The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-21 00:00:00

THE IMPERIAL MEETING AT RALZBITRO.

The Daily News cannot affect to be surprised at
the reluctance of what is called the political world to dis-
believe in the simple and humane interpretation put upon
the meeting of two emperors. No doubt a common sorrow
softens men's minds, and the satisfaction of confessing and
forgiving injury inflicted is apt to dispose men's hearts to
a kindly and companionable temper one towards another ;
but if we look at the bare political aspects of the meeting,
it resolves itself into one of those optical delusions which
deceive a credulous public, and amuse M. de Bismarck. He
knows the difficulties that encompass and embarrass the
Austrian empire on all aides ; its financial penury, its
jealous nationalities ; its painful efforts to found respon-
sible and parliamentary government ; the determination of
parliament and people not to be dragged into ruinous ad-
ventures for the convenience cf a foreign power ; the over-
ruling national and patriotic sentiment of the German popu-
lation, who would rather be united to theoommon Father-
land under the standard of Prussia than fight against
Germany, under the standards of the Emperors of Austria
and Franca. Nor is M. de Bismarck unaware of the
crevices in the Napoleonic cuirass ; and of the internal
' conditions and prospects of the Second Empire, and of
the growing indisposition of the intelligent and inde-
pendent portion of the French people to wars of ambition
and conquest, which may enlarge a frontier, and exalt a
dynasty, and perpetuate a military despotism, but can
never bring back liberty. If the meeting at Salzburg
signifies an alliance between the Emperors of France and
Austria, M. de Bismarck may fold his hands. His rivals
and his adversaries will have done his work.
The Herald thinks it possible enough that some sort
of promise should be asked and given of the neutrality
of Austria in any war between France and Prawn.
It thinks it likely enough, too, that it should be proposed
at this interview at Salzburg that in ease of any active
alliance between Russia and Prussia for aggressive pur-
poses in the East, France and Austria should unite to form
• compact resistance to such schemes. However all that
it can venture to predict of this meeting at Salzburg is
that it will result in an increase of cordiality between the
courts of Paris and Vienna, which has been regarded as
somewhat estranged by recent circumstances both in
Europe and in America.

)08 TOPICS.

In the opinion of the Daily New, the trade societies of
London only did themselves justice when they repudiated
in the most emphatic manner the principles and practices
of the Sheffield eawgrinders as elucidated by the inquiries
of the royal commisaian ; and it is therefore the more to
be regretted that persistent attempts should still be made
to represent the unionists of the whole country as impli-
cated in the crimes committed at Sheffield. Considering
the immense increase of political power which a conserva-
tive government has thought it prudent to confer upon
the classes from which trades' unions are recruited, it
seems most unwise to proclaim a blind class hostility to
those bodies. Surely it would be wiser to let
every union stand or fall by its own conduct—
like a limited liability company or a church.
The Daily News combats the views of those who, believing
trades' unions to be founded on erroneous opinions, resist
any attempt to extend legal protection to the funds of
those societies. The morality of this denial of protection
to property—this license given by parliament to the plun-
derer—is on a level with that of the Sheffield sawgrinders.
When injustice such as this is at an end, and when the in-
telligenoe of the middle classes is brought to bear freely
and with sympathy upon the affairs of those who live by
labour, we may expect to see the errors and weaknesses
which now beset their organisations much more readily
acknowledged and abandoned than will be possible while
the very existence of those organisations is treated by
middle-class writers man offence against society.
Commenting on the insurrections in Spain and their
cause, the Post is of opinion that there is more than poli-
tical tyranny to be vanquished—bonds which are not
so easily cut, and fetters which, rusted as they are, it can
be hard to break. The great misfortune is, to put it
mildly, the moral enfeeblement of the community. It is
not that there is no point d'appei fur public opinion, but
that the mind of the nation is in the hands of its spiritual
directors, men who make it their business to crush every
elevating sentiment, and to repress the legitimate ambi-
tion which, freely followed, leads to social independence.
This is the root of the evil which has brought Spain to the
brink of ruin, wasted her resource., and destroyed the
liberties she poured out her blood to redeem.

The Telegraph considers that the chief defect of legisla-
tion with regard to friendly societies is the want of means
to secure an efficient and economical control. It points
out that the expenses of management vary from 3to 60
per cent., and says that the poor are often shamefully
robbed under the present system.
Mr. Disraeli, says the Star, may vaunt that he has over-
thrown the exclusive governing coterie of noble wbig fami-
lies. The whig families whom Mr. Disraeli affects to de-
spise are soundly opposed to many things which Mr.
Disraeli's party think to preserve by means of a tory de-
mocracy. Now that the franchise question is settled they
must unite more heartily than ever with the most radical
sectioa of the liberals, but even if they were mistaken
enough to isolate themselves from the liberal future of
their country. Mr. Gladstone, as Mr. Disraeli well knows,
is not of them norwith them, and be can without difficulty
find colleagues ea ready se himself to satisfy the just ex-
pectations of the people.

. .
_
The leading columns of the Times this morning are occu-
pied with a review of the session.

THE PosT-orrica.—For s long time past much
dies 'isfaction has existed among the persons employed in
the General Post-office, St. Martin's-le-Grand, on account
of the smallness of their salarin as compared with those in
other government offices. The grievance has now been
partially removed. From an official circular recently
mimed it appears that on the let proximo many changes
and promotions will be made, at augmentatiotur of salary,
ranging from 201. per annum in the case of subordinate
Officer' to lOnt in that of principals. It is understood that
the case of all those who will nct benefit by the present
alteration is under consideration, with a view to improve-
ment. Very high satisfaction is expressed in the esta-
blishment at the recognition of the claims of the officials.
Coitsionicen MONEY.—The public accounts show
that the sums remitted to the Chancellor of the Ex.
chequer by sundry persons for conscience sake in the
financial year ending with March, 101i7, amounted to
'1,067!. The mid sundry persons paid the year's salary of
that right hon. gentleman. The Americans have begun to
find conscience money" an appreciable item in their
public accounts, and have adopted the " pictorial phrase,"
as they term it. A New York paper states that between
10,000 and 20,000 dole. have been sent to the Treasury
within the last two years, but that this amount has been
made up chiefly of small sums, and that there is rarely
restitution of a sum " glom enough to be apparently worth
the stealing."
. . _

An action is proceeding at Leeds assizes against
the Duke of Rutland for malicious prosecution.