The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-27 00:00:00

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LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL. 27.

THE week which is about to close has been one
of great discouragement. Material interests have
suffered considerably, but it is not concern for
them that most saddens thoughtful men ; it is
the necessity they are—or fear they are—under of
thinking less hopefully of the progress of their race
in wisdom and virtue. What is now taking place
is humiliating to human pride. Two of the most
powerful and most civilized nations of the world
are in danger of entering upon a strife which can-
not be contemplated without • certain awe, for
no other reason than that one of them is afflicted
with a ruler who is driven to war as a last
resource for retrieving the consequences of his
own stupendous follies. Of what use are universal
suffrage, revolution, and the " principles of '89,"
if they cannot save a nation from the worst evils
which could happen under the regime of Divine
right t Europe is threatened with war about the
Luxemburg question ; but that question is itself •
pure creation of policy. Two months ago it did not
exist, and, apart from the personal exigencies of the
French Ererzsaa, it need not have been invented.
Now it is too probable that thousands, perhaps
hundreds of thousands, of brave men must fall
before it can be decided.

The laboured protestation published in a semi-
official Paris journal on Thursday, to show that
France desires peace, has not tranquillised a single
mind. It is notorious that if the Emperor
NAPOLEON desires peace he can have it.
No one has been so rash as to threaten France ;
no one wishes to impair its power. If it be true,
as the C'onstitutionnel assures the public, that
French policy has from the first been one of
peace and conciliation, whence this difficulty
The apologists of the EMPEROR insist on the ag-
grandisement of Prussia, and ask if it is not rea-
sonable that France should have something. But
on other occasions these same writers show, plainly
enough, that they are well aware that what is
taking place is something very different from the
aggrandisement of any existing State : it is the
growth and consolidation of Germany under the
powerful protection of Prussia ; and one of the
surest tests of the soundness of this change is the
ability of the new Confederation to defend the soil
and interests of Germany.
The writer in the Conatitutionnel observes that
the Luxemburg question has become an European
question, and that France is holding aloof in order
not to embarrass the action of the Powers. We have
read much to the same effect in the columns of
our Paris contemporaries during the last few days,
it being thought desirable to represent the neutral
Powers as morally coalesced against Prussia. We
take leave to doubt the truth of this representa-
tion. That England, Russia, and Austria should
have shown themselves ready to contribute their
friendly suggestions in favour of peace is what
might have been expected : but a diplomatic
pressure upon Pruaaia by the three Powers is not
to be thought of. The Times, improving, as is its
wont, upon the hint of the French journalist,
reminds the neutral Powers that they are three
against two, and remarks how easy it is for might
to throw its weight in the scales with right.
We have no inclination to dwell on language
which probably meant nothing when it was
written, and is by this time forgotten by its
authors, but really writers in great journals
should consider how easy it is to make their
country look ridiculous. The genius which could
under present circumstances combine Russia and
Austria with this country in a war to bring France
and Germany to reason is equal to any feat. There
is no man in Europe who knows better than Count I

Bismsaes the exact worth of big words in a cite
like this. If Germany should be willing to with-
draw its garrison from Luxemburg, it will be to
spare Europe the spectacle of its two greatest
nations involved in deadly conflict, and not
from apprehension of the intermeddling of
Powers which have no inclination to throw
away their resources in the quarrels of other
nations, and which certainly could not unite
upon any plan of action. The expedient which
finds most favour now is the neutralisation of the
territory of Luxemburg under the guarantee of the
Great Powers, and the destruction of the fortress.
If Prussia is satisfied to withdraw her garrison
on condition of the destruction of the fortress of
Luxemburg, we shall all be glad, but England must
on no account guarantee a territory claimed alike
by France and Germany. We cannot conceive
an English Minister of ordinary prudence entan-
gling the country in such an engagement. Certainly
we have seen nothing in Lord STANLEY'S brief
administration of the foreign affairs of this coun-
try to induce the belief that he would enter into a
bond of this kind. But if the attempt were made,
it would be the first duty of Parliament upon
receiving information of such an act to make it
plain to all concerned that the country preserved its
freedom of action notwithstanding the indiscretion
of its Ministers. As a nation among nations it
is our duty to do all we can to promote peace ;
but our forces, not more than sufficient for the
protection of our widely scattered possessions and
the defence of our territory, must not be pledged
for the maintenance in perpetuity of arrangements
which, however convenient they may be as tem-
porary expedients, may easily prove to have in
them no elements of permanence.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
(THIS DAY.)

The Times treats political demonstrations as part
of the simple pleasures of Englishmen, corresponding to
the Corpus Christi processions and Fetes Napoleon of the
French. The doings of the Working Men's Conservative
Association at Wakefield supply food for special merri•
ment—the noble eloquence of the yeomanry colonel, Sir
H. Edwards, and the parliamentary manner of Mr.
Powell, the member for Cambridge, contributing in par-
ticular to it. In other articles the Timer discusses the
alleged corruption in Amerioan politics and the progres-
sive deterior►tion in the character of the American as-
semblies ; also the marriage of the Count of Flanders, and
the strikes of the London and Paris tailors.

The recent publications on the reorganisation of the
French army by Generale Changarnier and Trochu enable
the Daily News to set forth the ideas of the old and new
military schools in France. Endeavouring to hold the
mean between the two, the Daily News believes that in
war a great proportion of the education given in peace will
be utterly useless. Consequently, little is to be gained in
such a contingency from the possession of a large standing
army. But there is infinite necessity for such organisation
as, when need comes, can improvise an army out of new
recruits, and for the system which shall rapidly adapt these
recruits to the duties they have to perform. What we do
need is education among the officers to guide enthusiasm
among the men. The latter we have got—we are unsafe
till we secure the former.—Another article is addressed to
the recent political movements in the United Slates.
The Herald is ignorant as to the intentions of the govern.
ment with regard to the projected meeting in Hyde-park ;
but it is persuaded that the public opinion of the
country would heartily support them in any measures
they might think it necessary to take with the view of pre-
venting a repetition of the disgraceful riot of last July.
The meeting, if held at all, will be held in defiance of the
law. The Standard says the case is eminently one for the
action of the House of Commons rather than of the
ministry. It is not fair that the odium of maintaining
order by force should be thrown on one party, while
another enjoys all the popularity to be derived from a
supposed sympathy with popular excesses.
The Star thinks the views put forth at last night's
meeting, called by the London Working Men's Association,
ought to have weight with a reform ministry. That meet-
ing declared a liberal and comprehensive lodger franchise •
ricer qua non in any real reform measure.
The Star, in another column, protests against the
manner in which Mr. Tidd Pratt has used his official
position in writing to the Tiny* under the influence of
strong dem and political feel,ng. By so doing he has
perilled his salutary influence amongst artisans, and run
the risk of creating a prejudice against en office which it is
most desirable should continue to be exercised in complete
harmony with the class whale interests it concerns.