The Express.
London, England, 1866-02-26 00:00:00

THE LIIEEtICIAI GOTZPWItINT LID TH2 THINUNIS.

The Tina oossiders that Mr. Gladstone, who exhibited
so particular reticence himself on the subject, wee
mistaken in his ma mmption that American Fenian-
ism was not a suitable subject for discussion in
parliament, and differs with him in his assertion
that the Noise attempts in the States do not suffl_
ciently contravene the laws of the Union to justify remark.
Describing the character of the provisions of the Neutrality
Act in the United Stares, the Tina meads to contend
that the evidence used by the government at the Fenian
trials in Ireland wee of a character to convict the chiefs of
the brotherhood in America of as offence against the neu-
trality of the Caton. There is no reason to say
that to call the attention of the executive of the
Federal government to the subject would be to
accuse it of sepleeneen, and it is an Mho suggestion that it
would meet say lepresset aloe by remiedieg as of iskr-
national obligations broken or neglected by England during
their own civil war. There never was any mallice of prin-
ciples on this subject between this government and that o:
she Usited Stake during the war ; the only question which
arm was whether on a certain occasion our action was
slothful or diligent—culpably neglecting or carefully ful-
filling intonational obligations upon which both sides were
agreed. We have always protest that we were sincerely
active and seergetio In doing orr duty, and we ought not,
therefore, to hesitate to ask the American government to
do theirs; and they could not decline to fulfil any inter-
national obligation because a dispute bad once arisen as to
our activity on a similar occasion. There is, however,
no parallelism between the two oases.
The Herald thinks it scarcely possible that the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer or his colleagues can estimate the
'Disable} his most unfortunate speech is likely to produce
oe the minds of the sitsrp-witted Irish peasantry, or the
powerfel argument it may prove in the hinds of their'
tempters to induce them to enrol themselves in the ranks
of dissffeatioe. They will easily be persuaded, when
they find the ministry, ies'ead of protesting against
the toleration swords 1 to their brethren by the
Yankee government, at elotely defendlne its eon
duct, that they r•e either fools who may be humbugged
with success, or cowards who can be bullied with im-
punity ; and when, fo addition, they see (as may probably
be the ease) that many of their fellow conspirators now in
prison will be released on the demand of Mr. Adam as
citizens of the States, it will not be difficr`t so convince
them that the braggart boasting about British power is
but a sham, and that their own ultimate triumph is little
abort of an assured certainty.
The Fe/wept says that the general acquiescence of the
House of Commons in the suggestion from the Treasury
beech is a faithful reflex of the feeling out of doors, very
little exercise of ingenuity le needed to suggest various
reasons why ministers may be perfectly well informed of
the intentions and purposes of the Washington cabinet,
and yet deem it unwise to disclose the grounds of
the satisfsetloa which the knowledge inspire/. The
Tekgrapla them premeds to quote a statement in the
latest American journals to the effect that semi-Olds'
communications have pissed between Lord Clarendon and
Mr. Adams, in which the latter has sawed our govererneat
that the Deemer, steps will soon be taken to prevent any
further open coospirscy against Feglend.
The Star remark, that ?optimism in the States can joys
not a grain mom liberty than the propaganda of the
Boothere Confederacy enjoyed in Canada. Tbres-fourths
of the rebellions which succeed or fail on the Contin•ut are
organised is Losdoo ; and, although we may be morally sod
even physically convinced of the fact, we tsks no legal steps
to prevent them, and we should resent any eaalpleints urged
on mesh a ground. We may feel satisfied, with Mr. Gladstone,
that the United States will faithfully fulfil their inter-
national obligations in our regard.