The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-30 00:00:00

THI ROMAN QUIPITION.

The measures of the French government, it is
remarked by the Doily News, show that the Emperor is by
no means sure of a peaceful solution of impending diffi-
culties, and the military measures which ►re being taken
are out of all proportion to the defeat of irregular bands of
volunteers. No mutually satisfactory understanding, it
is clear, has yet been established between the governments
of the King and the Emperor. It is understood that the
assertion of the claim of Italy to participate in the restora-
tion of order at Rome was one of the bases on which the new
advisers of Victor Emmanuel took office, but it seems that
Louis Napoleon refuses to consent to a joint occupation,
and imposes the hardest of terms on his ally. It will not
be very surprising if General Menabrea's government
breaks down as did that of General Cialdini's, and in that
case the prospects of the King will be dark indeed. The
course which French action was to follow in Mexico and
towards Germany was marked out beforehand in state papers
even more distinctly than in the Mortileur, circular, but •
superior power revised the programme. The development
of this Roman question is in stronger hands than that of
the French Emperor, who may be only ghing hostages
while he thinks he is making a display of strength.
The Times has now full faith in the Emperor Napoleon
and thinks Italian independence is still uppermost in his
benevolent thoughts. He is not in the least bent on per-
petuating the temporal power, and the September Conven-
tion was only contrived to break a fall which no power on
earth could much longer avert, and which a congress is
now probably to effect. But the King of Italy must
be firm and repress all popular passions. There will soon
be only one man to be put down in the Peninsula, and he
is only too eager to atone with his life for all the evil his
unreasoning impetuosity may have caused. " A bullet
that should hit me at the heart," Garibaldi has said,
" may be a blessing to Italy," a saying which may turn out
true in more than one sense. The sight of the French flag
at Civita Vecchia will be sufficient to dispel many Italian
delusions. Garibaldi makes no progress, and there are no
elements in Rome for an insurrection.

The Standard thinks the Italians will put forward no
claim to any joint occupation of the city of Rome for the
present. They will content themselves with an occupation
of the province of Viterbo, and rest satisfied with the
assurance given by M. Moustier in his circular that the
expedition to Rome is not conceived in any hostile spirit
to Italy, and that the French army will be withdrawn as
soon as its object is accomplished.
The Herald lays it must be acknowledged that the
French government has acted towards Italy with generous
forbearance.

The one only benefit the Star hopes to see arise out
of the unfortunate intervention of France in this Italian
crisis is that some deplorable fiasco, to which it is sure to
lead, may at least furnish the world with a new and an
impressive lesson in favour of the policy which bids
nations not to undertake regulating the affairs of their
neighbours. One might have thought the awful results
of the Mexican expedition would be warning enough to
save the necessity of any other.

The trial of the Fenian prisoners is dwelt upon by
several of our contemporaries. The Times approves of all
the proceedings of the prosecution at Manchester, and is
at some pains to argue that the Fenian movement is in
no sense a political one, and that the acts committed in its
name admit of no such excuses as have been pleaded,
rightly or wrongly, in extenuation of political crimes. They
are offences, not against the government, but against
society.
The Standard complains that there are certain English
sympathisers with Feuianisin, more or less honest in their
mode of exhibiting that feeling. With some of these it is
probably nothing more than a childish desire to separate
themselves from what in their stupid slang is called
" As there is no possible chance of Fenianism
succeeding, it is a safe subject on which to exercise the
luxury of being singular. Then there is another more
mischievous school, who look upon Fenianiem as • corvs-
nient thorn in the aide of that large majority of the"
countrymen from whom they are bound to differ. These
are the liberals of the ultra complexion. There is a third
class, again, smaller than the others, who have • positive
interest in the increase and development of Fenianiam.
The Telegraph, pointing out that by the law of England
all who were engaged in the common design of using vio-
lence against the police at the rescue from the van were
guilty of murder equally with the man who fired the shot,
asks if we are prepared to carry the law to its logical con-
sequences? Law and public opinion, in fact, are not in
accordance with respect to the theory of capital crimes.
Our jurisprudence recognises no degrees in the crime of
murder, and therefore deals out only one kind of punish-
ment. On the other hand, there are many gradations of
the offence. Until our code recognises those distinctions
it places itself in opposition to the sentiments of the com-
munity, and therefore fails to command that respect
which it ought to receive.
The Daily New says it is very unreasonable to expect
that the butchers of London sill allow the price of meat
to be written dows. So long as they can get what they
ask, they are sure to ask and get it. The famine prlces
which we are paying now are the consequence of habits of
indifference end profuseness. Perhaps it is well that the
lesson should be severe in order that the cure may be
complete. It is er. :dent that the butchers restrict the
supply of meat, and that their trade is practically • close
one. Their shops are of such a character as to make cus-
tomers dependent on the rounds of the butcher's cart, and
the limitation of the trade makes combination easy. The
present high range of pr:ces ought to attract men into the
trade in numbers sufficient to bring extravagant gains
dcara to the ordinal/ rate of profit. If it fails to do so,
the only course left open to consumers will be that of die.
rinsing with the retail butcher altogether, by the adoption
of the system of co-operative association.
Censuring Bavaria for her hesitation in joining the
iollverein, the Times emphatically says sooner or later
the Southern States most form one political body with the
Northern Confederation. Their union in the Zoliverein
is merely • preparation for that fate. Count Bismarck is
probably indifferent at heart as to which method of satis-
fying herself Bavaria thinks proper to adopt, for he knows
that the final Tessa will be the same. But to Bavaria her-
self the road by which the result is attained is all-im-
portant In spite of the protests ►nd protestations of the
Bavaria. Chambers they bad better submit themselves
with • good grace to the irresistible.

AN IRISH PRELATE ON THE IRISH CHURCH.

The Bishop of Down and Connor and Dromore
held the annual visitation of the clergy of the united
dioceses under his spiritual jurisdiction, and delivered •
charge. Beginning with a reference to the ritual.
istic movement in England and the report of the
royal commission thereupon, he saps -wed regret that this
report was "so barren of dvtinctive principles,"
that it contained no censure, no regret or remon-
strance against the use of vestments which were sym-
bolic of doctrines which he unhesitatingly affirmed
to be "at variance with our reformed faith." The
commissioners, " halting between two opinions," had at-
tempted • compromise without a solution and delivered "•
judgment without its sanction." His lordship then ex-
pressed a hope that the Irish Convocation would be re-
vived, and then again explained his views in regard to the
Irish Church Establishment. He had openly and
candidly stated these views in the House of Lords,
not as the representative of his clergy, but as an
independent member of the house. I desired," he
continued, " and do chair°, to see anomalies removed,
abuses redressed, superfluous offices curtailed to inset the
requirements of our prey it wants." This was • summer/
of the advice lie had always given, but he feared the time
had passed away when even such changes would be
accepted as a settlement. They would not see the
danger, nor prepare for the coming storm ; and sow
they found themselves among the breakers with
all their canvas set, guided thither by misjudging
men whoa. "untutored zeal and rash enthusiasm
warped their better judgment." Still, come what
might, he had no fear as to the continued and increasing
vitality and power of the Irish church. On the subject of
education his lordship was no less clear and decided in
stating his opinion, but spoke firmly and emphatically
against the adoption of the denominational system, "so
fraught with impending evils" and calculated to propagate
permanent discord between sect and sect. Rather than
have this " pernicious plan," he would accept • purely
secular system supported by the state, with proper
" permitting, though not requiring, • religious

FOREIGN-OFFICE, Ocr. 29.—The Queen has been
pleaae.l to approve of Mr. T. N. Molloy as Consul at St.
John. Newfoundland, for the United States of America.—
Gazette.