The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-02

Especial correspondence Of the Union. ]

The political agony here over and the Prince has taken
bold step In the appointment of new ministry, COM
posed in part of wellknown liberal men This is more
than the most sangune expected OF him, and re-
markable than one account The Prince OF
Prussia has heretofore enjoyed the reputation of be-
ing liberal. His Royal Hghness was known TO be a
good soldier, and to be possessed of firm, frank and
resolute character This il which the Kank party
provoked by its illibera towards him. and the
whole country stands ready to do him honor and to
stand by both his person and his government Even the
journals of the most radical tendency overflow in ex
pressions of loyalty toward him, and d"oee commit
tee addresses the electors by admonishng them that they
would BIO unworthy of being called democrats If they
refused to follow where the Prince of Prussia ready
to lead them OF the elections will give the
ministers overwhelming majority, IT, indeed, the OPP
position of the arstocacy succeed III securing any dele
gates at all But the process by which the Prince has
succeeded is peculiar one. Instead OF waiting till
the complexion of the Chambers indicated the men
who enjoy the confidence Of the people, the Prince,
true general led the way and appointed new ministry
which the country will now vote for by acclamation
The proceeding is new but there cannot be the least
doubt about its complete success.
What makes the appointment of a ministry under
present circumstances particularly interesting is the fact
that ii comprises complete change IN the foreign policy
of Prussiasuch as have ventured TO describe and al
ude to possible in many OF my former letters The
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baron Schlcnitz is full
blooded LIBERAL personally hostile to Baron Manteuf
fel, who openly manifested his disregard for him.
while General BONN, the new Minister of War; ac-
Baron Maneuel OF act OF bad faith. IL Is
also stated, but merely newspaper rumo tiat Gen
eral BONN dismissed in ls40 from the post by
the demands OF the Emperor Nicolas lie this as 1t
maythere always men ready to kick those who are
going out and to salute those who have just taken their
seats the foreign pecy OF Prussia is certainly in tran
sition state with strong tendency to become entirely
independent For several years past Austria has taken
the lead in German affairs, while Prussia seemed to de-
light in opposing every move of her former dreaded IL
,,,I ,is 10 unuI laIv ffb prlssia upIc
the rfylne will again take the lead in German at
fairs and occupy the position of leader in all matters OF
purely national tendency She has not the old antpa
thes to which thwart every step OF Austria no
dangerous rivals to watch, divided people to govern,
and concorat that separates religious denomina
ton from the other Prussia will not turn against Rus
si but its position every European question will de-
pend the merits of that question: and not previous
arrangements Prussia is allied to Russia and Eng
land and the nature of the issue presented will deter
mine whether she will be acting with her eastern west
ern friend. sur
The resumption of specie payments by the Bank of
Austria goes fvorably with every prospect of its
tinuancc Public confidence is in measure restored
and there scarcely be doubt but that with the
tnuanoe of peace Austria will be able to sound
financial condition. With annual deficit OF from fifty
TO sixty million forms, twenty five to thirty million dol
lars,) and paper currency which had made specie
tirely disappear could have hardly supposed that
Austria would be able to enter into the rank of
solvent States and meet the obligations which series of
disasters which she had but little control imposed
upon her few years of peace will see Austria
tabshed on firm basis but should oyerake her
before that time skill in finance could Austria
from national bankruptcy Considering this position of
things the courage with which Austria maintains her
views in regard to the Oriental question and the per
severance with which she specie payments
though the political horizon all coudlcss, deserve
| acknowledgment. s4,s as
The Italian question remains vague and unsettled
ever Cold ormalities have been resumed between Aus
ta and Sardinia, and the respective diplomatic repre-
Of hal,t
looking at each other without betraying symptoms of r
ration but fond there nothing but mortal hatred
between them Ever since the King of Sardinia discov
cred he had missoa he became, from the necessity Of
the case, the mortal enemy OF Austria, the latter
country unfortunately, is compelled to consider
enemy whoever believes in the future development of It
ally In RomeIat is, the Papal Staes-the French
now fortying themselves, and preparing for permanent
military occupation Between the Holy Father and the
French Emperor tacit diplomacy is going which has
nothing to do with reading of dispatches signing of
protocols There is no agreement no understanding be-
tween the high contracting powers but the noment one
acts the other responds by practical demonstration of
the sort Instead of the sympathetic, the analyti
cal process is applied each party from the analysis of
the Others proceedings Judging very correctly of each
other intentions and purposes The military occupation
of Rome and the permanent possession of Cvit Vccha
remain, in the mean time "a fixed fact and make
France whenever she chooses to assume that position,
the peponderatiDg power in Italy. Naples is playing
sorry part boasful like Mexico of her insgnifcance
The contempt into which she has fallen is her protection
and the of the Mazznsts procure her i'm
muntes from her opponents Naples however,
must be classed with the ephemel States depend
ing upon Others for its very life aud existence.
The point to which public attention is now directed
in the Mediterranean, is the Ionian Islands, / men
toned in former letter that efforts being made tn
induce England to surrender code these islands with
the exception of Corfu of course) to the kingdom of
Greece. Whether England will feel disposed to do So
and what conditions she may choose to attach to such
cession it is impossible TO conjecture but the APP
pontment Of Mr.. Gladstone royal commissioner of
those islands to toreshadow very important
changes in their government England is more liked
in the Ionian Islands than Austria is in Italy, and it,
without changing her maritime and military position in
the Mediterranean, England relax from the useless
gor with which she has heretofore exercised her pro-
tectorae Iona, she will bestow much happiness at
cheap rate, and without actual dmipution Of power A
more consolidated Kingdom of GREECE cannot he against
the policy of Great Britain In the East now that Austria
Bavaria and Greece all united by the ties of
gnnity. Unless England knows how to play upon
onalties her continental policy will be cntnngled
as is now that of Turkey.
This elections in Spain have turned ont largely in favor
of the present administration of O. Donnell predicted
that in my letters while the Queen was yet her pro-
vincial tour 1t is supposed that not than some
forty fifty at nrthest Of piogTesssa members have
been elected and that there will be conservative
jorty of nearly three hundred Tho people Of Spain
since 1872, have enjoyed almost uninterrupted
Of revolution and bloodshed ind are DESTROYS
Of repose There is chance for the of Carst
movementno chance for Espartero, chance for Mar
vaez. All mensa Spain have used themselves up,
those who would turn virtuous. The demonstration
against Mexico amounts TO nothing, and the boast that
the larger powers of Europe approve of 1t is gas
like Mr. Bey's patent for Central American proccto-