The Express.
London, England, 1860-12-26 00:00:00

AUSTRIA.

The following appears in the Prase, pointing out
the policy which the new Minister of State is
advised to adopt. These are the most essential
points :
Ritter von Schmerling has taken pommaion to-day of the
direction of the Ministry of State. As no programme ap-
peared on this occasion, we are induced to drew, from his
past political career, the conclusion that he will make it hie
solemn duty to all iu a general assembly, and by the moans
of the seine to introduce constitutional order in the empire.
The solution of this problem is not an easy one. Hungary
alone offers considerable difficulties. /Thanks to the re-
ponderaoce of the Hungarian party over Count Golukowaky's
policy, the governing power had to yield to municipal
'merrily. From this a movement issued which outgrew
the limits of the Imperial diploma of the 20th October.
A conference will take place in Gran to-morrow, for
the purpose of limiting the franchise for the Hungarian
parliament ; but to judge by the example act by the Peeth
Assembly on the question of taxation, it is by no means
probable that this conference will keep within the bounda-
ries fixed by Semen and Vay ; but it is almost certain
that its conclusions, exceeding by far the principles of the
old Crusaders (Conaervatives), will attach themselves ex-
clusively to thelaw of 1848. Should this happen, and wattle
oonsiestof VonSchmerling, then the dualism isoompleted; for
the Hungarian Diet, with n separate ministry, appropriating
to itself the right of taxation and the levy of the army,
readers a constitutional Imperial parliament impossible.
Against this we hope Von Schmerling will protect us. The
verdict of Gran will be his first trial. We suppose that he
has to postpone his decision on Hungarian affairs till the
government reply to the wishes of the conference. There
can be no doubt what the answer of a constitutional Impe-
rial minister will be. He must maintain the rrivileges of
the Imperial Council, and never permit that the power of
government be divided between Peath and Vienna.
The electoral law in itself forms no impediment,
since it is in harmony with those principles which
the constitutional party of Austria entertains. This
principle Von tictimerling has to apply to the whole
monarchy. To introduce the Golukowsky 'system in the
German-Slavonic provinces, and the law of 1848 in Hungary,
would cause a separation between Hungary and the other
provinces, as existed before the year 184$. Von Schmerling's
task must be to introduce for the whole empire that same
basis which the Hungarians claim for themselves. Such an
election would bring forty an assembly which would truth-
fully represent the people, and would give power enough to
the government to save an empire, one kingdom of which
the Paris Credit Mobilier already includes rn its specula-
tions. It may be that a few Hungarian counties would
refuse to be represented in this general assembly, but
what can this minority do against 25 millions! The mal-
contents will not pant long. Jealousy will impel them,
and when they once feel the power of this assembly they
will hasten to join it. To fulfil this is the miselon of
Ritter you Schmerling. In his electoral law we shall find
his programme.