The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-01 00:00:00

THE NNW TELL

We are always ready, observes the Times, to
hope most from the newest ; and at the beginning of a new
period there are certain predictions which invariably recur.
But in actual truth a little dead reckoning is all that we
can venture upon. We know where we ought to be, and
where we shall be soon, if we do our duty, and if nothing
hinders, and if the compass be all right, and there is no
error in our calculations. Experience, nevertheless, may im-
press upon us some great lesson, and so it is now, and that
lesson is mutual consideration between persons, parties.
classes, states, and the champions of grand principles. la
the readjustment of our representative system we shall need
to bear this in mind. America has learnt it ; France, which
is little else than a volcanic plain ooveced with the ruins
of its political excesses, has pushed empire too far, and has
to draw in : what has Rome gained by her fatal obstinacy
The pride of the Dane, the pedantic nationality of the
German, and the brute power of the sword in stronger
hands, finding no compromise, have led to • scandal and a
difficulty which time alone can solve. Nor can we be blind
to domestic examples hardly lees mischievous. In religion,
in education, in matter' of local administration, in the
working of our great departments of the public service,
we have seen repeated, over and over again, what happens,
and must happen, when people will insist on thinking
only for themselves, and having all or nothing. We may
venture to hope that we are a little wiser for all this. The
year 1866 will not leave us trackless wanderers in an
Australian desert, nor yet in a mere labyrinth of impassable
woods and insurmountable heights. It will bring us, we
will hope, to a pleasant, open, easy, and varied region,
where many various forms of nature will contribute to use,
to pleasure, and to progress.
In the spirit which looks out upon the world of
action and events with neither eager illusion nor
resigned indifference, would the Daily News hail
another New Year's-day, neither affecting to disregard
nor tempted to exaggerate the good or the evil of the age
and the society in which it is our lot to live, but striving
very simply to do some little honest service as we pass.
The new year opens upon a world at peace, and
despite the fact that there is much on the surface
of politics and society that must always discourage super.
ficial and sentimental observers, it is far more true than
false tomcat that English civilisation is rising and advancing
—that English liberty is a light in Europe, and the strength
of England a benefit to mankind. And when we survey the
European Continent, though France rejoices in imperial-
ism, and Germany is panting to be ruled by one central
military monarchy, end Ruuia is grinding down Poland to
her own level, it cannot be affirmed that either in Ger.
many, France, or Russia, the present period is a period of
absolute reaction. In each of those countries the forces of
emancipation and enlightenment are pressing their noiseless
way, breaking up the soil and preparing it for freedom.
And then, beyond the ocean, on the plains and in the valleys
of America and Anstralia,is a boundless borne of peace and
industry, where pauperism and ignorance will. be remem•
bored only as "the night of evil dreams."
The Post dwells upon the increased significance given to
the prospects of the country by the contemplated extension
of the parliamentary franchise—the machinery, that is, by
which it is purposed to compass organic changes ; and the
advantages which will accrue by the resumption by her
Majesty of the ceremonial of sovereignty. The Queen's
title to moderate and arbitrate would be acknowledged
with more than lip loyalty, and, if we are on the eve of
parliamentary conllicts, it is not improbable that her Ma.
jesty may be called upon to represent the dispassionate and
instructed judgment of her subjects in the selection of her
advisers.

The Herald finds it • pleasant characteristic of a year
which forms the fiftieth, in the series of our peace with
France, that n were we in better relations with
that great country and its Sovereign. Another is the
evidence of an increased moderation in the expression
of opinions in America, where Mr. Johnson's addresses
might serve as • lesson to courts on this side of the
Atlantic. The British empire is in peace, and the sup-
plies of our industry have no longer to meet the pay.
meat of armies every day decimated, and the substitution
of • war material that, once destroyed, disappears for ever.
Let ne hope that, with the downfall of the diplomacy of
ambition, all the civilised nations may be allowed to pur-
chase the comfort& of life under seater conditions than in
times before the superfluities of our country were, in some
sense, made the property of all others.

The Telegraph anticipates that 1866 will be a year as
famous as 1832 for the beginning of large and salutary
changes. This year the patient and intelligent masses
will be rewarded with an extension of the power which
they know how to use temperately. Justice to Ireland;
a really national education ; nationalising the universities,
purging the statute-book of its relics of medimralism in
testa and oaths, and effecting retrenchment at home—these
are the noble tasks before us, and to which electoral re-
form is the pass-word.
The Star points out a few of the occurrences which
seem meet likely to fix the attention of posterity upon the
year that is gone, trusting that the year now opening.
though it may bring to us trouble, will close without
bringing us shame.