The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-09 00:00:00

TS! 001111/PATIVIII AND TSB PA

OATHS BILL.

Observing that the government measure is
of a more statesmanlike bind than Mr. Noosell's bill,
bs which Roman catholic would have been sworn
is • different order of persons from the !co-
nduit majority, the Times 000gratulates Mr. Disraeli
on refraining lest night from mires his remarkable
and original defends of the oath se it stands—that it was
usterawy is the infinite of Pepine themselves to conciliate
the prejudices of Protestants by imposing on the mid
Papists something restrictive sad odious. He Ins con.
bated himself this year with proposing certain &mia-
smata which are rather suitor/ than objectionable.
As to on. of them, If the oppouitioo of the comervativie
aces be disarmed by making members promise to uphold the
gremet racesselen to that/mom, there is so reason why the
government should *sot. The other change, introducing
the mixed phrase of theQusen's supremacy, ham no practical
importance, while it may introduce some difficulties.
Would it not be better, in • form of with which b to be
taken by men of all creeds, to keep slier of such an ex-
pression altogether ? The limitation of its signifiosime
made by Yr. Dimon produces a propoeitim which is un-
venally accepted. What is the use, then, of calling upon
all members to swear to it! In one wens it carries us back
to the fiercest theological controversy, in another it is •
mere commonplace.
An important principle, the Daily News says, is recog-
nised for the first time in this bill. namely, that members
of parliament sit in the Howe of 0061M001, not v the
adherents of this or that church or sect, but as Englishmen,
anbjecta of the Qones, and representatives of the people.
The acceptance of the project of • uniform oath by the
coeser►ativee shows that the national sentiment is now
fairly on • level with the spirit of recent legislation. Mr. Dis-
raeli's recommendations as to the terms of the newoath were

supported in a speech which was se weak in point of
rhetoric as in point of argument The oath of allegianoe to
the reigning sovereign includes in itself all that Mr.
Disraeli degree to add. The second part of his amendment
is not less superfluous—the supremacy of the sovereign is
an identical proposition, for what is sovereignty but supre-
macy? Indeed there is harm in appearing to limit the loops
of allegiance' by implying that loyalty to the reigning mo-
narch can exist apart from loyalty to the established order
of which she is the representative and symbol. Though the
ohmage in the opinion of the conservative leaders is matter
for praise, not blame, it is foolish to deny, es Mr. Disraeli
did, th►t each a change has taken place. Mr. Ilewdegate
was there to mark the apontacy of conservative leaders from
tory principles, and does so as convincingly as the boat,
left high and dry on the shorn, proves the retreat of the
tide.

The Post thinks we may now assume that when the
bill coma; to be discussed in the House of Lords, Lord
Derby will acquiesce in the removal of the muzzle on the
efficacy of which he lest year so strenuously relied. Mr.
Disraeli's objections were unsubstantial, but the go-
vernment have declared their readiness to introduce the
words, " heirs and summon) as by law established," if
the house deem the addition necessary ; and as to the
second, have postponed the discussion on its merits until
the bill is considered in committee.

The Herald regards the position aasumed by the con-
servative party is the Hones of Commons yesterday even-
ing as one eminently dignified and constitutional. The
opposition has not veered round from its opinion. Lut
year the bill was proposed by a private member, now
it is in charge of • cabinet minister, and the
system of uniformity of parliamentary oaths Mr. Disraeli
ppoeed. Lord Derby advised yesterday that the
parts of the bill to which no oonstitutional objection.
exist should be accepted and the others expunged, and
this will be done It will be too much, after the generous
tolerance int night of a measure in which so mach is
objectionable and most be mantled, if Sir George Grey
does not, when in committee, at own announce that the
formula prepared in draft for hint by Mr. Disraeli has
been oircumsnatially accepted.
The Televropl4 speaks of Mr. Disraeli as having exhibited
his characteristic hypercriticism, but treat, his objections
aa merely matters of detail which will in nowise interfere
with the adoption into our legislation of the principle of the
bill.

The Star treats Mr. Dianeli's suggestion as perfectly
puerile, and says that in comparison with such trivialities
the obsolete prejudices which the house tolerates from Mr.
Newdegate, and laughs at in Mr. Whalley, are worthy of
serious cousideratioa. The government will do well to
adhere to the oath they have framed, which will answer
every purpose that au oath ought to serve, and which is
only carped at io order to cover the retreat of the Varies
from an untenable position.

JOHNSON.

The Timm thinks the late speech of President Johnson
would not have been unworthy of Washington, the great
founder of the American republic, whose teak, after the
recognition of American independence, was not altogether
unlike that of President Joboson sines the subjugation of
the South. It appears certain that he retains the con-
fides*, of the country, and that if in the hat resort be
should throw himself upon it, he will be ably to rally
around him all those dormant forces of moderation which,
▪ Thucydides obeerres, determine the event of most revo-
lutions. We are sometimes inclined to contrast the tame-
ness of party struggles at home with the colonel proportions
of American politics, and are half-tempted to envy a state
of things which gives scope for the highest public virtue.
Few princes born In the purple would be capable of facing
a great emergency with courage and dignity equal to that
of !dr. Johnson. There is a stamp of reality and proud
self.coufidenoe in this appeal to the sovereign people which
obliterates the effect of some indiscreet expressions, and
makes us fed that Mr. Johnson is equal to guiding the
destinies of a great nation through a perilous crisis. Bat
then we should remember that it is only civil war and the
dire exigencies which arise out of it which can develops
qualities of this type ; and that that nation is sorely not
the happiest in which such powers have the =pleat room
for their exhibition.

Neither the address of Mr. Bancroft nor that of Hr.
Johnson appears to the Daily News of a kind to gladden
the hearts of true patriots, or inspire distant observers
with respect. Mr. Johoson's speech was full of the old
Misnames spirit, with this imports, t difference, that in-
stead of being directed against the Soutbe-n 'Es-Unionists,
it was pointed at men but for whose public spirit and con-
stancy under disappointment Led misfortune he would not
now to President of the United Mateo. He had been per.
sonally assailed, however, with extreme bitterness, and
it is not surprising that he should have spoken with
words of wrath. The President's plan of reconstruct/0a con-
templates the whole soother. population, while the radicals
care only for the negroes. The President, nevertheless, has
repeatedly declared that for the preaedt the negro shall be
protected at theSoath by special legislative measures, and he
is ready to assent to a hill extending the powers and opera-
tions 11
of the existing Freedmen's Bureau for two years.
Mr. Baucroft'm address was of a wholly different
thaseeter, fix it was the result of study and pre-
prelim. The insults offered in it to this country,
elaborated with the knowledge that the repre
mutative of England would be present, were gra.
kites. and impertinent. The British ambassador was
there became the littleness of the living could not diminish
the greatness of the dead. BM Mr. Seward must take care
that oar minister shall not again ba made the victim of
eonMenee In American hospitality. One accident of this
kind is too maey,
The Advertiser is astonished at the spectacle which Ha
Johnson bar given to the world, developing ell of a sadden
" a degree of judgment, melt-command, stations:whip, and