The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-09 00:00:00

THE WEEKLY PRESS.

Referring to the political situation, the Saturday
Review says that after all the explanations that have been
given. no one is a bit forwarder or wiser. There is still
a majority in the Commons bent on recording its views on
the Irish church, with no hope of legislating, but only to
prepare the way for future legislation; and we have •
ministry which piques itself on giving satisfaction on
every point except that which it acknowledges
to be the ans of paramount importanes. With
respect to Mi. Diernell's interview with the
Queen, a nunHister has no business whatever to put an
alternative to his sovereign. However pure his intentions
were, and however much he may have been animated by
nothing but an extravagant wish to be thought an uncom-
monly devoted servant of the crown, yet what he did was
wrong. He advised • dissolution, and he advised it on the
light pews* tint the teal ephicts of _the maiSat wee
adverse to the disestablehment of the Irish church. It
was for him as minister, and not for the Queen,
to judge whether this is the real, though very
secret, opinion of the nation ; and he had no reason
whatever to suppose his advice would not be taken.
The Queen has intimated that she will dissolve parliament
when the course of public affairs will permit ; ►nd it was
indispensable, from the existing condition of things, that
the time of dissolution should be left uncertain. Under
all the circumstances of the case, however, the Saturday
Serino does not see that Mr. Disraeli could have done
otherwise or better than he did.

With regard to Thursday's debate the Saturday Reriew
says it was clearly not right on the part of Mr. Disraeli to
charge the majority with being a gang of robbers. The
epithets which Mr. Bright used towardi the right hon.
gentleman were apt enough, but things of this kind should
not be said in parliament by eine leader of the House of
Commons against another. Mr. Disraeli has been greatly
to blame, but he is Prime Minister ; and leaders of the
opposition must respect the office U they do not respect
the holder. Otherwise the House of Commons will lose
its character altogether, and will sink to the level of other
popular assemblies to which it now considers itself
so very far superior.

The Examiner ems a dissolution near at hand, lad urges
the opposition to facilitate the provisional measures said
to be preparing for an earlier registration of electors this
year. There is no doubt that, by means of the kind indi-
cated, the period for a general election might be fore-
stalled, so as to enable the new parliament to be sum.
moned for a winter session. The alternative is between
twenty weeks and thirty weeks of suspense, until the hold-
ing of the new elections ; for we discard altogether the
ides of a dissolution, pending the existence of the present
I repudiated constituencies. That would be mere mimesis-
, ing mischief, which could accomplish no moral or political
purpose whatever.

Political excitement, remarks the Spectator, has been
increasing all through the week. The reunited liberals,
warming to their work, have carried Mr. Gladstone's rs-
, solutions, but the government, though fully aware, as Mr.
Hardy acknowledged, of its " severe defeat," insists on
retaining power in the teeth of the House of Commons,
and threatens that if opposed it will dissolve without
waiting for the new oonstituessies. The house is so m-
elted that it is fortunate members no longer wear swords,
I the leaders are in constant personal collision, and accusa-
-1 tions of " treason " are freely levelled. To make the
situation really dangerous, the tones are declaring
on all sides, guardedly in the Muss, openly in their public
meetings, and rashly in society, that the Queen is with
them ; that her Majesty will not allow the Irish
church to fall ; that the sovereign is, in feet, above the
representatives. They of course utterly misrepresent her
Majesty, who for 30 years has been a constitutional sore.
reign, and who of course does not think, with the Prince
Consort, that the Iris& are the Poles of her dominions ;
but it is clear they intend to raise the cry, " Our ohurch and
our protestant Queen !" Do they, of all men, want to
compel radicals to march to the polls to the refrain of
Ebenezer Elliott's hymn, "Cod sans the people?" That
will act be a nice beginning for the new electors.

W 0 1111P1'8 St magna MINTINO.—A meet& in
favour of conferring votes upon women wee in
Birmingham last sight, the Rev. Archdeacon Saadford is
the chair. Then was a large attendance. Letters
apologising for their steesse, and she referring to the
question haters the meeting, were read from Lord sad
Lady Ander*, Mr. John Stuart Mill, M.P., Mr.
Stansfeld. M.P. Ni. Coleridge, M.P. Mr. T. Hughes,
M.P., Mr. P. 411:Tsylor, Y.P. Mr. W. Swett Mr.
P. W. Martin. M.P., Mr. Lefever, XP., the Bev. C.
Kingsley. Professor Massou, Nin Ursula, Kira Bright, the
Hon.
It
Wyndham, Profaner New sad others.
Miss Robertson, of Dahlia moved the fret resolution,
which wee as follow :—"'ghat the trembles should be
granted to wanes cat the sane oceditions as to men."
Mr. Myna, of Trinity College, Ousheids, seconded the
motion, sad it was carried with nay Owes dieeentients.
Ni. Becker, of Manchester, mond the seeped resolution.
which the meeting no rapper. the Woman's
. This was carried with throe disseminate.
IfLrB6l.lCrisholin''''''aneley moved the third resolutica. aphids
timed women who possess to dein
to be pat ea the regiaterintr. allitikalitehathal. et
Manokester, seeraded the moilea,
.wowe pined with
Awe dimentients. petals, enocelese ith the Bret
remind= mis adopted; mad the meeting tessehieted with
the oodemary vets et *mho to the eletiemra
A great variety of durable and dasaantive Sew
°ovarian. cansittag Isegria, Osodlisilso Uas
look Pawns/Ns" Pion ka.ees
rein be sem arid Men
eampintne morns iseertented Trasses
Ininar-hf&—fAdrertimeassal