The Express.
London, England, 1868-01-07 00:00:00

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

(THIS DAY.)

THE ABBY IN ABYSSINIA.
We learn from the Daily News that the most ex-
perienced and beet informed journalists of India are
reckoning upon a tolerably long stay of our army in Abys-
sinia. The friend of India considers that eighteen menthe
is the shortest time that can be assigned to the oc-
=nation, while two years is the more probable term.
Another point to which public attention should be
called is the cry of the military clams in India that
more troops cannot be spared, and that we are pur-
suing the policy which made the mutiny possible.
These imperially minded gentlemen console themselves
with the persuasion that the expedition to Abyssinia has
not been sent merely to rescue the captives. but the Daily
News trusts that our statesmen, supported by the public
at home, will show these overgrown servants of the crown
that the direction and aims of British policy are still to
be determined in England, not at Calcutta.
The Berald says that the delivery of the prisoners Into
our hands will hardly satisfy us now. If Theodore wishes
to get us out of his country as fast as we have entered it
he must offer ample compensation and satisfaction for the
injury which he has done us, and enter into some gua-
rantee to pay a part of the expenses of the war.

THE IRISH QURATION.
The Times interprets the scheme which Sir J. Gray in
his late speech at Kilkenny proposes for the acceptance of
his countrymen, to be that the proprietors of land in Ire-
land shall either give a perpetual lease to the actual
tenants, and, we presume, at the present rent, or shall
be compelled by the state to part with their property at
a valuation, the state making the purchase, taking security
for the sums advanced by a mortgage on the land. The
ocly difference, the Times says, between this plan and
that of the head centres is that Sir J. Gray entertains
some idea of paying landlords, which it is needless to
say is not to be found in the Fenian programme. It is •
revolution in property and society.
The Standard is not surprised that a demand should be
made for martial law. In Ireland we have a population
who dislike us and distrust us, and are fast beginning to ,
look upon the Fenian, as Heaven-sent deliverers. These
are people among whom the contagion of sympathy may
any day produce some act of madness which will cost in-
numerable lives. To meet this we must chow unw►vering
unanimity in our resolution to hold Ireland and put down
treason. Any attempt to turn the existence of that con-
spiracy to account, with • view of forcing the country into
ill-considered measures for the amelioration of Ireland,
must be utterly discountenanced. If this tone is adopted
—if it is honestly maintained by all parties at this
formidable crisis—we shall probably have no need for
martial law in Ireland. If any other policy is adopted
martial law will be but a small portion of the trouble in
store for us.
Tho Daily News, noticing the zeal with which men have
enrolled themselves as special constables, argues that S
sufficient force of this kind judiciously disposed may
render successful attacks for the purpose of rescue, pillage,
or destruction, upon prisons, deposits of arms, or public
building* absolutely impossible. To close one source of
danger is to do no slight thing. Every man whose pur-
suits or infirmities do not put such a step oat of the
question ought to feel himself bound to lighten the bur-
then which hi. fellow-countrymen have assumed in watch-
ing over the public security by taking a share of the load
upon himself. The feeling which has found expression in
the conduct of the workmen of a particular firm—that if
they enrol themselves they might be used for the
purpose of suppressing the legal and constitutional rights
of public meeting—is, the Daily Nara believes, quite
unreasonable, though in the face of the incentives to
lawless violence proceeding from many quarters it is not

THE CALEDONIAN RAILWAY.

The Times describes the verdict of the committee of
inquiry, as neither " Guilty " nor " Not Guilty," nor
even " Not Proven," but rather" Not so bad as we seem."
Upon the whole, indeed, the directors have the best of
it ; for though there has been very files reckoning—or,
rather, reckoning upon very falae principles—there has
not been nearly so much of this so was snorted, and for
what there is a certain exculpation is forthcoming.
To the Hefted the report seems to furnish a new proof
that railway companies, like other joint-stock underta-
kings, have been going a great deal too fast of late years,
but it proves also that, after all the errors of the past,
there remains some solidity in this kind of property, which
may tend to reassure those who, a little while ago, were
ready to part with it at panic price. With careful manage-
ment and honest mamas there is no reason why the
Caledonian should not again become a favourite invest-
ment, though it will, of course, be some time before it
regains the position which it held before recent damaging
disclosures and disquieting rumours.
' The moral deduced by the Tdrirrapa is, that if instead
of invading each other's territory, and eyeing with jealous
anger every little gain smeared by a neighbour, the great
companies would see their interest in affording mutual aid
rather than in constant opposition, the Mariat drain en
their means would mem, and their great natural memory
would have free play for development. The present state
of the Caledonian Company only supplies another proof
that the whole system hitherto pursued has been radically
bad, and that a policy of amicable interchange rather than
of selfish isolation would be sot less wise than generous.

THE NEW COMMERCIAL TREATY WITH TEL KING
or BURMAIL—We have been favoured with a copy of a
private letter from Itengom, dated Nov. 27, In which the
writer says:—" The Chief Ceaunksioner has gone to Cal-
cutta to have the treaty with the King of Burmsh ratified.
By this treaty the Burmese government give up all mono.
polies except petroleum, timber, and precious donee.
Silver is allowed to be exported by the Burmese territory.
Oar Resident to have judicial power in all oases between
registered British subjects and a joint jurisdiction is came
between British and Burmese subjects. The duty levied
in Burmese frontier not to exceed five per cent. ad PflOrtl/4‘
end British Akers to supervise the pprwopqerrlevying of
duties at the frontier station. airisals to be
delivered up on both nide' ; them delivered to
the Burmese authorities to be leder British pro-
tection until tried by the proper tribunals in
preemie of the meitiset. 'The King senstioned sad pro-
Weed every emilease to a milieu tbansigh the Hessen
territory, Ms Ilabiee, into Tanen, end see geliestaset
have widened seem be pressed ea the sires, wish is
to steel west um* be try to veep= the eld Inds rents
between limurek sod Ohba. There are greet Wpm lied
this expedilles wYI tea each to isereeite badmen bite by
osowbew up• seemmaiestioe with aim, end se
outlet he a begs wrathy of ear lux=lebteldee
easy @Aides be overt within our sear -i=
silk. The Ahem have elm to report sea tassibility of
web* a team or railreed beet the his ,rtv to Wife*
or gem ether ii%amaesereilal Miss itea Mins,
the Inswwisly useigthle a bag way seelb eftlfands•
leg, sir Neatly to '47p be lie puma *me so direst
teak bee been esatell es betessea the Barmen empire sad
erey , Ildtidt prednds, sash m
iren.l=maesemer, gierneweee, he., have fre-
queen* beenlieported into emitry, esalmrd hum
Ow psalm of Wen*" Iliana.--fam ,ispfban Pay
Gossett