The Express.
London, England, 1868-01-02 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.
1867-1868.
In an article under the above beading K Peyrat
writes in the Avenir National of yesterday as

OUR CONTEMPORARISI3.
(THIS DAY.)
—....—.
THE LINCRICIC rumor AND TIZER NATIONALITY.
Having observed that the priesthood both here I
and in America did their best to crush Foamier° in the
germ, the Times proceeds to point out that it would be a
mistake to suppose they will dissociate themselves from
any general movement in Ireland and ones to be political.
Sooner or later they must follow the opinions of their
flocks, and we must expect that within certain limits
they will be strong political adversaries of the
British Administration as it now exists in Ireland.
The Times then proceeds to call attention to the declera.
tion of certain priests in Limerick which was printed in
Tuesday's Express. This declaration ends, it will be re-
membered, by solemnly protesting against the notion that
England can remedy the evils she hss caused. The
" English parliament," as the parliament of the United
Kingdom is called, has enough to occupy it, and, more-
over, " cannot understand the necessity of entirely excep-
tional legislation." A land tenure act will do something,
the abolition of the protestant church will do much ; but
when all is done, the heart of Ireland will require na-
tionality—in other words, the repeal of the Union.
Re-establish Ireland, with her own Queen, Lords,
and Commons, and " her federal amity will be a
tower of strength to the empire." " England will then be
united to us by our best interests, and will be the pro-
tector of our most valued privileges, and the miserable
conflict of centuries will be at an end." It is something
to know the tendency of so powerful an order, and how
far they may be expected to echo the popular voice. But
we must deny both the propositions of the priests—first,
that the Irishman, who in the nineteenth century is well-
taught and lives under equal laws, does in any way suffer
from the grievances of his ancestors ; and, second, that the
improvement of his condition is to be sought in the action
of a native parliament, in which the two opposing races
and religions would meet in inevitable and uncontrolled
conflict.
The Telegraph regards this document as an isolated
declaration from men of comparatively little influence or
political weight. The Repealer loyal and simple of
O'Connell's time is dead and gone; that "splendid
phantom," as Shell called it, has vanished. Some of the
old agitators have subsided into government offices,—
others are active members of the liberal party—and some
of the rank and file have become Fenian.. But the bulk
of the Irish people now take a practical turn in their
demands.
The Star regards the declaration as disclosing a state of
things which we could scarcely have expected at the most
perilous crisis of Irish history. If the statement of Dr.
O'Brien be true, the beet thing our friends wish for um is
to get rid of us. They are convinced that the capacity for
legislating wisely for Ireland is not in us ; that we must
go on blundering, as we have always blundered, is a law
which seems proved to them by the miserable data of our
experiences. If we mean honestly by them, they insist
that we ought to give Ireland into their hands, and trust
them with the result.

11
.Y

follows:
It is a miserable year that has just come to an end, and
it is probably a miserable year that has just begun. On
whatever side we direct our view, whether at home or
abroad, we only see matter for sorrow and diaquietude—
sorrow when we think of the past sod its evil days—dis-
quietude when we contemplate the complications sad the
inevitable struggles which the future has in store.
It is almost a year since a celebrated latter announced
to us liberal reforms, and we had in perspective the
splendours and profits of the Universal Exhibition. For
so many hopes entertained, so many illusions cruelly
dispersed. For liberal measures we have bad
the suppression of the address, the mond Bomn
expedition, • new military law, the condemnations
which for six months have rained incessantly upon the
liberal and democratic prem. As to the Universal
Exhibition, it has been nothing but a universal deoeption.
Business is everywhere slack, the ma in the bank exeseds
140,000,0001., the winter is severe, and we receive from
Lions, Ronen, and the other great centres of oar bides
trial and manufacturing activity the moat distressing
reports.
The state of other nations is not more re-assuring.
Affected bye wide.epread conspiracy, England, In spite of
I her moral fares, is agitated and is disquieted at the con-
! Mon of her material prosperity. Humbled and broken
by our second Roman expedition, Italy is in the midst of •
erica which at any moment may plus beyond her frontiers,
land become general. Prussia and Russia, taking advantage
of our faults and want of foresight, are cleverly advancing
to their objects—the one in the Kest the other in Germany
—Prussia paying about as much regard to the treaty of
Prague as Roads to the treaty of Parrs. Europe, DOW a
vest barracks, bristles with soldiers, which leads to the
ruin of the people and the bankruptcy of governments.
The phantom of old coalitions rises before the
imagination, and M. Greasier, the reporter of the
army bill, astonished no one when he declared
that war—s great war—was the only means of
getting out of • position which weighs heavily on the
minds and interests of men. But if we are doomed to
have a war on what conditions and with whom are we to
make it! In each an event our enemies are well known ;
they are strong and they are numerous. But where are
our allies?
We repeat it therefore—it is a dismal year that has just
closed. To find one like it we must go back to the month
of December, 1831. We mistake the December, 1851,
ended more dismally than that of 1867. We then had
but souvenirs and sorrows, all our hopes were wrecked ;
our discouragement was at its lowest ebb, and the sternest
and stoutest spirits lost hope of the future. Now
momentary defeats and errors no longer discourage us.
If the dying year leaves us much to grieve for, it
also leaves us much to console us--a public
opinion which is everywhere awakened—a thirst
for liberty, which is growing day by day—an irresistible
expansion of the democratic feeling which makes itself
manifest on all occasions. Why then be weak or out of
heart?
Beside itself on account of the success of the second
Roman expedition, the anti-revolutionary party believes
itself sure to triumph. This is the traditional vertigo, the
foolish illusion of its strength ; which has always prov-d
its ruin. The attitude of this party since the battle of
Mentana reminds us of the Eastern fable of Solomon, who
though dead still remained upright leaning on his staff.
The Genii, who believed that he was still living, continued
to serve him till a worm had eaten away the staff, when
the corpse fell and proved that life had departed from it
for a long time.
This is the history of all old systems, of all old super-
stitions, of all political and religious despotisms. They
make a stir and appear full of life, but it is a factitious
life. The worm of the revolution has eaten them through,
and the day will come—end may we see it as a final conso-
lation and well-deserved indemnification—when it will not
be necessary to overthrow them ; they *AI fall down.
Let us have courage, then ; however great may be the sor-
row of the past and the anguish of the present, let us
have confidence in the future.

(RECITZWR TELLGIUM.)
FRANCE.

PARIS, JAN. 2.
Neither the Momiteur nor any other newspaper
has been published this morning.
No reliable information has yet transpired about
1 the Emperor's speech on the occasion of the recep-
tion of the diplomatic body yesterday.

MR. CARDVILL, M.P., ON PUBLIC 41,141113.
The anniversary dinner of Lodge 59 Of the
Ancient Order of Dndds took place yestertiopeOlsoon.
in the Townisil, Oxford. Mr. Cozen, mill& arch,:
presided; and amongst the guests were the Bight. Hon. E.
I Cardwell, M.P., Mr. Neste, M.P., Mr. Alderman Carr
I (the mayor), Mr. Alderman Thompson, Mr. B. T. Spine,
IMr. W. Brumes, Captain. Pane, Captain Mallen, the
Rev. D. P. Chase (principal of St. Mary), Mr. J. Towle,
I /lc-
-1 The usual loyal and constitutional toasts were given and
duly honoured.
Captain FAITH, in responding to the toast of " The Army,
the Navy, and the Volunteers," referred to the Abyssinian
expedition, and stated that, in his opinion, the expedition
bad been undertaken in a true and just spirit. The
pioneer force had advanced into Abyssinia proper, and he
was fully convinced that the object of the expedition
would be attained. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN in complimentary terms proposed "The
Health of the City Members,MrCerdwell and Mr. Neste."
The toast was drunk with the greatest enthusimmi.
Ifir.Csanwet.L in responding to the toast said—The year
that has jun closed will ever be remembered as memorable
in the history of our legislation. It has terminated • long-
continued conflict, and it has established • platform for
future legislation. You are perfectly aware that if I
could have had my way reform would have been adopted
earlier, and would have been more gradually penned.
(Hear, hear.) I am not about to revive any
of the controversies to which this question has
given rise ; they will beet be disposed of by
the diSpeadooate judgment of the country and by the
calm and impartial verdict of history. At the commence-
ment of the past year some of us were strong conserva-
tives, some of us were advanced reformers, some of us
were moderate liberals, and amongst that number I have
always included myself. But there was amongst no at
that times party whose existence was unknown to us—and
no wonder, for it was unknown to themselves—Oanghter)
—I mean • body of gentlemen who were undergoing what
the surgeons call a capital operation ; but they were under-
going it under the influence of chloroform, and when it
was over they found that they had lost the limb on which
they had been accustomed to rely, and that they had not
experienced any pain, or even consciousness. (Laughter
and cheers,) When Benedict avowed that he would
die a bachelor he never supposed he should
live till he was married—(laughter)—and when they
avowed their opposition to all measures of organic reform
they never expected to be rejoicing in the consummation of
the wisest measure of reform that ever has been proposed
cicd
to the British parliament. (Cheers.) I will now iirae
briefly some of the measures which await with the most
interest our consideration. It isa good Englishman's rule to
finish any work in which he is engaged ; and although we
have settled the borough franchise there still remain some
things to be considered in the approaching session. You
are aware that the Boundary Commissioners have been
amongst you, and that we shall have to deal with their
report and their proposals. In some cases questions will
arise as to where the line shall be drawn, and I have no
doubt the matter will be settled without much difficulty.
But there is one question to which I am anxious your
attention should be drawn, because it is scarcely of less
importance than that of the franchise. We shall have to
provide additional seats for the northern pert of this king-
dom—Scotland—not merely because of its wealth and in-
telligence, but because its population, in consequence
of its contribution to the public burdens, has •
right to an increase in the number of its members; and the
important question will arise how this increase is to be
provided for. I took a great interest in the Reform Act
of 1832. The question then was rather on the subjoin of
redistribution than on the subject of the franchise, and
no man was considereda reformer at all who objected to the
withdrawal from small villages of the privilege of returning
members to serve in parliament. In the course of the last
session I and others endeavoured to obtain the withdrawal
from ten small villages in the southern and western parts
of the kingdom of the right of returning members to per-
Dement ; and I think it is a point of considerable import-
ance that, when the fitting opportunity arises—when we
are called upon to furnish new seats for an industrious
and thriving part of the oominunity—we should abstain
from adding to the already largo number of members of
the House of Commons, and should proceed in the old
constitutional manner of reform in withdrawing members
from those small villages which twee no just claim to
return members to the British House of Commons.
(Cheera) I hope,. then, you Will agree with me that, hav-
ing got the new wine, we should not be content to put it
into old bottles, but that we should carry forward the
spirit of reform in the manner in which it was carried for-
ward in 18d2. (Cheers.) When we have finished this
question of reform, the next question that engages
our attention is that of Ireland. And I will
first say a word with respect to that wicked conspiracy
—Fenumism. It can have no other effect than to
strengthen our determination to manifest our personal
devotion to that sovereign who so frankly and so justly
relies upon the loyalty of her subjects, and to evoke our
determined resolution to support the officers of the crown
in maintaining the supremacy of the law. (Loud cheers.)
But let not the feeling which such unhallowed conspira-
cies excite at all affect the views with which we address
our minds to the consideration of that which is right and
just towards our fellow-countrymen in Ireland. Let us
address ourselves to thole great questions in • manner
worthy of the loyal Irish people, and in a manner worthy
of ourselves. (Hear, hear.) I know too much of the diffi-
culties of dealing with Ireland not to appreciate those
difficulties fully in the hands of pariiiiment, and
in the bands of soy government ; and with regard to
one of these questions—the land question—l am the last
of all men to speak in the tone of presumptuousness or
confidence. It fell to my lot a few years ago to introduce
aad carry • measure which I fondly hoped would have
been lintel and a settlement of the question. But after
the experience of several years I find that the measure has
been inoperative. It was framed on the model of the
Montgomery Act, which had been successful in Scotland ;
and all I can say is. that with regard to the many plane
brought forward on the subject, as 1 have not been Ode to
succeed iu the measures which I introduced, so I would be
the first to welcome from any other hand any measure
which being consistent with the rights of property
ahrll
be conducive to the end we have in view. (Hear, bear.) A
commission has recently been issued to examine into the
revenues of the church of Ireland, intended as I believe to
deal with the question of the redistribution of the funds
of the church. I do not wish to disguise from you
my opinion that that is epennaceti to an inward wound.
(" Hear," and leughter.) It will not go to the root of the
evil. It will not touch the root of the disease, unless some
settlement of the ecclesiastical affairs of Ireland deals not
only with the protestant church of Ireland, but also on
equal and just terms with the Presbyterians in the north,
and with that large Roman catholic population which con-
stitutes • very great pert of that portion of the kingdom.
I fully acknowledge the difficulties which surround us in
dealing with this question ; but I feel also their urgency
and importance ; and when we reflect that a little
More than • century ago—at the time of the Scotch rebel-
lion in 1741—bow greet • danger and how great a difficulty
Scotland then was to the throne and to the parliament of
the kingdom, let us hope that we in our day may
be able to do as our forefathers did in their
generation, and that as they have rendered Scotlandone
al
of the most prosperous, one of the most happy and Scotland al
portions of the kingdom, so it may yet be in store for us
and for our children to see a course of measures pursued in
respect to Ireland which rosy have the name beneficent
results. (Cheers.) With respect to English questions, I
think there can be nu doubt that that which most presses
for solution is the question of education. We may reflect
with some pleasure on what has taken place during the
pest generation. It is not more than thirty years since
education was•
• great party question. During that period
we have made material advances in regard to the number
of children included in our schools, and also in the over-
coming of old prejudices. But we have the most reason to
=Os in this, that we are not even in our success satisfied
the result, but that the more interest and
palms are taken in the subject, the more determined
are we, without distinction of party, to pursue the same
course until we attain the goal we desire. (Cheers.) It is
I difficult, no doubt, to establish amongst Englishmen any-
I thing of • compulsory kind, and I euppoes than before we
make education universal in this country we shall have to
be satisfied with gradual apqroaches. I hops at the bands
of the government the question will receive encourage-
mat, and I know that, with the assistance of Mr. Bruce,
we shall have the opportunity of promoting the end ir.
view. I hope the time is not far distant when education
may be carried home so as to be available at the door of
every eottege in the kingdom' and that no child
who is born a subject of the Queen shall be
denied the blessings of a good and • liberal
education. (Cheers.) We know that the religious
difficulty is the chief obstacle in the way of those
who are anxious to 'promote education. But I can tell you
a little anecdote which happened to myself. I had the
good fortune to visit • loge school under the °alkyl of
the Irish Commissioners in Belfast. The children were
being examined separately in the distinctive doctrines of
our creed, and it appeared to me that their Wapitis in the
evidences of Christianity, and in the distinctive doc-
trines of our ehureli, were superior to those given
to boys like me, when we were educated in
the general schools of this country. Sar,re: ear.)
I had an opportunity on the same day of present
when the presbytesian and Roman estholic • were
examined, net as to distinctive bat as to emolar edacation,
and it appeared to me to eemprise so mash that was moral
and antiglare wields ft that I should have been happy if I
Tin NKr owes Plum —The Incifpendases Bilge .waki "Tar=B" 6" the "arm in Mr
UM"
were
reedving like as adoreMea et Writ kind. (Hew,
speak's( of an audience which the Papal Rondo bad with bac )do as• setts. this tat the of veisw-
the Emperor Napoleon • few days bask, says —" It is wending the adoption ef the Irish yobs= Id•••••ta•
believed that at this ittsrvlew Mgr. Mgt honied to hie We have set the mom dilleallase te deal whit that they
Majesty the hat aad sword which the Pepe had Wooed at have bel•o4- We miElti. "WM. "4411......." same
the lase oossietery, and widish, according to ousecloom, tad- It Main no Ms thee by • nem, eel"
nsetnees, mad the enemies of osoomea emses.
presented to the sovereign who has rendered during the =jib, iseeigyikili peat revalis with Bogard to Mos rAues,
year the mated services to the Holy See and the What, Man of the rising to this graft* (gAeg.
diarsi." Issea.) In Ombra say mei he Wert te pawl, lite