NEWS OF THE WEEK.
ANOTHER of the reforms needed for bringing up arrears in the re- dress of certain long-admitted grievances, was formally tested by Parliament last night in the second reading of Lord John Russell's "bill for the relief of her Majesty's subjects professing the Jewish religion." The measure was of course made the subject of a mag- mificent opposition, because it is one upon which Members can display their pious orthodoxy without fear of exasperating any very numerous body of "her Majesty's subjects." It is a question . common sense and justice' not of party or popularity; and. therefore nobody is afraid of being in opposition. Intended, no doubt, for a very politic purpose, it is somewhat unfortunate that Lord John's bill for the " relief " &c. should be so largely devoted to enacting, or reenacting, a great variety of disabilities and re- strictions upon her Majesty's subjects professing the Jewish reli- gion. Of six clauses in the bill, one is for the relief of the Jews from the accidental and oblique effect of the oath of abjuration, which excludes them from sitting in the House of Commons, though not from being elected; the second substitutes a form of declaration ; and the remaining four describe a variety of rights, offices, and appointments, from which Jews are still to be ex- chided. If these restrictions were old, why parade them here, repeating laws existing in other statutes ? If they are new, why introduce them into a "relief" bill ?
Under Lord Chinearty, moving for "returns," the enemies of Irish education have made an attempt at reaction against what is really the hope of Ireland : but that which was meant for a damaging debate drew forth Lord-Lieutenants both of the Derby and of the Russell Administration, an Irish Bishop, an Eng- lish Bishop who has resided in Ireland, Lord Lansdowne, and
Lord Derby himself, all giving their i testimony to the practica- bility and good effect of the system. But there s another Bishop Who has been in Ireland besides the Bishop of Norwich ; for the Bishop of London was there not long since, and he has brought back the preconceived notions with which he left England. This must be the reason why he makes assertions directly opposed to the fact ; such, for example, as that parish schools have been dis- couraged by the Education Commissioners, when their patrons applied for the means of improvement and extension. We could -name a parish where the Commissioners have lately strained a point in order to give aid to the parochial school, on the application the incumbent; an application the more remarkable since that incumbent had long been a virulent enemy of the system, and a concession the more remarkable since a National School already ex- isted in the immediate neighbourhood under the patronage of the parish priest. Not the friends of the National system, but its op- ponents, have prevented the fullest development; and Lord Aber- deen's just "indignation" against the factious men who have hin- dered the great experiment would be much greater, if he knew, as we do, the disgraceful system of intimidation carried on by the opposition Bishops against clergymen who cannot conscientiously -violate their sworn obligation to maintain schools within their wishes. We may notice by the way, that the Bishop of London's arguments, such as they were, had previously figured as those of the Roman hierarch Monsignore Paul Cullen! Several of the legal reforms are making way. Lord Brougham is working to diminish the expense of County Courts. He has car- ried the second reading of his bill to improve the law of evidence. Mr. Craufard's "bill to improve the Sheriff judicature in Scotland," especially byabolishing the supererogatory non-resident double of the efficient Sheriff, is opposed by the centralized lawyer interest in Edinborgh,and disclaimed also by a Government too deferential towards that interest, though desired by the bulk of the Scottish community. At the same time, the attorney interest displays its potency by it. anianal triumph. With its power over individual Members, it can " whip " them to the vote for introducing the im- practicable bill to repeal the certificate-duty, which serves as an entrance-fine to their monopoly ; and if they cannot succeed in de- feating the Ministry on every stage, they at least oblige Members to advertise, for all who may question the attorney's little bill at Christmas, that tax which "somebody must pay."
Mr. Cardwell has introduced a very comprehensive bill on. " Pilotage " and some other incidents on which a relief can be given to the shipping interest, with a very plain statement of his pur- pose, more intelligible and. real than Mr. Disraeli's flashy promise. Mr. Cardwell introduces his project without the "Rule Britannia" and "Sec the conquering hero" which accompanied his predeces- sor's. Mr. James Wilson has obtained a Committee on Assurance- Associations, ostensibly on the ground of the many projects of that nature which are brought forward for fraudulent purposes and never come to any useful issue.
The President of the Board of Trade has carried a resolution, postponing all questions of Railway amalgamation until after Easter. A very proper step. The unprecedented crowding of accidents within a short space has brought conviction home to the public mind, that " something must be done" to enforce respon- sibility on the railway managers. If those managers cannot help converting the railway to a deadly instrument, their reckless ad- ministration cannot fail to suggest the policy of confiscating that which they cannot use safely. Now, however, when they are ask- ing for additional powers, is a very opportune time for imposing additional obligations. The combination of several railways, by affording the opportunity of substituting one line for another, and by economizing capital, would greatly facilitate an improved ar- rangement of traffic, and probably facilitate that thorough repair of the permanent way which is almost everywhere so necessary. The difficulty is, not that legislators do not understand the matter, but that the railway interest is so powerful in Parliament as almost to have succeeded to the feudal privilege of life and death.
