The Workman's Advocate. — 1866-01-20 (London, England)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1866.  EVENTS OF THE WEEK.  TEE event of the week is undoubtedly the Deputation of the Reform League who waited on Earl Russell on Tuesday last. For the first time in our history the voice of the working man has been heard within the walls of the Prime Minister's official residence, urging his claims to political enfranchisement, as a working man. The vilified " rabble " and " n:ob" of other days have by patience and perseverance become respectable ; the despised insurgents have become dignified belligerents to whom a parley, a necessary preliminary to terms of peace, is granted. The case was so ably and so distinctly stated that Earl Russell himself could not refrain from expressing his approbation, although he did not agree with the sentiments expressed. With such ability at the helm of the movement the working classes need not despair of ultimate success. Earl Russell's declaration that the Government is prepared to stand or fall with the Bill, indicates that they are serious at last. An adverse vote and a dissolution would do the cause of Reform no harm; but an adverse vote succeeded by a Tory government would be a positive advantage; it would help us to distinguish between friend and foe, and would call all the latent energy of those who are interested in the cause into action.  There are rumours afloat of a plot that is being hatched in the Conservative camp, in conjunction with some of the deflecting obstructives on the Liberal side, to frustrate any Reform Bill. This might bring matters to an advantageous crisis. An M.P. below the gangway, in a letter in the Morning Star, considers the appointment of Mr. Gosclien a vacillation of purpose, and Mr. Cardwell's colonial secretaryship, detrimental to the Russell Cabinet. He thinks too, that there are essential requisites for a successful leadership of the House of Commons, which, if possessed by Mr. Gladstone, have been latent hitherto. Under these circumstances, he holds it to be the duty of the independent Liberals to combine to get all they can fcr the people out of the present weak and transitional ministry. For, be it remembered, he says, no Chancellor of the Exchequer has ever been so prodigal in praise of national thrift, and no Finance Minister has ever been so lavish in his public expenditure in a time of peace, as Mr. Gladstone.  The Jamaica Committee have taken the opinion of Mr. Edward James, Q.C., and Mr. Fitz-James Stephen, about Governor Eyre's proceedings. They are of opinion, that on Governor Eyre's own statement his conduct was unlawful and unjustifiable. The military committees are only justifi— able against pleople in open revolt; they have no right to try or punish people for crime, not even treason. Governor Eyre and his coadjutors may be indicted in Middlesex or impeached in Parliament. Any person in this country may prefer a bill of indictment.  Spain, the country that imposed the inquisition upon the old, and the curse of negro slavery upon the new world, is once more the scene of a military revolt. There is a vast difference between a revolulion producing a soldier who becomes a ruler, like Cromwell and Washington, and a soldier making a revolution to become a ruler. In the one case there is a nation with sufficient vital power to battle successfully for its rights against oppression, in the other, there is a declining nation being used as a political shuttlecock by military adventurers. Whether Prim, the chief of the present revolt, or the Prime Minister, O'Donnell, the chief of a former revolt, be successful, matters little to the world at large. Nov, that the foreign traffic in human flesh has become impossible, some ladies and gentlemen in Madrid, have mustered pluck to hold an anti-slavery meeting. _ _ _  - The Chilian war-ship, Esmeralda, commanded by Captain Williams, has captured the blockading Spanish gunbcat, Coradonga, with the whole of Admiral Pareja's correspcndence from Spain, and his code of signals on board. The whole action lasted three-quarters of an hour; 117 men and 14 officers surrendered as prisoners. Admiral Pareja is said to have committed suicide. M. Laboulage, in a lecture to working men in Paris, said, what will probably be an unwelcome truth to the authorities ; " You will always find that the most civilised nations are those that read most. Thus in America, where education is the most complete, and:where it is considered as a great political institution, what do you observe? Twenty nine million Americans consume more paper than France and England together. One American reads as much as four Frenchmen." The French Government takes not only Care of selecting what is fit and proper to read for the French, but they extend their wings of protection over other nations. A parcel of pamphlets in the German language, sent from London, and addressed to a German in Geneve, has been confiscated by the French police. A dynasty must have verylittle faith its own stability that is afraid of a parcel of pamphlets, printed in a foreign language, being carried through the country in a railway truck. A more serious affair is the refasal of some French regiments to be sent to Mexico to support an Austrian Prince. Napoleon himself seems tired of Mexico, if he could only get the United States Government to recognise the Mexican Empire he would gladly withdraw his troops. On the 15th the Prussian Chambers were opened once more, and, so far as appearances warrant, the farce of Parliamentary Government will be performed exactly the same as it has for several years past. Count Bismarck tells the representatives that, not having given their consent to his budget he has managed. to go on without it, and as the revenue is increasing he has found no difficulty. The estimated expenditure for the current year will be laid before the House, and the Liberals have already agreed that they will discuss them with all the seriousness imaginable, just as if the Government really did care about what they say. As the Chamber of Deputies have not agreed to  the King's scheme of reorganising the army in former sessions it will not be brought before them again. As a matter of course the execution of the plan has never for a moment been interrupted on account of the opposition of the Chamber. Bismarck thinks they may do a great deal of good by sticking to those matters upon which all are agreed- Such is Constitutional Government in Prussia.