The Express.
London, England, 1868-10-10 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY

Nothing could be more incisive than the few lines
which represent the epponen or of seduotion the
franc/Ass pa afterwards passing a measure "Urger
" and mare democredie than thei bill wadi, in
" 1868, we were told, by t,Se highest authority
" woold reduce our institutions to the pattern of
" the American republic." The bile amended and
almost transformed by the opposition, naturally
present the marks of conflicting handiwork, and
Mr. OLADIITOMB plainly. point& out one doted—
the personal payment of rates—which has led to
grievous inconvenience and vexation, and which
under favourable auspices, the liberal party will
endeavour to remove. With the authority and
responsibility of his great eoonomical re-
putation, is re-stated the fact that the
three millions which have been added by the
present government to the public charges have
not been justified by the demands of the public)
service. Agricultural gentlemen will see with
satisfaction that Mr. Out.teiTOwn is pledged
to the principle of representation with
regard to local burdens. Upon the subject
of primary education, on which ever 7 syllable fall-
ing from the writer might be viewed with anxiety
and perhaps even suspicion, the leader of the Op-
position marks the progress of opinion when he
says that " it has become increasingly desirable
" that the State should stand clearly apart from
" responsibility for the teaching of particular and
" conflicting creeds in schools aided by grants
" from any national fund."
The largest portion of the address is devoted to
Ireland and its necessities. Every word should be
read and weighed by thinking men. It is a small
matter comparatively that the present Ministers
were desirous to establish, at the charge of tho
Exchequer, a Roman Catholic University, and to
raise the status of the priesthood ; in the presence
of an exigency so serious, past blunders claim
but secondary consideration. The reminder

that the Church of Ireland is negative for good,
that it embitters political controversy, and carries
the polemical temper into social life and public
affairs, will not be disregarded by men who have
sincerely at heart the interests of tho Protestant
faith, while politicians will fool more than over
bow indispensable a condition to tho con-
tentment of the sister country is the
removal of the Establishment. Following con-
stitutional precedents, which common sense would
endorse, Mr. Ch.snwrosE, it will be seen, after en-
forcing a spirit of equity in regard to detailed
arrangements, leaves the disposition of tho pro-
perty which remains in the hands of the State, to
the suggestion of those who are entrusted with
administrative government, only promising that it
would be inconsistent with the principle of the
measure for which the Liberal party contend, if
the State, after disestablishing the church, " were
" to apply its funds to the teaching of religion in
" any other form." Standing on this broad
ground, Mr. GLADSTONE looks to the future with
confidence. Ire appeals to the national honour,
and to the intuitive love of justice, as well as to
the country's interests, and we are persuaded ho
will not bare done so in vain.