The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-26 00:00:00

TEI HIDE PARE MEETINGS AND THE GOVERIDIIIIT.

The daily papers this morning devote consider-
able space in their leading article mamas to the subject of
the government action in regard to the Hyde-park demon-
strations. The Pod, indeed, treats of nothing else.
The Timm represents London as having lost its breath
with surprise on hearing last night that Mr. Walpole had
consented to leave the park defenceless on the strength of
Mr. Beaks' guarantee that no mischief should ensue, end
that another meeting might take place on Monday. It
seems, however, that Mr. Walpole had done nothing of the
kind, and it is • sorry commentary on the intelligence of
Mr. Beales and his friends that they should
have twisted the words that were used into
• permission to hold • meeting next Monday
subject to no supervision but that of Mr. Beaks him-
self, and subject to no guarantee of order but his under-
taking. The mistake is inexcusable, if it be not, as the
Times is willing to believe it is not, wilful. The extensive
currency given to it last night by the placards of the
League and by Mr. Beales' address in the park cannot fail
to rouse • strong feeling of disappointment when the truth
is exposed, but, if any anger be excited in consequence, it
ought to be directed upon the council itself. Of one
thing we may bo certain—that the notion of a meeting in
Hyde-park under Mr. Beales' guardianship must he dim-

missed as an idle dream.
The Daily ffnee congratulates the government on hay
ing taken one sensible and prudent proceeding, and, by
taking off the blisters, leaving the sore place to the heal-
ing efficacy of time and nature. The demoralising scenes
of the last three days will be interpreted abroad as a sign
that the English statesmen of what was once the country
party have sunk to be bad imitators of the principles of
government which the Second empire of the Napoleons has
borrowed from the First at the price of national morality
and self-respect. Better, no doubt, that this disgrace
should darken the short life of a tory government than
that it should have happened, as it might have happened,
under the congenial auspices of Sir George Grey. Let us
seek comfort in the reflection that an extreme and vene-
rable whig has, by his chivalrous readiness in putting him-
self in the wrong and his successor in the right, proeounced
his own funeral oration as the Home Secretary of a liberal
administration. With regard to Kr. Walpole the Daily News
feels nothing but the most sincere regret that through Sir
Richard Mayne's pernicious counsels he should have been
for a moment officially identified with acts of provocation
and prohibition which no public man in this country
is more incapable of devising or approving. A
parliamentary inquiry, which It may be hoped will be
demanded, will prove, it can scarcely be doubted, that the
prime offender is the Chief Commissioner of Police, under
whom the force has grown less and leas civilian, and more
and more military year after year.
The entire blame of the unhappy disturbances attaches,
in the opinion of the Post, to Mr. Beaks and his col-
leagues, and to them alone. It is astonishing and melan-
choly they should have found defenders in the House of
Commons. Mr. Ayrton seems to have taken upon himself
the especial championship of the " dirtier form of men."
Those who are encouraging and inflaming the agitation,
whether by letters, by speeches, or by the silence which
is even more significant, do not, it is to be hoped, appre-
hend the responsibility which attaches to their conduct.
The Herald has but a very few words on the subject,
simply expressing its doubts of the influence of the mem-
bers of the Reform League over the "roughs," and in-
sisting that the government has gone as far as it can go
with safety and propriety. The Standard, however,
assumes that the Reform League went to Mr. Walpole
because they were frightened at what they had done.
It was the least reparation they could make for their
gross misconduct. Out-of-door meetings are out of
placssnd dangerous in London, and that which is an-
nounced for next week in Lincoln's-inn-fields is peculiarly
liable to disorder and disturbance.
The Telegraph does not wish to add to the discomfiture
of Mr. Walpole in the hour of his repentance and self-
reproach, but the consequences of his policy which were
on the very verge of being fatal to the peace of the realm,
will be eventually fatal to his government. He could fall
into the tremendous mistake of arraying the government
against the people ; but when be saw whither that course
was leading him, his kindly English nature served him
instead of wisdom, and he drew back with terror from his
own measure. The entire load of blame for all that has
happened lies on the shoulders of the government. They
should have done at first, in the spirit of English states-
manship, that which they are doing now amid universal
contempt and derision—they should have flung wide the
gates, and watched over the peace of London peacefully.
The spectacle witnessed last night—the muster of tan
thousand marching off peaceably, wish not a policemen in
sight—might have been witnessed on Monday ; and thee,
as now, the question of right might have been reserved.
The only difference is that then the ministry were oa their
trial ; now they have hem tried, and, self-convicted of ha-
competency, they stand before the nation to receive
sentence.
The Star says the Reform League have won a splendid
moral victory, but the course taken by Mr. Walpole is in