The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-29 00:00:00

OUR FOREIGN ZNLISTRINT ACT AND THZ WAR BETWZFR

SPAIN AND CHILI.

It seems highly probable to the Times, from the
aue of the iron-clad rain Independencia at Grcenhithe, no-
minally built for Peril, and from facts mentioned in letters
from Cadiz, that Chili is about to follow the example of
the Southern States, and that, in the event of the war
being prolonged, Spanish *immoral, may be ravaged by
new Alabama. and Shenandosha issuing from neutral porta.
No doubt cur sympathies in the quarrel are with the
Chilling, and our interests are seriously prejudged by the
blockade; but this should only make us the more careful
to leave ourselves open to no reasonable complaints from
Spain. If the principle was laid dews that eves, individual
wilfully infringing the Foreign Enlistment Act would have
to answer a criminal charge, mistakes would occur lees
frequently. Our good otticee, with those of France,
having been accepted by Spain, nothing would be
more fatal to the success of our mediation than any
suspicion of our impartiality. In the event of a struggle
between the Spanish monarchy and a confederacy of all the
American republics, the Tines is not prepared to say that
the joint interference of several great powers to compel a
submission to arbitration may not become desirable, but at
present our duty is plain and straightforward, viz., to
restrain =cowls citizens from taking part in the war. If
this would be facilitated by an amendment of our Foreign
Enlistment Act, by all means let that amendment be mai*
in the ensuing session.

RIFORN AND

The Daily News does not share the misgivings of some,
that the fifth reform bill will share the fate of its prcie-
cemors—a circumstance which would tend to increase the
dangerous evil of the contempt of the working classes for
the rulers and institutions of the country, and their deter-
mination, as amongst the Fruch artisan and peasants
before 1848, to devote all their energies to social problems
and industrial organisations—but it foresees that the oppo-
sition to the new bill is certain to be earnest and persistent.
Concession and self-denial on the part of the liberals will
therefore be needed, and the main question must be settled
before the various measures which are supplementary to,
or whioh in some quartos may be regarded as the needful
correctives of a uniform franchise, are discussed. The
necessity is urgent of curfiaing to points upon which
the liberal party is tolerably unanimous a bill
which is introduced in order to be passed, and
not in order to evade while formally redeeming a solemn
promise. The extension of the suffrage with% the limits
which everyone hums test the government measure
will not traneoead, is one of these points. We do not ask
those who desire more than this to waive their convictions ;
but simply to join heartily in giving effect to a part of
that which they admit to be necessary. The government,
for its own sake, Is sure to introduce the measure which in
its view Is most likely to pan. On this practical question
it has means of information, and • motive for desiring to be
rightly informed; which its critics do not purses. in anything
hire the same degree ; and to this extent it is fairly entitled
to claim the loyal support of the liberal party.
The Telegraph observes that it is not so much the direct
and dogmatic conservatism of their opponents as the half-
hearted and hypocritical liberalism of their pseudo friends
that the government has to fear. It is the duty of the
government to contemplate, not simply what measure of
reform can be elided thrtugh the House of Commons, but
how the franchise can be extended below the point where
it now stop•, and bow the most glaring anomaly of our
system can be •bated, by making representation more
nearly correspond with taxation. Everything that scholarly
research, metaphysical sophistry, and rhetorical ingenuity
can suggest and employ against the ministerial project will
be unscrupulously forthcoming. But let the government
take heart of grace, and frame the best measure which the
circumstances of the country domani, and fearlessly trust
the rest to the people.
The Star looks to the new parliament not only for pesos
and reform, bat also for retrenchment, and it points to the
military and naval estimates as sources of economy which,
if fairly drawn upon, will greatly add to Mr. Gladstone's
surplus. What we require for oar navy is the minimum
of actual size consistent with the maximum power of ready
development and adaptation. Such a principle kept in
view would enable us at once to save our money and to sat
our meals in peace. We have learned some lessons in the
art of war from the Americans ; perhaps after • little we
may condescend to take some instruction from them in the
art of acing productively our intervals of peace. The re-
sources of a country make its real strength ; its capacity to
defend itself, not the money it spends, show that it has
the means of defence. But that principle has certainly not
yet permeated the intellects of the chiefs of the Admiralty.