The Express.
London, England, 1868-04-14 00:00:00

IS PUBLIMHZD

EVERY EVENING.

LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 14.

MR. 1a1.41:A ELI AND TB E RITUALIST
CONSPIRATORS.

MR. DI4RARLI has been taking a lesson from Mr.
Wnam.sr. The mysterious allusions to Jesuitical
machinations which form the stock-in-trade of the
Member for Peterborough have evidently fascinated
the imaginaton of the Patna MINISTER. Still, even
in the agony of his assumed terror, he has an eye to
business. In politics, as things go just now, the
Jesuits do not count for much ; so Mr. DISRAELI
adroitly substitutes the title of a party in
the Church of England which happens to
be the object of • good deal of present unpopu-
larity. If the trick were a little less shallow it
would not be altogether unskilful. The stereo-
typed cry of "No Popery " has lost its
effect ; but Ritualism has plenty of enemies, and
if it can but be identified with the movement for
the disestablishment of the Irish Church, it may
invest the latter with some of its own discredit.
Probably this was all Mr. DISRAELI had in view
when he made his now famous declaration that the
High Church Ritualists have long been in secret
combination, and are now in oven confederacy,
with Irish Romanists for the destruction of the
union between Church and State. He wanted to
give the dog a bad name, and lie took the first
name that came to hand. Unfortunately, how-
ever, he proved a little out in his theological
nomenclature. The High Church Ritualists
were a larger body than he had reckoned, and,
what wail worse, they were in many canes sound
Conservatives. Mr. DISRAELI had consequently
to explain away his words, and his letter to one of
his clerical constituents which appears in to-days
paper is the result of this disagreeable necessity.
Taking the difficulties of the situation into account.
the change of front is not badly executed,
Pint of all, the letter is dated " Maundy
Thursday "—thereby showing that Mr. Dia-
East' i.i not a mere thoughtless worlding,
but a Walt to whom the ecclesiastical calendar
has a real meaning. A High Church correspondent
is naturally conciliated by such an opening. Per-
haps, if he has a taste for ceremonial, be even
pictures *.o himself the PRIME MiNisrea washing
the feet of twelve old men "It the Hughenden
estate. When he further reads that Mr. DISRAELI
has " the highest respect f.•r the High Church
" part ," contid...me in his repro.
tentative i,s no doubt complet€ I v restored. But
politicians, as Mr. Dish 1 ELI occasionally
found to his cost, must look a little beyond
the vote for which they are actual:y angling, and in
soothing a High Church Bopp .tto., the existence of
evangelical supporters innst not I e lost sight of. I
Consequently, after praising High Churchmen for
all they have done " for the maintenance of the
" orthodox faith, the rights of the Crown, and the
" liberties of the people," Mr. lliseasu takes
care to disclaim any wish o t.o intimate that the
" obligations of the country to the other great party
"in the church are not equally significant."
He probably thought, and 1.0 dollbt rightly, that
after the handsome way in which he had spoken of
the party he had immediately in view, the most
exclusive high churchman would not grudge his
opponents the vague commendation conveyed in
the phrase " equallysigniticant obligations." At the
same time, if Mr. DISRAELI should be brought to
book by a low churchman, he would be able to say,
" [ called the High Church party orthodox, loyal,
"and patriotic, and then I sail the Evangelicals
" were as good as they. What more can you
" want 1" At this point :t to have struck the
writer that he lied as yet Ltd n fling to account