The Express. — 1867-11-08 (London, England)

NISCILLANCOUS TOPICS.  The Times thinks nothing could be more to the purpose than Lord Derby's reply to the memorial of " The Imperial Grand Council of the Loyal Orange Order," praying for a repeal of the Party Processions Act. If the Irish Roman catholic' continue these barbarous processions, why Cannot the protestant' of Ireland look on such orgies precisely as they would on • war-dance performed by half. naked 'swages, tattoed and decorated with the scalps and teeth of their vanquished foes! Why can't they feel a certain satisfaction in beholding people whom they believe to be utterly in the wrong condemn themselves by excesses of this outrageous and ridiculous character? Will they really pretend to say that Popery has acquired a single convert by this grotesque mode of conversion? The tribute lately paid in Paris to the memory of Daniel Manin leads the Daily Neers to review the relations of France to Rome since the republic of 1848. The arrests at the cemetery show how the consequence of an expedition against the liberty of the Romans has its rebound and counterpart in Paris. A Frenchman in the year 1867 may be arrested without warrant, kept in prison without trial, and, after • long solitary detention, discharged without remedy or redress, except such as he may hope to obtain by permission of the Council of State to prosecute. Personal liberty under the Second Empire is where it was in England on the eve of the great rebellion. The labours of the special commission at Manchester are treated of by several of our contemporaries. The Post thinks it not improbable that a commutation of the capital sentence will take place in the case of Maguire. With regard to the rest it would be prem►ture to anticipate the course which will be taken by the government, but the public may rest assured that if the authorities can see a way of tempering justice with mercy they will do so. With every allowance to the confusion and excitement incident to the outrage, the Telegraph thinks it clear that some of the witnesses have spoken positively and recklessly where they ought to have used the language of doubt and caution. The second verdict will be gladly accepted by the public ; since it proves that the Manchester jurymen are not biassed by indiscriminate prejudice, or blinded by • passionate desire for vengeance. Equally satisfactory will be the discharge of several prisoners and the withdrawal of the indictments for murder against the rest. Maguire's conviction the Telegraph now thinks to be erroneous.  The Star insists that the doubts which vitiate the evidence for the prosecution to such an extent that in the ease of all the latter prisoners no felony charge ain be urged against them, should weigh ►lso in the instance of those first tried, with the exception of Allen. It would be a cruel want of logic to hang one set of won on evidence which was barely thought sufficient to support a charge of riot against another set of men.  The Earl of Carnarvon presided last night at the annual meeting of the Leeds Church Institn,e, and in his address reviewed the present position of the church of England, commenting upon the dangers both from within and without which beset it, and advocating a policy of moderation both to those within and to those without her communion. Mr. Thompson, M.P., was also present. Unfortunately, however, the bon. gentleman had only spoken a few minutes whenhe was compelled to leave the ball on account of indisposition.  The Town Council of Sunderland has, by a majority of 27 against 25, refuse.' to pay the cost of the revolyen and ammunition recently sent down by tbe government upon certain representations from the mayor, for the use of the local police force. Among those who spoke against payment was Mr. Candlish, M.P.—an alderman of the borough—who affirmed thet there was not a trace of Fenianism in the town. He denounced the arming of the police as an unconstitutional proceeding, and declared that " he felt towarla the scheme such an intensity of abborrenoe that be could hardly give expression to his sentiments on the subject."  It is understood that Mr. Brett, M.P., will suesucceed the late Mr. James aa Attorney-General for the County Palatine o' Lancaater.  Mr. Acheson lienderson has been appointed to the crows preeeentorehip for Antrim, vacant by the death of Mr.Sbegee.  The Railway Commissioners were on Wednesday cmocared is the inopeetion of the Wicklow line in the neighbourhood of Shanganagh.