The Express.
London, England, 1861-06-05 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5.

Mow'. of our readers are aware that the final
vote on the Church-rate Abolition Bill, instead of
being taken this morning, is delayed for • few
days. At tho urgent request of Mr. Summon
Enterer, who stated that several members of the
House had been engaged for months on a scheme
of compromise which wee almost matured, Sir
JoIIN TRZLAWNY consented to postpone the third
reading of his Bill for • fortnight. Many ardent
friends of the measure will no doubt feel disap-
pointed at a delay which they cannot help regard-
ing as useless. So far as any plan of compromise
is concerned, we entirely share this conviction.
Nothing could well be more futile at this time of
day than to expect a few private members to suc-
ceed in a task which has baffled the skill and
ingenuity of the most experienced statesmen
of the age. But, at the same time,
there is much to explain, if not to
justify, the course which Sir JOHN TaltawN v has
pursued. Nothing is lost by dealing generously
with those sincere but undecided opponents of the
measure who sit on the Conservative benches; and
if these friends of compromise are not entitled to
ask for any further delay as a matter of justice,
it wee still, under the special circumstances of
the case, an act of parliamentary courtesy to
grant Mr. EXTIOOIIIT'S request. And the bon.
baronet the Member for Tavistock, who has so
long conducted the Abolition cause in Parliament,
not only with signal ability but with equal firm-
ness, discretion, end courtesy, could well afford in
the hour of his triumph to grant a few more
days of grace to his distracted and disheartened
opponents. In this generous deference to his
foes the hon. baronet certainly reflects the com-
manding position which his cause has now secured
both in the House and in the country. The Aboli-
tionists are far too strong, and too well assured of
succem, to shrink from any discussion, shirk
any scheme of resistance, or attempt any kind of
parliamentary surprise. They need not hurry to their
inevitable triumph, or hasten to take advantage of
the strife and divisions of their foes. They cannot
lose by delay. Time has, in fact, been their greatest
friend. Thirty years ago the Abolitionists
were comparatively few, and their in-
fluence small. Now they have an over-
whelming preponderance in the country,
and • decisive majority in Parliament. But
what has been the history of the movement during
the interval 1 It is the history of stubborn foes
converted into adherents by the inexorable logic
of facts. Experience has gradually weaned some
of the most devoted advocates of compromise from
that cherished but delusive hope, and made them
finn supporters of uncenditionalabolition. Esebyear
has only demonstrated more clearly the fatality
of half measures, and the absolute neessity
of resorting to total and immediate abolition as
the only means of effectually settling the problem.
The most experienced and sagacious interpreters of
public opinion, such as Lord Pstitearros and Lord
Jons Itesisatt., have long since been zonvinced
that this is the only way of settling the vexed
question of the rate. But, though the foreman
statesmen on both sides of the House have given
up all thought of half measures, it is sal irsrprias
that others, leas far-sighted and less experinessil,
should deem that compromise is still poseibia.
Cherished hopes, however delusive, are not Asa-
dossed without a desperate erort ; and it is ;wimps
right that those who are still strongly attached to
the exploded fallacy of conciliation should have one
more opportunity of testing its value by attempt-
ing to reduce it to practice. And if • fortnight's
delay will servo to demonstrate again the futility
of the project, the time will not be altogether
thrown away. As the matter is now ripe for set-
tlement, it is most desirable that as large • number
as possible should be brought to agree in the only
plan that will really effect this necessary object.
And it is by no means improbable that some
hesitating friends of compromise who might have
refused to support Sir JOHN TaaLawire's Bill to-
day, will be convinced • fortnight hence that half
measures are no longer possible.
We are perfectly convinced this must be the
inevitable result of any fresh attempt to retain the
rate in any shape, however modified. The pro-
gress of opinion in favour of total abolition has
been steady and decisive ; and those must be
living in • fool's Fanninse indeed who venture to
imagine that any temporary " Conservative reac-
" Lion" can change • national conviction of thirty
years' growth. Compromises have been attempted
over and over again by the most able and experi-
enced public men on both sides of the House, and
they have invariably failed. Little more than
two years ego Mr. WILTOLI brought in a measure
of partial abolition, which he had carefully pre-
pared, to meet the special difficulties of the gum-
tin. The right hon. gentleman possesses not only
great legal knowledge and a thoroughly judicial
intellect, but he is one of the most prudent and
sagacious amongst the leaders of the Conservative
party. His Bill, conceived in a spirit of con-
ciliation, was an honest attempt to grapple with
the difficulties of the question, but the attempt
was unsuccessful. Sines then the difficulties in
the way of any partial scheme have greatly
multiplied. The leader of the Opposition has
declared against any compromise, and, on the
faith of that declaration, has gained the support
of the extreme party amongst the clergy, who de-
clare that abolition is preferable to compromise.
Under these circumstances, it is clear that any
fresh attempt in this direction must not only fail,
but fail more conspicuously and inevitably than
those already made. The mere fact that •
number of gentlemen are in favour of such a
scheme does not in the least help to make
it more feasible. There is no reason,
however, why they should not be allowed