Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-17
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.

In all parts Of Europe events of i'm
portance are claiming the attention of
rulers and people. The retirement of
Lord Derby from the head of the Ministry
in England has placed Mr.. Disraeli in that
position. This latter statesman has an
nonnced his intention Of running the ma
chine" in the Derby ruts. Still, that is
more easily said than done. The reforms
made in the elective franchise in Great
Britain will introduce a new element into
the elections, and new men into Parlia-
ment Already Mr.. Gladstone has intro
duced bill into the body of which he ia
member which, if passed, will entirely do
away with all church rates as a compulsory
tax. Thus coming events are casting their
shadows upon the dial Of the future.
While Mr.. Gladstone is thus moving in
one direction, Mr. Disraeli is not unmind-
full of the progress of public opir,ion, and
he has become the father Of project in
tended to prevent corruption and bribery
on the part of candidates for official posi-
tions. Ii is proposed to create tribunal
before which all cases of alleged tampering
with the purity of elections shall be tried,
and thus remove this matter from the halls
of legislation, and insure a more speedy
reform of the evil which for years has eaten
like a cancer into the very yitals of the
English system of government. Other re-
forms are in contemplation, and the Dis
raeli Ministry and the British people must
be prepared to face most important and
far-reaehing questions within the next half
| decade
France is excited in consequence of an
order from military headquarters calling
upon all officers absent on furlough to re-
port at their proper stations on the 3lst of
this month. This certainly looks like BUSH
ness. The Emperor, as usual, is reticent
and sphynx-like, but he can be tracked by
the activity which prevails in all the arse
nails and doekyards of the kingdom. Where
the blow is to fall cannot be told. Some
think the Roman question is to open the
contest, and that France will be matched
/ against Italy and Prussia. Oilers imagine
that Russia will press for a decision as to
| the affairs Of Turkey in the southern por-
ton of Europe, and that from out that
wooden horse will come the armed men to
set all Europe in blaze. Either of these
| questions are sufficient to break the peace,
| and when to these the Bourbon conspiracy
against Napoleon and the continuation of
his dynasty are added, it is no wonder that
France is excited and the authorities pre-
| pairing for action on the most gigantic
! scale.
German unity is not that perfect thing
which some papers representittO be. Aus
tria has not forgotten Sadowa, nor DO the
smaller States accept as conclusive the ac'
ton of Prussia in relation to their nation
ality. Recent events in Austria have
alarmed the Prussian government, and
| Bismark is not over anxious to preserve
peace between the House of Hapsburg and
HohenzOllern. He longs for more com
plete authority in Central Europe, and
sees no way of arriving at that goal but
over the PROSTATE nationality OF Austria.
To effect this Prussia may be willing to
| try the fortunes of another contest. Rus
STA is arming, as are all the other powers.
Ninety-two thousand men were added to
her forces during the month of January.
In Italy great activity prevails in military
circles, and the Pope is also Strengthening
his army in an unsual manner. Thus all
Europe is agitated, and when the first blow
is struck no man can foretell the end.