The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-20 00:00:00

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

(THIS DAY.)

The amendment thrust upon the House of Com-
mons by Mr. Gladstone, and urged for adoption by him
with all the ardour of an impressible nature, was, says
the Times, supported by the mass of his followers simply
as a party manceuvre. That it would, if sucoessful, have
got rid of the Reform Bill was nothing, although it is
true that this would have made reform impossible
thin year, and next year, and, indeed, until an
indefinite period. It is also true that its supporters
were irreconcilably divided upon the scheme of any
alternative measure, but this was • trifling con-
sider►tion. The important point was that it might
have got rid of the government. This was the
avowed object of Lord Cranborue, his " Batavian ancient,"
and body guard of four. As for the motives of the rank
and file of the opposition, let us take Mr. Bass's testimony.
' Every ►iber,d member he has talked with who voted with
Mr. Gladstone has, with one exception, expressed his
delight that his side was outvoted. The exception is sig-
nificant. It was an ex-official who frankly told the mem-
ber for Derby. " Baas, you ought to be ashamed of your-
self." The Times believes the country will bear with much
equanimity the indignation of that ex-official.
The Times returns to the subject of trades' unions to.
day by • reference to the strikes which are taking place
in America, and mays that a special commissioner of revenue
has received instructions from the United States govern.
meat to visit Europe, and see what he can discover touch-
ing the labour and wages question, the relations of em-
ployers and employed, the operation of protective duties,
and so forth. This envoy, who has to report to Congress
before the conclusion of the year, will arrive at a moat
opportune moment, for the revelations of our Trades'
Unions Commission will be ready for his notice and con-
sideration. The rule for the masters, according to the
doctrine of trades' unions, should be made by the masters,
who must look after their own affairs. If the men take
are of themselves, that is enough for them. Tho Times
thinks that this rule is purely one-aided, and that it must
be balanced by some other organisation if trade is to go
on, and the public to get their due. It then refers to the
evidence of the Secret►ry of the Amalgamated Society of
Engineers, which spent 40,0004 on the great strike of 1862,
who expresses "his belief that all strikes are • complete
waste of money, not only in relation to the workmen but
to the employers."

Looking at trades' unions, says the Telegraph, from a
business point of view, the state can only say to the
members of them, " Combine as much as you please,
demand what wages you like, and work for as few hours
as you choose ; but do not ask the community to tax
itself in order that these privileges may be maintained ;
do sot ask it for weapons with which you are to fight
itself—do not, therefore, ask it to guard those funds with
which the fight is to be waged.
let us believe, says the Herald, only half of the codes.
lion of the witnesses before the Trades' Unions Commission,
►nd it helps us a long way towards a just appreciation of
the usefulness to the public at least of these associations

"in the interest of trade." A good deal, of coarse, is kept
back ; but the truth trickling out before the Royal Com-
mission will ultimately suffice, no doubt, for the foundation
of a judgment upon the whole question—a condemnatory
one in the opinion of the
Referring to a report that the Elintur'h Redo', for
April would contain an article by the Crown Prince
of Prussia on the late campaign, the Daily News
says that the article on that subject in the lut
number of the Review is certainly not written
by the Crown Prince, since it contains references and com-
parisons in which that illustrious personage would not
permit himself to indulge, but, nevertheless, presenting
his case, and supplying a number of statements which
must be exceedingly gratifying to his friend.. After
analysing the article in question, the Daily News says
that after its perusal the general impression is left that it
was fortunate for Prussia, and for whatever other interest
was to be served by Prussian victory, that the Crown
Prince was in command of an army on the critical day of
Sedum

The Daily News remark, that every mail from the United
States brings additional evidence of the determination of
the Southern people to reorganise their States under the
late legislation of Congress. The wiser Southerners already
see that the interest of the coloured population will be
their interest also, and that by cordially accepting MVO
suffrage, and proceeding as rapidly as possible in the reor.
ganisation of their governments on the basis of universal
citizenship, they may not only save themselves from
further humiliation, but may win back a great part of
their old influence and weight in the Federal government.
On the supposition of an invading army entering the
country, the Tines remarks that though we have fortified