The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-05 00:00:00

THE ZZLZANZ Or THE ADVMHNIAN CAPTIVES.

If the news that the English captives in Abys-
sinia have been liberated by the Emperor Theodore is sub-
stantiated, it will, says the Tines, gladden every heart.
Englishmen will be glad to believe that the threat of hos-
tilities and the preparation of an invading force have ac-
complished what gentle words and royal presents mild not
effect. The intercession of the Armenian Bishop Isaac, to
which the clemency of Theodore is ►ttributed, comes sus-
piciously soon after the news of an expedition from Bom-
bay must in due course have reached the imperial court.
The news will be especially acceptable to the government
and to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Even as it is,
should the prisoners be at once restored and the prepara-
tions everywhere cease, the budget of next year will feel
the effect. very deeply. But should we have done with
Abyssinia reasonable people will not complain. Only let
it be understood that those who have been delivered, and
another bold spirits bent upon African adventure, will
have henceforth but themselves to rely upon. If they en-
gage in it they must not look to be rescued by new expedi-
tions. We cannot send • mission to redeem them with
the chance of being obliged to send an army to redeem the
mission.

No more welcome news could reach England, observes
the Doily Nevi, than that our countrymen, so long held in
cruel captivity by the savage King of Abyssinia, have
gained their liberty. There is only one thing to moderate
the joy which such intelligence inspires—the suspicion that
after all it may not be true. It is difilcalt not to feel some
slight misgiving on this point, for we have been betrayed
into premature self-congratulation more than once or
twice before. And yet there is no direct and positive
reason for doubting the report, while there is much to
render it probable.

The more the course of affairs during the last few days is
considered, the more the Star is inclined to believe that
the government knew well the expedition would not
be required. When it ordered the chartering of the
vessels, it must have supposed that the captives were on
their way to the coast. Without even the justification of
an unsatisfactory answer to the ultimatum a vast expense
has been incurred, and the spectacle presented to the world
of a Christian nation hastening to put on its war-paint,
and preparing to show the depth of its religious fervour by
letting loose the savages of India upon the savages of
Ethiopia in order to punish one ruffian whom we had no
chance of reaching. The responsibility which ministers
incur in appropriating to an Abyssinian expedition supplies
which have not been voted for that purpose is very serious
indeed.

The Teirpreph expresses doubt of the truth of the release
of the captives, but hopes, in the interest of the British
tax-payers, that it may prove correct.

In the opinion of the Tixees, the dismyanisation of par-
ties will not be diminished by the letters of Lord Russell
and Mr. Gladstone on the proposed Reform FEte. Unfor-
tunately for the world, we have not the whole of Mr.
Gladatone's answer, but, subject to this qualification, it
may be boldly said that no two letters can be conceived
more characteristic of their respective writers than those

read at the meeting of the Working Men's Association.
By a singular and unhappy accident each writer seems to
have exhibited in as small a space as possible his pre-
dominant faults and shortcomings. Earl Russell's letter
is ungracious, and Mr. Gladstone's is obscure. One leader
seizes the casual opportunity of writing a letter to vent little
sneers upon opponents to whom he sandbag prospective
courses, contrasted with what be suggests he would do
himself, quite unwarranted by anything he has dons or
they have attempted, and another lets his meaning be lost
in a maze of verbiage.
The working men's Reform banquet, remarks the Tele.
graph, bas certainly drawn from the chieftains of the whig
and of the liberal party two letters of marked significance.
Mr. Gladstone 's response shows him to be in perfect
harmony with the national feeling—glad of what has been
achieved, careless of personal triumph, sager only to have
any advance consolidated and complete ; but Lord Russell
' has replied to the workmen's invitation in language which
too plainly avows that the age has gone clean beyond him.
Yet Earl Russell possesses some of the most essential
qualities of a parliamentary leader, and ho may even yet
be able to serve his country and " dish the fairies."
The Star can no more understand Earl Russell's doubts
of the faithfulness of the masses to that progress of which
they had always been the faithful friends than it can
share his easy belief that the tory government have ac-
quired popular influence by carrying a reform bill. Mr.
Gladstone does not in any degree regard the Reform Bill,
as Lord Russell does, with misgiving. He is all for gra-
titude, congratulation, and rejoicing on the one hand,
while on the other he hopes to see an enhanced sense
amongst voters of the duty which the franchise imposes.