The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-02 00:00:00

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

(THIS DAY.)

NAPOLEON'S SPEECHES.

A certain amount of sublime egotism is per-
ceptible in every line of the Emperor Napoleon's late
speeches, observes the Times. It is everywhere, "I, and
wy policy, and my hopes, and wishes, and endeavours, and
lily readiness-10 do all in my power." But the fact is
that governMents are much better conducted in the plural
number. Even in the hands of s less absolute monarch
the management of French affairs would be no sinecure;
but the perpetual unrest to which the Emperor
is said to be a prey, even if it were beneficial
to the empire, could hardly be good for himself.
The tint condition of autocracy is infallibility ; the only
apology for absolutism is uninterrupted good fortune. The
mere acknowledgment of reverses, the mere allusion to
" dark spots" on the horizon, is in itself a concession.
Such are the difficulties with which, independently of his
own instincts and his uncle's traditions, the indiscretion of
panegyrists has beset the path of the Third Napoleon. The
perpetual unrest under which the Emperor's partisans de-
scribe him as labouring is, however, an evil of his own
seeking. If, as they intimate, undivided power is so
heavy a charge, he has always at hand the means of rid-
ding himself of a part of it. His first step to restore
public confidence should be to inspire the nation with self-
reliance ; and such a feeling will hardly spring up till the
people are trusted with some control over their own
destinies.

In paring through Amiens on Saturday the Emperor
Napoleon said, " France relies with justice on the main-
tenance of peace." The expression, says the Post, will
doubtless be strained in the sieve of criticism, and, as
things are, its meaning may be lost sight of. More, how-
ever, the Emperor could not say. To be fairly appre-
ciated, his Majesty's worda should be read, in the first
place, with the context :—" The events accomplished in
t;ermany have not caused France to depart from a calm
and dignified attitude." What is done and settled is re-
cognised and admitted, and it is hoped and believed that
the settlement will be observed by all parties concerned,
as it will be by France, honestly and honourably. lint it
is matter of history, which cannot be dismissed as irrele-
vant, that right has been measured by might, that there
has been high-handed wrong-doing, and that equivocal
toleration bas been greatly abused. Hence confidence
must lean, as it were, on the arm of justice.
The Tderrrapd is of opinion that, taking the speeches
throughout, the positive assertions on the subject of peace,
the frank confession of mishaps across the ocean, the
appeals to the sympathy of the nation, and the repeated
expressions of interest in the spread of commerce, it is
difficult to avoid the conviction that the Emperor believe
the French people prepared to assist him in both his
international and external policy, foremost in which he
places the maintenance of peace.

73 TOPICS.

The Dail!, News would be glad to understand somewhat
better the ground on which some of its contemporaries
exult over the report of the Royal Commission on Ritual
as though it were a final and satisfactory settlement of the
question. The question at issue between the great body
of laymen in the English church and the ritualistic clergy
is not one of colour, of black or white, green or yellow, as
some applauding critics of the recent report appear to
imagine. The life and essence of the recent innovations
of dress and ornament lie in the consistent body of doc-
trine, the special catholic dogmas, which they vymbolise,
as their advocates have from the first strenuously insisted,
and to suppose that the Romanist movement in the church
will be arrested by cutting off a superficial outgrowth while
the root of catholic doctrine is left to flourish in unabated
strength, is as foolish and shortsighted as to imagine
that a vigorous tree would be destroyed by pruning,
Whatever we may think of their doctrines or practicer,
the Ritualistic clergy are is earnest, and sincerely believe
that they express the mind of the church far more truly
than any other section within her pale. They boldly assort
catholic doctrine, and claim that in doing so they faith-
fully represent the Anglican Church. If the spread of the
doctrine is to be arrested that claim must be challenged.
As long as the doctrines of Laud and Andrew.. are recog-
nised amongst the authoritative teaching of the church it
is difficult to see how the Ritualists can be effectually met,
or the movement they represent be arrested.
On the subject of the immorality of the British officials
in Burrnah, denounced by Colonel Fytehe, the Herald
admits that the state of things is very bad, but adds that
Colonel Fytche has been very unfortunate in his endeavour
to make them better.

The Tinos says that the government will have the de-
cided support of the public in their resolution to prosecute
both the protestant and Roman catholic leaders of the
recent demonstrations in the north of Ireland. There can
be no question of regard to one party more than the other.
"The queen's pesos" is se impartial, while it is as essen-
tial, as the elements. It Is the necessary condition of
civilized existence, and, no matter whether it be en-
dangered by Roman catholics or protestant', it must be
vindicated. If it be necessary to act on these principles
anywhere, it is doubly meets iry In Ireland. Where re-
ligion and race are such scums of disunion we must, at
least, insist upon social order. Under whatever circum-
stances, and whichever may be the party which gives the
offence, the principle of the Party Proocsaions Act must
be enforced by any government that is worthy of the
Lame.

Referring to the disputed claims between America and
England, an analysis of the further correspondence on
which subject will be found in another column, the Star
observes that it is plain enough from Lord Stanley's de-
sp.ttch that be felt the weakness of the line taken by Earl
Russell. He does not announce that the honour of Eng-
land would be touched by her admission of having done
wrong ; he does not assert that the dicta of the law officers
of the crown in England should have the effect of final
decisions as against ell external claims, and should even
preclude arbitration, the only appellate jurisdiction to which
international disputes can be referred. The Star thinks Lord
Stanley may safely and creditably carry his concessions
yet further. It is sure that the country will go with him
if he fearlessly submit the misdeeds with which we are
charged to the fall light of a free investigation. It is only
thee' who are hopelessly and knowingly in the wrong
that refuse to go into court.

VISIT OF THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE TO LIVERPOOL.
—The Duke of Cambridge hes at last consented to take
the command at the grand volunteer review, which is ap-
pointed to take place in Sefton-perk, Liverpool, on Oak 5.
The ground selected comprises about 400 sores of fine
undulating and well-wooded land, admirably adapted for
trying the efficiency of troops. It M expected that be-
tween 20,000 and :10,000 Lancashire and Cheshire volun-
trete will be present on this occasion, assisted, in all pro-
bability, by some troops of the line, and should the
weather prove favourable, this will doubtless be one of the
finest reviews of volunteer forces which has yet taken
place. The Duke of Cambridge has not been in Liverpool
since the close of the Crimean war.
THE EX.YEDITION TO ABYSSINIA.—The Admi-
ralty authorities at Liverpool are actively engaged in pre-
paring the steels-transports for the Abyssinian expedition.
The steamships are being rapidly surveyed and passed for
both branches of the expedition, viz., for the Eastern and
Mediterranean seas. Ou Saturday last three very line
steamers, belonging to the West India and Pacific Steam-
ship Company, were selected by the Admiralty. The
names of the vessels are tits American, Wet Indian, and
Californian. For service in the Mediterranean the vessels
at present under survey are the Bobver and Darien, owned
by the West India and Pacific Company ; the Rosetta, be-
longing to Messrs. J. Moss and Company ; the Montezuma,
Paranha, and Mendoza, owned by Messrs Walcomson, of
Waterford ; and the Venetian, one of Bibby's line of
Mediterranean steamers. So far are the arrangements
perfected for the despatch of the transports, that several
of the larger class of steamers, intended to run between
Bombay and Abyssinia, will leave the Mersey for their
destination in the course of a few days.
The Bishop of Amiens, on the occasion of the
imperial visit, published en ordinance declaring that as it
was to take place on a Friday he felt himself bound to
consider the manner in which were to be fed the immense
multitudes who would flock from all parts to greet their
Majesties. In consequence, he had decided that per-
mission should be given to make use of animal food at all
meals on that day.