The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-18 00:00:00

THE FMIAN OUTRAGES.

The Times remarks that the enrolment of special 1
constables will give • moral rapport to the government,
and will materially aid in maintaining order and preserv-
ing
property. The immediate cause is in the fact that
there have been three attempts to set fire to London since
Saturday last by a certain inflammable liquid, and to
meet danger firmly the police must be enlisted.
Meanwhile these atrocities will lessen the hold of the Fe-
nian' on the restless and impulsive but generous people
they delude. The Roman catholic clergy who as • whole
have shown themselves well disposed to the cause of law
and order, may now inform the Irish waverer', with truth,
that the whole body of Englishmen and Scotchmen, high
and low, are firmly determined that there shall be no
break-up of this empire, and that any attempts made in
pursuance of such a design will meet with condign punish-
ment. The Times is glad to perceive that the bishops do not
stipulate in their loyalty, showing in this far better taste
than the Roman catholic laymen who have chosen this
moment to put forward a declaration against the Irish
church—a manifesto which, at such a time, will be held by
the disaffected to be something like a proclamation of
sympathy with their cause.
The miscreants who thought to diffuse panic threughout
society must now see, says the Daily News, that they
have signally failed, for our people have never
for • moment lost their presence of mind. The
act of policeman Ranger, who knocked down Allen
and secured him in the very blast of the explosion, fairly
represents the temper of the country, stem and indignant,
master of itself, and prepared to meet any foe. The
Daily News regrets that the provision for the sufferers
by the Clerkenwell explosion should not have been made
by the state. It is satisfactory, however, to know
that in every case the sufferers will be well cared for.
M►ny of them have sustained by bereavement looses which
are irreparable, bet the country will with heart and soul
do all that is possible for their comfort and welfare.

The Irish executive, the Daily News expects, has been
betrayed into en error of policy in taking proceedings
against the chairman and some of the promoters of the
Dublin procession of the Bth inst. Its action in prohibiting
the meetings which were appointed to be held Lot Sunday
in Kilkenny and elsewhere bas received the sanction of
public opinion, and been crowned with success. But to
go back upon the part and make persons answerable for
what took place at meetings where certainly the public
peace was not broken, Is a measure of more doubtful expe-
diency. The conduct of the subordinate officers of the
government, in summoning Mr. Sullivan, of the Nation,
and Sir J. Gray, of the Freeman's Journaf, to give evi-
dence for the prosecution, was still more questionable.
The Irish government pays handsome salaries to its crown
officers, who ought to have protected it from the ridicule
and defiance to which it is now exposed.
The Telegraph says this really is rot the first nor the
second time that the police have been forewarned. In-
formers—always plentiful, stranga to say, among these
desperate and fervid aasassins—will be discouraged about
Scotland-yard if their hints are perpetually thrown away.
It is no time for paying compliments to the foroe. We
want proofs of its sagacity and forethought. By-and-bye,
when the craze of murder is over, and we begin to talk
of legislation, vigilance and activity will not fail to receive
their reward.

TOPICS.

The Times continues to justifyirJohn Lawrence's
policy in opposing the occupation of Afghanistan as a
barrier against Russia. By advancing into the country
and occupying it we should simply be removing the
obstacle, and saving the Russians such trouble as they
would have in surmounting it. We are now behind a
strong line of defence, with ground very unfavourable to
an enemy in our front. To cross this would bo to throw
away our advantage, and to buy that loss at a very heavy
price indeed.

- The Daily Pews estimates that in the new Prussian
Chamber of Deputies Count Bismarck may be mid to com-
mand a majority of 300 on a vote of confidence. But the
national liberals who compose so large a section of the
majority are as tenacious of their parliamentary rights and
privileges and of public liberty as the most uncompromis-
ing survivors of the old liberal majority whose just resent-
ments Count Bismarck's successes have not appeased.
The Standard writes in strung terms of Mr. Goldwizi
Smith's letter on Irish affairs. The proposal that parlia-
ment should occasionally meet in Dublin is not worth a
minute's practical consideration. As to the recommenda-
tion of provincial councils, with independent jurisdiction
over educational and other matters, it means simply pro-
testant ascendancy in Ulster, and Romanist ascendancy
elsewhere ; religions persecution and religion warfare
everywhere ; education given up to the priests in the
Celtic, and quarrelled for by pane= awl presbyters in the
protestant provinces. The Standard doubts whether it
would not mean civil war.

Twel►e days ago Colonel Itferewetber, with the vanguard
of the invading army, set foot on the highland plateau of
Abyssinia, and the Teltgraph thinks no reasonable person