The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-28 00:00:00

SAL ALTRRINIAN EXPLAMON.

Noticing the published resolve of the Rev. Mr. Krapp, a
German missionary, who is to be employed as one of the
dragomans attached to the expedition, to express his re-
ligions opinions should the proper occasion arise, the Post
takes the opportunity of protesting against religious pro-
pagandism in Abyssinia. Already the expeditionary force
threatens to assume proportions which, relatively to its
objects, may be termed gigantic. The army of ten thousand
soldiers involves a force which it has been estimated will
In the grow amount to fifty thousand men, so that every
combatant will require four non-combatants to look after
him and the eironmstanoes of war of which he is the actual
fighting element. We need not add to that surrounding,
excavating philosophers, literary curiosity hunters, or
doctrinal propagandists. However useful or desirable they
may be in their proper place, this is not the occasion, we
would submit, out of which to create opportunities for
developing them or their tendencies.

The Standard accuse* Ir. Layard with ungenerous con-
duct in attacking Consul Cameron, and regards the hon.
member's defence of himself and of his late chief es but •
lame answer to the charges which have been made against
them. It is characteristic of such an advocate that he

should conclude his harangue with the marvellous declar-
ation, that, though he approved of the measures which
had been taken to relieve the captives, aid believed they
wee the best to effect the object in view, he would " re-
serve to himself the right of condemning the 'measures if
failure or disaster should occur." A good many politicians
are in the habit of acting by the safe principle here laid
down ; but Mr. Layard is the first who has had the courage
to avow it.

The Telegraph cannot comprehend why the revenues of
India should not contribute • quota to the expenses of
the war. India is part of the British empire, and so far
as the Abyssinian affair is concerned she is the principal
part. When a blow is struck at the root of our power in
the East, what can he more righteous than that India,
the chief depository of that power, should 'apply troop.
and pay for their wages and transport
The Tines invites attention to the extraordinary expla-
nation which has been given in parliament of the landing
of troops from India at Portsmouth, although they had to
be quartered in garrison at Plymouth, which port was
passed by the troop ship on her way up the ChanneL This
explanation is, that the Indian Belief Ser►ice is in the
hands of the government of India, and the representatives
of this government have decided that they a 31 recognise no
port exoept Portsmouth for the embarkation or disem-
barkation of troops. No matter where a regiment is, or
to what place it may be going, Portsmouth must be the
point of departure or arrival. When it is remembered
that as much as 2,300,000/. of the entire charge of the
expedition will he required for equipments and transport
service, the Times thinks enough is said to show
the gravity of the quarrel between two departments
engaged in the business. If one office "acts contrary"
to another office at home, and in the fall light of pub-
licity, what may not be done in the Red Sea? What
security h►ve we for the economical concert of authorities
at Sues, at kfassowah, or at Bombay, if such co-operation
cannot be established even in this country
Four millions of bullion, says the Star, taken out of
the country in • year when our imports of corn must
be very large, cannot fail to act disastrously upon trade ;
and we fear greatly the cottages of England will feel the
effects of the blunders of officials in a shape which is
peculiarly hard to bear. Nevertheless, let us endure the
burden without attempting to throw any of it upon the
natives of India, and as the last folly of a parliamentary
rt gime in which officials did much as they pleased, and
the unrepresented people were the victims.