The Express.
London, England, 1868-01-18 00:00:00

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

(THIS DAY.)

The Times, commenting upon the remarkable
unanimity of opinion exhibited at the educational confer-
ence, expresses its conviction that a serious error was
committed in making, not only compulsory school-attend-
ance, but universal compulsory school-attendance, an
essential element of their policy. So violent a change, it
believes, will be decisively rejected on the first appeal to
public opinion. Mentioning the fact that efforts were
made to secure the attendance of conservative statesmen
at the conference, the Times expresses the opinion that
their absence was caused by their knowledge of the fact that
a comprehensive measure is being prepared by the govern.
ment.

In other articles the Times treats of Professor Fawcett's
late lecture on the agricultural labourer ; the final vote
on the French Army Bill ; and Lord Itanelagh's letter on
the volunteer force. The secret of the unpopularity of
the bill in France the Times believes to lie in this, that it
evinces on the part of the government an inclina-
tion to war, and to aggressive war. With regard
to the volunteer force, while our contemporary con-
curs in the opinion of Lord Ranelagh that what is noto-
riously and undeniably lacking in the constitution of the
volunteer force should be supplied by timely and adequate
provision, it does not think that what we actually possess
deserves to be called a " sham."
The Da iffy News says that unless Mr. Disraeli can persuade
his party, and especially'llr. Henley, to adopt the principles
of the Manchester Conference, and to accept the bill as
now modified, Mr. Bruce himself will bring forward his
education measure, with the prospect of passing it, in spite
of all opposition. Henceforth it may be assumed that the
day of permissive legislation in the matter of education
is gone by.—General Blontebello's pamphlet on the Roman
question ; the letters of M. Mires, which record the
ill-treatment of French soldiers by their officers in Mexico,
and make accusations which are to be made the sub-
ject of a trial at law ; and the curious proceedings in the
pariah of St. Ethelburga, where the parishioners are at war
with their rector, who declares protestantism to be detest.
able, are the other topics dealt with in the Daily Nev.:.
The Pod declares it is not only right in principle, but
wise in policy, speaking in the interests, not of landowners
but of the public at large, that the suppression of poaching
should be among the functions of the police.
The Standard thinks it very much to Mr. Gladstone's
credit that he has come forward boldly to take up Mr.
Potter's challenge, and to maintain the truth, as it is in
commercial science, regardless of political considerations.
This is that kind of courage of intellect which places Mr.
Gladstone so immeasurably above Mr. Bright.
The Star asks why the Bishop of Capetown does not
leave the people of Natal to manage their own ecclesiastical
affairs! If Dr. Colons° is not acceptable to his own clergy
and laity, they surely are able to make their voice and
influence felt without external pressure.
The Telegraph sees emphatic assertions in Lord Rene-
lash's letter ; but it wants to know the steps he would
take. What are his plans? Would it not be more busi-
ness-like, instead of making sweeping declarations of
opinion, to produce a plan?