The Express.
London, England, 1867-03-30 00:00:00

THE WEEKLY PRESS.

The ErAtmiwr dwells on the disintegration which
is going on in both the great parties in the state—reaching
so far as a rumour, for which the Examintr will not vouch,
of concerted action for the overthrow of the Derby go-
vernment between Lord Cranborne and Mr. Gladstone.
Somehow or other leaders now do not lead, and the party
disorganisation is not to be cured by the mere sending
round of a big drum to stifle murmurs, and to stun
discontent. Nothing will reunite the liberal party
but the authoritative announcement of a new and
definite policy, legislative and administrative. If •
change of hands is only to replace an effete and feeble
clique, and to resume a negative policy of liberalism
abroad and at home ; and if the change is to be wrought
by the aid of ultra-toryism turned mutinous with rage at
the semi-liberalism of its chiefs, then we shall entertain
but faint hopes of public good from the transmutation.
In another column the Exarniuer says that public
opinion throughout France is longing for some certain
sound. If it be peace, it should be followed by its natural
consequence, the abandonment of the Army Augmentation
Bill and a reduction of the military force. If it should be
war, the people will be prepared for the result. But if it
be neither peace nor war, then they will have the burdens
of the one without the security of the other.
The Saturday Review trusts that we may now proceed
without delay to the consideration of the Reform Bill in
committee, and that we have got to the end of attempts
to construe every change in the bill into a crowning mercy
and great victory over the ministry. Surely the meek
may be permitted to inherit the earth for three or four
months more. This is all the ministry ask, and it is
meek enough in all conscience. " Keep us in till we have
passed the bill—your bill, not our bill remember—end
then turn us out." This is what Mr. Disraeli and his
colleagues beg for, and it is a humble and moderate
request. They have given up all their views, wishes, and
what they used to call principles, and it is not much to
ask in return that, during the early months of summer,
they may be treated in • kind and friendly way.
The Saturday Review continues in another part of its
columns to treat Mr. Gladstone as a target for the
bitterest and coarsest invectives of which newspaper lan-
guage admits.
The political kaleidoscope, says the Spectator, has
shifted again. Last week it seemed certain that the go-
vernment would go out, this week everybody is talking of
the ease with which, after their concessions, the bill may
be amended into a fair compromise. There is, of course,
the usual multiplicity of contradictory reports, but we
incline to believe the following worth • moment's atten-
tion. Mr. Gladstone, though disgusted alike with the
bill and the government, is aware that • great body of
members of both parties would sacrifice anything, their
consciences included, if they could only get reform passed
out of the way, and is, moreover, reluctant to tell the
liberals distinctly they must either obey orders or find
another chief. Consequently he will strive rather to
amend than to throw out the bill, and if Mr. Disraeli can
keep honest for a month, can, that is, abstain from trying
to hoodwink the House of Commons, which has too many
eyes for his handkerchief, the hill as amended may pea.,
to the boundless relief of all politicians, who feel as if
they were getting congestion of the brain from a surfeit of
reform details.

All things point, in the opinion of the Spectator, to a
general European war. Napoleon cannot bear to be always
baffled ; the American complication is over ; the French
are in the dangerous mood which the idea that their influ-
ence is waning always inspires ; England is paralysed by
internal dissensions, and indisposed in any event to inter-
fere with France ; Germany is exalted till it will bear no
menace ; the East is stirring and heaving with excitement.
We have still three months, for Napoleon must give the
signal, and the Exhibition does not close till August ; but
if he lives, and " the unforeseen does not arrive," Ger-
many will yet be welded into a harder unity by blows
from the outside. Already the mere rumour of menace is
doing Count von Bismarck's work, the federal draft is
passing as rapidly as if the North German parliament were
filled with soldiers, and, when it is proclaimed, the King
of Prussia is Emperor of Germany, with a military dicta-
torship for three years. And we wonder that on all bourns
there are uneasiness and hesitation !

Discussing the question of the railways and the govern-
ment, the Economist concludes that the state never ought
to interfere to preserve the status or the credit of any par.
ticular person, or firm, or company ; the government
ought only to interfere in that last extreme case when all
credit is about to cease, and the whole busineu of the na-
tion is going to cease. The stoppage of railway credit does
not stop all other credit. Suppose some great lines do, as
the Great Western now do, pay their dividend in deben-
ture stock, and devote their money income to clearing off
due obligations. Of course a multitude of persons, and
many of them in poor circumstances, and entitled to
much commiseration, will be straitened ; they will get a
piece of paper, which they must sell or pledge, instead of
real money. But national credit and business will not
stop ; men will not stand in the streets, ea on " Overend's
Friday"—the silent deprivation of small inoomes will not
bring the country to an end. Nevertheless, to enable the
government to gain firm control, undisputed mastery, and,
if need be, absolute ownership over railways, it would be
well worth while to help them to some money. But it is
only to gain something for the state that we interfere ;
merely to help the railways we would do nothing.
The Chronicle (a new and promising journal, the first
number of which was issued to-day) thinks it an ignorant
fallacy to say that any refonn bill is better than no bill,
Two months hence it may be a very dangerous fallacy
indeed. It is of vital importance that the battle should
be fought at the next stage of the measure. On the motion
for the Speaker's leaving the chair it will be the duty of
the liberal party to put on record, in some distinct and
unmistakeable form, what it is they intend to do when
they get into committee. If the government accepts the
principles thus laid down, the application of them, clause
by clause, to the bill may be safely attempted ; but if Mr.
Disraeli should resist or hesitate, no course will be left
but to submit the issue to the test, already too long de-
layed, of a decisive division.

THE HOME CIRCUIT AND LORD CHIEF JUSTICE
BOVILL—Last evening the bar of the circuit entertained
at dinner the judges of assize, both of whom were members
of the circuit, and for some years were among Its leaders.
The circuit is so numerous that no room in Kingston
would contain them. The largest room obtainable—the
Town-ball—was procured for the occasion, but still scarce
one-half of the circuit could secure admission, and as it
was it was very much over-crowded. About 100 pulls-
men of the bar received the judges as their guests ; and,
although the Lord Chief Justice was the principal object
of their attention. their respect was not less paid to Baron
Bramwell, who likewisewas a leader of the circuit, and has
now been for many years on the bench, and is one of the
senior of the puisne judges. The leaders of the circuit
were present to do the learned judges honour, and, as the
tribute of reepoct was purely professional, it had the
entire concurrence even of those who are members of the
political party opposed to that to which the Lord Chief
Justice had belonged. Mr. X. Chambers, Q.C., M.P., the
Hon. G. Denman, Q.C., M.P., Mr. J. Brown, Q.C., Mr.
fierjeant Parry, Mr. C. Pollock, Q.C.. Sir George Bony.
man, Q.C., Mr. Hennen, the Bon. A.Theidger, Mr. Watkin
Williams, and the other leading members of the circuit,
with about 90 members of the bar, sat down to dinner, and
the health' of the Lord Chief Justice and Mr. Baron
Bramwell were proposed and received with every honour.
Zrox Cousoz.—The school closes on Friday,
the 12th of April, for the Easter vacation. The lower
boys will return to the college on Wednesday, the Bth of
May, the fifth and mirth forms arriving on the two sue-
Axseededindays. Th,
the 6th e Newcastle
A Scholarship Examination is
Saturday of pril.