The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-31
A Glance at European Affairs.

In Great Britain the irrepressible Disraeli still
holds power by fragile thread, but it seems
to be conceded that no matter how often he
may be outvoted in the present House of Com
mons he shall act as Premier until new Par
lament shall be chosen at the coming election.
The Wings anticipate an overwhelming vic
tory with the utmost confidence, but the Tories
are not wholly without hope that their course
in finally adopting Reform bill more liberal
than the Wings had dared to advocate may
secure to them fair share of the new voters.
The apportionment of political power in Great
Britain is so peculiar and unjust that, according
to American ideas it is at best hideous mon
strosity, and in all the modern tinkering of
the British Constitution no party has dared to
advocate system approaching in equity and
Justice that which prevails in the United
States. Although the property qualification
has been reduced, and the number of voters
has thus been greatly increased, no serious
attempt has been made to create a ratio de-
fning the number of persons who shall be
entitled to elect q member of Parliament.
Arbitrary and antiquated customs are still
maintained, by which few hundred voters
in one place gain as much power in Parlia-
ment as thousands of voters in another por-
tion of the United Kingdom. Still, the general
principle of extending the right of suffrage has
been broadly recognized, and something has
been done to destroy the most notorious in
equalities which prevailed under the old rot
ten borough system. Disraeli's chief hope Of
success in the coming elections appears to be
based on the cry of "stand by Church and
State" or "No Popery," which he has raised.
The Wings having outVOted him on their pro-
position to reform the Irish Church Establish
ment, he appeals to all who are identified in
feeling and interest with the Established
Church, as well as all dissenters who are es-
pecially hostile to the Catholics, to stand by
the Tory party as the only true bulwark
against Catholic domination in Ireland, and
the only true champions of Professionalism in
England. 1t is somewhat singular that in the
last half of the nineteenth century an old
religious quarrel should assume SO
much political significance, and the
result of the elections will afford a very
fair indication of the extent to which the poll
tics of Great Britain can be controlled by the
religious sentiments of her citizens. No party
in England now appears anxious to make q
display of ill-feeling to this country. Her poll,
ticiSns having realized that they were duped
by the agents of the Confederaoy, and thai
their exp pectatiOns of the success of secession
were foolish, are ready enough to atone fol-
their mistake b. professions of friendship fol
the triumphant Union. 1t remains to be seen
however, how far these professions will prov
sincere. The Alabama cl.Nms remain unad
justed, and in the anxiety disp. .'ayed in Parlia
ment to promote the welfare OF the NeV
Dominion, and to retain with an unyyieldin
grasp all the British American possessions
there are strong evidences of the ancient de
sire to build up on our Northern border al
antagOnistio power.
In France the magnitude of the debt and tn,
constantly recurring deficits are attracting