The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-21 00:00:00

THE WEEKLY PRESS.

The Spectator remarks that even the Fenians
condemn the recent atrocious crime. If we could but
win Inland, could but so change the mass of opinion there
that Fenianism should be regarded by the majority of Irish-
men as it is regarded by all Englishmen, Fenianism would
die under the hatred of those whose cause it is falsely pre-
sumed to defend. This is not the time? This is precisely
the time. We know of no spectacle which could be nobler
than that of a dominant people with one hand calmly and
sternly maintaining its own dominance, and with the other
removing the last vestiges of inequality, the last relics of
intolerance, the last grievances produced by difference of
race and creed. It is a most unpopular utterance just now,
and therefore, it is all the more necessary it should be
uttered now that when the Irish peasant sees in the Fenian
an insurgent against himself, Fenianism will die under a
pressure sharper than any government can order, or any
policemen carry out.

The Examiner deprecates strongly the injustice and
impolicy of confounding vast portions of the community
on account of race or creed with accomplice, in Fenian
crime. Politic►l discontent is one thing—the reckless and
ruthless resort to violence and to the nee of elements of
destruction, whose deadly effects none can foresee, is a
wholly different thing. The Examiner does not desire to
hint a word of extenuation of the dreadful act recently
perpetrated in the midst of us. All it wishes to point out,
while the guilty await their sentence, is the folly and
iniquity of imputing to millions of people complicity in
the design cr its execution.

Commenting upon Italian affairs, the Saturday Rtricto
regards the recent debates as a sign that M. Rattazzi is not
considered by the Italians to have irrevocably forfeited the
confidence of the country. At present he is excluded from
office by a belief that his return to it would lead to a cer-
tain breach with France. But his influence outside has
been sufficient to drive the Menabret Cabinet into an in-
telligible and patriotic attitude. Not much exception can
be taken to li. Itenabrea's recent speeches. The present
cabinet have steered their course as well as could be ex-
pected of a feeble ministry. They have avoided extremes.
It is the Emperor's turn to move next, and, in the condi-
tion of the Continent and of France, his next move is one
of importance and of danger. If be has finally resolved
to make common cause with the catholic party at home,
Italy's only resource is to choose fresh alliances, and to
trust to time, which has in its womb an eastern and a
German, as well as an Italian " question."
The Economist contends that there should be an inde-
pendent audit of the great railway companies, and that the
government should exercise what philosophers call the
function of verification. It is the only uniform authenti-
cator possible, the only one which can apply the same
weight and the same measure to all railways ; and it is
nearly the only one which will be believed as to any rail.
way. A year ago, the expense would have been justly
feared, but not now. The shareholders would themselves
ask to have a real audit they could depend on, and which
all others would depend on, and would be ready to bear
the cost of it. An optional audit of petitioning railways is,
both on grounds of theory and reasons of practice, the sole
outlet from the existing difficulty.