The New York herald., 1869-01-08

ranceDs
In our columns Yesterday we published
quite a mass of matter regarding the condl-
tion Of Europe The Turkish ultimatum, the
address of the Greek government to France,
Great Britain and Russia, the address Of the
Foreign Minister to the Greek deputies, the
circular of NJ. de Ia Valette to the Ambassadors
of France at foreign courts, and our cable de-
spatches oil show how peculiar and unsettled
is the state of affairs in Europe. M. de la Va
lette, 'sfrom the elevated point Of view whence
the imperial government considers the des-
TIMES Of Europe" sees ''the horizon free from
menacing eventualities.' "A peace which
reposes on such bases will be durable one"
So far as France personally is concerned, ''in
whatever direction she casts her eye she sees
nothing which can hinder her progress or dis
turb her prosperity" With this in the one
hand, and the ultimatum OF the Sultan and the
appeal of the Greek government in the other, 1t
is difficult for the less favored observer of pass
ing events to know what to think. Not en-
joying the benefit of the imperial elevation or
the rose-colored medium through which NJ. de
la valette looks, we must be allowed to cling to
our opinion that Europe, after all, is not in
comfortable or satisfactory condition. With
Spain in revolution, with Turkey and Greece
at irreconcilable enmity, with the Poles waiting
for their opportunity, and with the prospect of
seeing the various Powers arranged in two
hostile divisions, not to speak Of other troubles
more or less serious, the horizon, so far as we
can see it, is not clear. Time will
reveal whether NJ. de la Valette, look
ing down from his imperial elevation and
through his rose -colored spectacles, has cor
rectly read the present and OWNED the future.
State Finances-Thc ComptroIler's Report.
The State Comptroller in his report, pub
lished to-day, pronounces the financial condi-
ton of the State satisfactory" The first
satisfactory point is the further reduction Of
the State debt. The debt that was $4s, ,30O,-
600 in September, 1867, was only $44, 800, 900
in September, 1868. In reality the figures
should be still less, for there are unapplied
balances from sinking funds of six millions,
which reduce the real Indebtedness to
The state Of affairs in regard to taxation
is hardly so pleasant to look upon. ssPro-
perty," says the report, sis taxed, if not to its
utmost capacity, at least more heavily than
wise and liberal government ought unnecessa-
rily to burden it, and labor has nothing more
to spare at the call of the taxgatherer." In
1916 the tax was two-thirds Of cent on every
dollar. Now it is two cents and half on
every dollar, and the amount gathered is
eleven times what it was in 1S45, although
the whole property is only trebled in value.
As to State expenditures the Comptroller tells
us (what was known before, though not on
official authority, perhaps,) that there is "a
fearful want Of economy in almost every
department" Here are few of the figures -
In 1859 the contingent expenses Of the Legis-
lature were $4,000; in 1868 they were
$l2s,O00. In 1859 the quarantine expenses
were $9G, 900; in 1868 they were $3.50, 900.
The Comptroller mildly believes that the
greater part Of such increase is without justi-
fication ar excuse and we believe that ii is
direct robbery. In all aspects the report viii
be found very interesting document.