embarrassed and complicated
by such questions as this. The town really must
not sacrifice its reputation and character to a
misconception, and stultify itself by returning
a Tory candidate in the name of freedom of
opinion. Its electors are now called to make a
choice, the importance of which can scarcely be
exaggerated. The circumstances of the country
require them to declare anew their fidelity to
the principles which they have hitherto upheld.
Both the candidates are prominent citizens,
but if it is proposed to send one of them
to Parliament, the selection must turn upon other
qualities than those which confer local distinction.
Mr. SAMPSON LLOYD may be a most useful and
honourable member of society at Birmingham,
where there is great scope for the qualities which
make up undivided excellence, but whom would he
support, for what measure would he vote, in the
House of Commons? Once in that assembly he
would be an atom attracted by a superior mass to
that party which steadfastly resists every mode-
rate practical measure of reform until the last
moment, and then astounds the world by the
suddenness and facility with which it adopts
the extremest measures. We feel confident that

Birmingham will not commit so great a mistake
as to return such a candidate, but will the to the
occasion, and elect Mr. DIXON by an overwhelming
majority.

OUR CONTEMPORARIEI3.
(THIS DAY.)

The Times attributes much importance to the
few words uttered by the Sultan at Guildhall—taking
them as an engagement that he will direct his policy to
the promotion of union among his own subjects and
between them and foreign nations. There is no inevitable
barrier between Moslem and Christian, and, as India
shows, no insurmountable difficulty in administering a
code which shall content both. There is nothing that
heals like justice, and ancient hates soon die out when they
are not fed by the tyranny of race and creed. The second
wish of the Sultan, the promotion of a feeling of brother-
hood between the European nations and his own, will be
more easily accomplished, and the progress of commerce

and mutual intercourse will soon unite the Sultan's
Empire indissolubly with the rest not only of Europe but
of the world.

Lord Grey's resolution appears to the Times vague and
indefinite, so much so as to bo apparently one of those
meant to be withdrawn. To persist with it would lead to
no good end, and might easily lessen Lord Grey's influence
in the dissuasion of the bill at later stages. It is more
than probable that there are some modifications of the bill
sent to the Upper House which would be accepted with
gratitude on its return to the Commons, but in order that
the House of Lords may discharge its duties efficiently it
is essential that its energy should not be dissipated in
fruitless debates.

The Daily News says the adoption by the House of
Lords of Earl Grey's resolution would be tantamount to a
refusal to consider the bill to which it refers. This cf
course Lord Grey well knows. His object is clearly
to throw out the bill, and to make legislation on
reform impossible during the present session. He would
have acted more in accordance with his high character,
and with the dignified neutrality which he has now for
many years observed amid the contentions of party, if he
had pursued this end openly, and without adopting the
transparent device to which he has had recourse.

The Post addresses itself to the task of pointing out that
the bill now before parliament is not one which regards the
House of Lords so little that it should be assented to by
that chamber as a matter of course.
The Star exhorts every liberal in Birmingham to work for
Mr. Dixon. A successor to Mr. Scholefield and colleague
to Mr. Bright sitting among the country members and up-
holding the crude creed of a game-preserving squire, would
be a spectacle of humiliation which, if anyone expects to
see in our day, he will doubtless be grievously disap-
pointed.
The Telegraph also says the moral effect of a conserva-
tive victory in Birmingham would be most injurious ; and
it would not be sufficient to beat the tories—they must be II
beaten soundly. It is not enough to repulse them—we
must put them to the rout.

It is also asserted that the Sultan has declared himself
to have learnt from his journey that the great defect
of the Turks is their extreme exclusiveness. If his jour-
ney has taught him this, it has taught him a great deal.
He is a very rapid convert, but if he has learnt his lesson,
we cannot hope that his people will learn it as quickly. If
all his loving Turks could come to London for a week,
they would go away, we may be sure, very much as
they came. In fact, it is a very natural error, but it
is still an error, to overrate at the time the future effects
of such visits as that of the Sultan and the V ioeroy.
It would be absurd to say they do no good, but they
cannot do much.