NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Whitsun recess is over, and Members and Ministers are once more in their places. Their brief holiday has been diversi- fied alike by storm and sunshine, and the material has har- monized with the political world. While Garibaldi, in a worthy cause, has been uprooting a government viler than that of Aus- tria, and Russia has been explaining away her intimations re- specting the disposal of the wealth the sick man will leave when he dies, Mr. John Bright has been trying to rouse some kind of „national demonstration against the House of Lords. He has de- livered two speeches during the recess one at Manchester, a second at Birmingham, reminding us of the days of the League, and showing that Mr. Bright is pretty well recovered from his trying malady. But although he has not spared invective, and has set forth some views which astonish constitutional lawyers, the public remains apathetic, or at the best indifferent. The question at issue is in its present stage one for deliberate re- search and philosophic argument ; it has not yet legitimately reached the platform. It is of no use to dogmatize about prece- dents and constitutional usages any more than it would be to dogmatize about the standing Orders of the Courts of Equity or the laws of proportion. When from the precedents and usages a test of the validity of the Peers' decision ft deduced, then it will be time to make the enforcement of constitutional principle
• a theme for popular orations. At present the public is not moved.
The question of reform, mooted at Birmingham, was more practically treated, and even Mr. Bright on that subject ap- proximated to reason and common sense. The moderation of the Birmingham resolutions will be remarked by every one ; but one swallow does not make a summer, and one meeting in a Radical town does not make a reform agitation. Neither upon this sub- ject is the public moved. There is far more anxiety about the upshot of Garibaldi's expedition and the general perplexity of Europe than there is about the right of the Lords to negative a money-bill, or the passing of the bill to amend the representation of the people.
The debates in the House of Commons on Thursday were all on military topics ; the motion for going into Committee of Sup- ply on the Army Estimates furnishing the occasion for a very wide range of complaint and inquiry. Three subjects of great importance stand out from the ruck.
Sir John Trelawny renewed his war against the privileges of the Guards ; drew from Mr. Sidney Herbert the agreeable in- formation that even Aides-de-camp are now required to pass an examination ;. but we have no assurance that the mere title of Lieutenant-Colonel enjoyed by Captains of the Guards shall cease to give them a right to posts on the staff without exami- nation; not even an explanation touching the question of "leave." Mr. Herbert said he had been one of the chief actors in the severe treatment to which the Guards have been recently subjected, and therefore he was bound to say something for them. We trust he will go on in the same path, and when he is at the end of it make as handsome an apology for doing his duty. Mr. Adderley came forward to insist on the justice of compel- -.ling the colonies to defend themselves at their own expense,
. Aping, we conceive, would be more unjust. That the colonies Auld contribute a fair share either in men or money to the de-
fence of the empire no one could reasonably deny. But since the Imperial Government alone declares war and makes peace, upon the Imperial Government must fall a very large proportion of the expense of defending what it may throw open to attack. At the same time, the wealthier colonies, for their own sake, will do well to contribute largely to the military force of the empire, because to do so will increase their self-reliance and add to their weight in the affairs of the world. But we should not like to see any colony permanently deprived of the presence of imperial troops.
The question of Sir Charles Grey's appointment to the 3d Buffs was ably raised by Sir Da Lacy Evans. We hold that titular eolonelcies are very fair rewards for good military service. Nothing can be fairer than the rides laid down to regulate the gift of these honours. First should come those who have served with distinction in war ; next those who have served in the cob- flies; lastly those who have served at home. Technically, the Secretary of the Prince Consort comes within the range of the second category, but practically, he has for eighteen years been divorced from the military service. On the list of general offi- cers there are many really distinguished men who have not yet got a regiment, and the selection of an officer like Sir Charles Grey, instead of a war-worn veteran, not only damages the Horse Guards and the Government, but really strikes a severe blow at a very good system of military rewards. That is the most serious aspect of the ease. The titular colonelcies must be kept for military services, or they will be abolished. It would be as reasonable to bestow the VictoriaCross on Mr Kinglake be- cause he was present in the Crimea, as to give a regiment, and such a regiment as the 3d Buffs, to Sir Charles Grey.
