THE Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1869.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1931, 14 July 1869, Page 2

THE Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1869.

The news by the English mail, which was telegraphed yesterday, is of more than ordinary interest. It tells of transactions, both in England and America, that cannot fail to have an important bearing upon the interests of mankind. In England, the disestablishment of the Irish Church has been affirmed by a large majority in the House of Commons, Gradually religious disabilities have been shaken off; and now one of the last steps has been taken towards the full recognition of that clear right that every human being has to adopt that form of worship which he conscientiously believes to be true, unshackled by and unconnected with State interference. The work is not yet done. It is more than probable that in the House of Lords a more strenuous opposition will have to be overcome than has yet been eucounteied, for there Church and State are more intimately combined than in the Lower House. The next mail will tell the fate of the Bill there. We are quite prepared to learn that it has been rejected ; but, if so, it will only be for a time. One circumstance is very much in favor of its passing: Ireland is in a very unsettled state, and it will be dangerous to disappoint the expectations of the |>eoplc of that country. A.

very slight provocation would suffice to induce rebellion, and even a House of Lords will pause before they venture to reject a measure that, had it been passed years ago, would have tended more than any other to Irish pacific:!- j tion. From America we have what may fairly be termed an enormous quantity of tall talk. The speech of Mr Sumner seems to have tickled the ears of the people until they feel themselves ready to rush into war with England, not so much on account of the actual losses sustained through the prowess of the Alabama,, but because the British Government dared to differ from that of the United States, in acknowledging that the Southern States were entitled to belligerent rights, and were not to be considered rebels. If one might judge by the big words used and the extravagant claims- put forward, blows would be unavoidable. But this is not by any means a likely x-esult. Time after time since 1810 the two countries have seemed to be drifting towards war. The border question, the Oregon Territory, and other disputable points, remained for years unsettled ; and on another occasion, complications arising out of the Canadian rebellion threatened to bring about a rupture. But all these things were got over very amicably, after bounce as great as Mr Sumner’s. And if the Americans have some just grounds of complaint with respect to tire Alabama raids, it would be by no means difficult to point to equally reprehensible conduct on their side, in allowing the Fenian organisation to take root and grow to such dimensions as to enable them to raise a force, daring and foolish enough to invade Canada. We have no hesitation in saying, that fifty years ago, that act would not have been so tolerantly dealt with by the British Government. The truth is, that neither country can now afford to go to war with the other. The interests at stake are so large, that a breach between the two would be fraught with the widest ruin. This was felt to be the case some thirty years ago, when the borderagitation was at its height. The exports to England were valued then at only about sixteen millions. It was about the time when the Anti-Corn Law Agitation was at its height, and then, as now, there was strong talk of war. The late Richard Cobden was on a tour through the country, holding meetings in every large town, and on one occasion he alluded to the American dispute in these terms : “ They “ talk of war- with America, I tell you “ there will he no war, and simply on “ this ground; That it is not the fashion “ for people to cut the throats of their “ best customers.” This plain common sense view of the matter proved correct. There was no war. And if it were true then with the limited intercourse of that day, how much the more is it true now, when the trade between the two countries is five times as great. There is evidently something wrong at home, however, so far- as trade is concerned. The country has never recovered from the shock to credit that occurred two years ago. The money market would seem to indicate increase of employment; but prices have not mended. The remainder of the English news is comparatively unimportant. Very possibly, the present unsettled relations between England and America may turn the current of emigration towards Australia. If so, a great point will have been gained, and the threatened evil may prove a good. It would be premature to speculate upon the course the British Government may take with regard to New Zealand. At present there is no reason to expect any change, so far as affording the assistance of Imperial troops. The attitude taken by the Stafford Ministry in that respect was not likely to obtain them, and it is to be hoped that, before the news of the Ministerial changes reaches Home, the Maori troubles will have died out.