The Express.
London, England, 1866-06-15 00:00:00

TEI LATEST WAN movzinarra.

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The decision of the German Diet to mobilise
the Federal forces is described by the nem as the most
important event since the outset of these disputes, being
• threat on the part of the German governments to bring
the Prussian government to submission by force. What-
ever military operations will follow, it is difficult to avoid
the conclusion that the German Confederations now
no more. Count Bismarck will hold the states
which have declared against him to be foreign
enemies, and will deal with their people and
territory as the fortune of war may allow him ;
and whether victorious or beaten, Prussia will be strong
enough to take vengeance on such opponents as the states
of north Germany should they not ally themselves with
her. Every German state will have to choose between
the danger of alliance with Prussia and opposition to her.
As it is a war for supremacy, it is to be hoped that the
end will be favourable to the cause of nationality and free
institutions. If anything COMM to the ground, it will be
the thirty courts, or some of them. They are the weakest
institutions in the country, and when once they fall they
are not likely to rise again. Whether under Prussian or
Austrian hegemony, the country must emerge more con-
solidated than at present, more capable of preserving
peace within its limits and repelling aggresaion from abroad.
legitimate as is the decision of the Diet, observes the
Daily Newt, its effect is to overthrow the political fabric
of Germany, and destroy the only institution which has
represented its national unity since the dissolution of the
Holy Roman Empire in 1.806. The mandate affects several
states which have on this occasion voted with Prussia.
The votes of the governments appear to have had a dis-
tinct relation to the geographical situation of their State',
with the important exception of Hanover, which stands
by the Diet. Brunswick appears not to have voted.
The only effect of the arrogant and presumptuous seces-
sion of Prussia will be to divide Germany, for Prussia,
under any conceivable circumstances, must remain a great
German power. The act of yesterday is probably the last
of the political measures which precede war, and • declare.
tion of hostilities may be looked for within the next

24 hours.
In the diplomatic campaign, says the Post, the Cabinet
of Vienna has already gained a great diplomatic victory ;
for it is difficult to see how Prussia is to make head
against the united forces of Austria and the four king-
doms, and a powerful array of minor states. The
anxieties of the position of Foreign Minister in times such
as these cannot be overrated, and the best diplomacy of
Lord Clarendon will be tasked in the effort to do the work
of peace and friendship towards others, and yet to keep
England free from the fatal coil of the foreign dissensions
and the deplorable conflicts which we lament but cannot
avert.
The Telegraph remarks that the consequence of the re-
solution of the Diet can as yet onlybe dimly foreshadowed.
The rallying of the German governments to the aide of
Austria, the division of the Fatherland into two hostile
camps, the disruption of the Confederation, the absorption
by Prussia of those weaker and more contiguous states
which, by voting against her, have provoked her ven-
geance, are among the results brought into immediate view.
For theme both Austrisand Prussiahave long been preparing.
Down to the present date the advantage of the decision
recorded yesterday is all on the side of Austria. By rally-
ing Saxony, Bavaria., and Wurtemburg to her support, the
pressure on the aide of Italy will be to some extent
counterbalanced.

TEI WORM DIIIATIa.
The Times thinks that the government majority last
night of seven against Mr. Hunt's proposal to substitute a
rating for a rental qualification, in the county franchise,
was a victory so narrowly won, that they must begin to
feel like Pyrrhus that a renewal of the conflict would be
fatal to their hopes, and the fact, had, no doubt, some in-
_ .

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thence in inducing the Chancellor of the Exchequer to
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give way on the amendment of Mr. Banks Stanhope. The
committee may be said to have disposed last night of the
county franchise, and will next be called upon to discuss
the qualification of borough electors. The same set of
questions arise in the one as in the other case, but it must
be expected that they will be debated with even greater
keenness. It seems probable that Lord Dunkellin's amend-
ment for a rating qualification will receive, at least, as
much support as Mr. Hunt's amendment, which was re-
jected by so narrow a majority last night, if, indeed, the
government dq not come to the conclusion that the time
has arrived when a regard for their own honour and
the public convenience will justify them if they adopt a
course which will avoid the necessity of a division.
As delay is all that the opposition expected and desired,
we ought perhaps. observes the Daily News, to be grateful
that they have not renewed the fight on every sum inter-
mediate between 141. and 501. They no doubt feel that
the remaining provisions of the measure will afford
them innumerable opportunities. If the reduction
of the county occupation franchise, to which the
House of Commons is now pledged, tbeeomes law,
it will effect a beneficial change in the constituencies
to which it applies, securing, as it will, variety
of qualifications and of charecteristice—ii featuretwhich
is scarcely less desirable within the electoral bodies
than within the House of Commons itself. As Mr. Stan-
hope's proposition that land alone of 141. gross estimated
rental should be allowed to center the suffrage affords faci-
lities for the creation of fictitious tenancies and faggot
voters, the Daily News regrets that Mr. Gladstone should
have made a concession to converts of the moment, which
if it was not asked for the purpose of abusing it will yet

readily lend itself to systematic end fraudulent abuse.

The Post complains of Mr. Gladstone's obstinacy in con.
tinning to press the Reform Bill in parliament, not-with
standing that the whole of the twelve government nights
which now remain might readily be occupied in committee
without exposing any person to the charge of factious
opposition. Under these eirowastasees, the public are
driven to the conclusion that the government are either
needlessly occupying time in attempting to accomplish
impossibilities, or meditate a prolongation of the session
into the month of September. If the latter be their in-
tention, the Poet thinks that they will be unwise if they
reckon on the support of the same majority which has
borne them successfully so far.
In the opinion of the Herald the reluctance of the
Commons to proceed with the reform bill only reflects
the distrust and uneasiness of the country ; these infini-
tesimal majorities justly measure the strength which the
government derives, not from public confidante, but from
accidental party combinations ; and if the friends of the
constitution are but true to themselves and to their cause,
they may rely upon an eventual and substantial, though it
may not be an easy or a brilliant victory.
The Tekorsph says the supporters of the measure have
learned new tactics from the course taken by its oppo-
nents, and for the future we may expect that, when the
trick of tiring out the Cabinet is palpably attempted, the
majority will indignantly my the triflers down as it did
last evening. The antagonists of reform are meanwhile
quite welcome to persevere in the trick of representing
I the bill as dead already. By the time, perhaps, that it
goes up to the Lords, or shortly after, they will discon-
tincle their asseverations that it cannot pass.
The Star contends that by accepting Mr. Stenhope's
amendment the government have not only damaged
seriously the operation of their bill, but risked the alle-
giance of the best supporters of reform. And what have
they got in exchange' The illusive satiefection of having
j conciliated a party who are on this subject implacable,
and who will be ready to-night or on Monday to array
against them the same force and to employ against them
the same mazueuvres as have hitherto obstructed the
passing of the measure. Snob a division as took place,
whether we regard those completions by their absence
from it or those conspicuous on the division list—ought to
warn thls goeetornent very seriously against trifling too far
with the feelings of members who are in very important
' respects the pick of the liberal party.