The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-20 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING; NO

OUR CON TEMPORASIEIt.
(THIS DAY.)

'"5"".....1" IrHE OPZNIAG OF THE SESSION.
The object ofithe Abyssinian expedition can, after
last night's explanations, no longer, observes the Times., be
represented as for any other purpose than procinMg the
release of the prisoners. But its wisdom and necessity,
though too plainly probable, remains to be proved. The
action of the House of Commons last night was limited to
a recognition of the fact that it is for parliament to enter
upon an examination of the question from the beginning.
With regard to the expense the Timm cannot think, with
Lord Derby, that we are just towards India in taking
Inds troops and contenting ourselves with defraying
merely their additional expenses. It is impossible to lay
down a rule of right in what would be a matter of bargain
were the contracting parties equal, but if we assumed the
regular pay of the Indian troops employed we should be
probably acting with justice. It is again equally impos-
Ale to determine beforehand whether all the expense
should be provided out of taxation raised in the present
year. There can be no reasonable objection, the Times con-
ceives, to spreading the expense over a limited period—say
five years—however improper it would be, as we allow, to
add it to our permanent debt. These are, however, ques-
tions the exact determination of which must necessarily
await the full statement of the scope and cost of the expe-
dition.

The Queen's Speech is described by the Daily Ne,B as
having the negative merits of caution and reticence,
except on one point as to the limits of the Abyssinian ex-
pedition, where it is re-assuring. The parliament of Eng-
land is at present absolutely unpledged upon every port
of this question, but it is not likely to disown the oblige-
I tion of endeavouring, by every practicable means, to secure
, the delivery of British envoys held captives in direct
violation of the law of nations. As to the cost of it, to tax
our Indian subjects in its behalf would be to rob them.
Thews: is an accident of blundering and negligent adminis-
tration, and being an incident of the year its cost should
be defrayed out of the taxation of the year. The
confusion of ministerial language in reference to the
Italian imbroglio, accurately reflects the conflict of living
forces and principles with decaying traditions and prece-
dents, but in declining to enter the conference unless on
the basis of a clearly defined plan of settlement, to which
the favourable disposition of the Powers shall have been
ascertained by preliminary negotiation, the course taken
by the government deserves the approval of parliament.
The ministerial programme is scanty, but February will
possibly supplement the defects of November.
The Post sums up its opinion of the speech with a remark
that if a programme is really intended to be carried out,
the apology with which the speech commences is not inap-
propriate. If it Is carried out, the nation will have reason
to be thankful even for the unhappy chance which has
rendered an autumn session a necessity.
To the Herald the parliamentary incidents of last
evening, their very tameness, and the vagueness of the
discussion, seem to presage a brief autumnal session of
remarkable quietude and suavity. We may look forward,
no doubt, to an exhaustive debate on the Abyssinian blue
book, and to the raising of really important questions con-
nected with the financial aspects of the Abyssinian expe-
dition. Otherwise few cabinets have ever met a parlia-
ment—and that a parliament specially convened—with
less danger to their credit, or with a more safe assurance
that they enjoy the confidence of the country at large.
If official or any other feelings render Lord Russell's
adherents indulgent to the government on the subject of
Abyssinia, then the Star hopes some competent and inde-
pendent member will take up the challenge of the govern.
, meat. Have all diplomatic means been exhausted? Or
are we going to fight, not on the main issue whether the
prisoners shall be released, but on some punctilio in the
unconcluded negotiations for their liberation? This is
what must be settled before parliament can with a good
oonscience sanction any proceeding in a matter in which it
is allowed they are not committed " by anything to any-
` thing."