Sentence:  [T]he judges were unanimously of opinion that [...] by the common law of England, no man, not authorised by the crown, had a right to publish political news. While the Whig party was still formidable, the government thought it <WSD>expedient</WSD> occasionally to connive at the violation of this rule. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Affording short-term benefit, often at the expense of the long-term.