The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-18 00:00:00

MMSTERS AND MEASURES.

The Times tbiuks the serious self-consciousness
with which Mr. Goachen spoke the other nisht was amply
justified by the situation he has reached, and that it is no
wonder if a man who has achieved so much should speak
with boldness, if with me laity, of his prospects. An ad-
vance so rspil as to be almost unprecedented, inevitably
excites inquiry amongst men who have served the state
more years than Mr. Gasehen has lived • *About attaining
the goal he has reached, as to the secret of this early die.
tination,—there being just enough in their carping compl►int,
to enable them tomes cut rent. The Times finds the fact to
be that Mr. Gov:lees contemporaries and acquaintances,
including wit his acadamic fi:ends alone, but the more
sceptical men of business in the City, recognise in him the
qualities which eminently befit a man for public service—
vigour and independence of mind, originality of thought,
the faculty of sriziog upon the essence of a question and of
putting aside everything which is merely accidental, the
power of determining at a critical time what ought to be
done and what can be done—qualities which can only be
detected by 'help observation and by such delicate testa as
defy classification. It is on this account that the rapid
promotion of so young a man is creditable to Lord Russell,
since it is evidence of bis desire to enlist the best talent in
the service of the crow.), however unsupported it may be
by family influence, and however unconnected with whig
traditions. In his new position there will be need of all
Mr. Goechen's confidence, his knowledge, and his ability,
but eves/one who has a generous sympathy with courage
and ambition will alsh him good speed.

_ .
The mutterings of disaffection excited amongst wavering
or apostatising llberels by the proposal of • reform bill
cot fined to the mingle article of an extension of the suffrage,
are ascribed by the Daily Nara to the fact that these mo•
dente gentlemen desire a bill which shall excite the
I maximum of opposition, and rre ready themselves to be
the opposition if no other should be forthcoming. If it
were not superfluous to argue against • pretext, they might
be reminded that parts of a scheme to which effect cannot
I be given simultaneously may be passed in succession ; but
I Lord Russell wisely meets their threat of • hostile line of
action by the announcement of • counter course of pro-
ceediog, —with a dechr►tion which means in substance that
the rejection of the nascent bill would produce a
dissolution and a general electioo, with or without a
brief interregnum of Lord Derby. Lord Russell's
firmness will probably convert these meditating dis-
torters, who would hardly have the courage needful
to meet their constituencies after throwing out the bill.
into effective though reluctant allies. The faulty political
action apparent in the course taken by the deputation of I
working men the other day, adds the Daily Neics, in re istiog
•smaller measure of reform than manhood suffrage, is natural
in persons who have been wholly excluded from it ; since
men to whom politics have of necessity been only abstract
and speculative are not to be severely blamed if they do
not always exhibit that practical good sense which can I
be leaned only by participation io
The Advertiser insists that the liberal members are be.
coming mare •nd mare dissatisfied with Mr. Gosebea's ap•
polutmeat, which they oonsider an affront to the whole party.
A mere youth, says the Advertiser, without having proved
himself to be possessed of any qualities worthy the name