The Portland daily press., 1870-07-14
Terms $500 per onmun,, dn 0drance.

lority of sixty.
But putting the number at the present fig
ures, 256, we shall still be better off, think.
The Democratic points of attack are to be
New York and New jersey, of course; Penn
syNanla is deemed uncertain; Ohio, concen-
tratlng on three or four districts; Indiana,
Missouri, California and the Southern States
generally; but especially on Tennessee, North
Carolina, Georgia, (if an election is had
which is not probablel Texas and Louisiana.
There is no election in Mississippi, Congress
men there having been elected for the 42d
Congress at the same time they were elected
to the present one, by authority of an ordi-
nance so arranging the matter.
THE OPPOSITION COUNTS.
Here is the Democratic figuring for the
next House, as furnished me by friend of
that persuasion, who has canvassed:
The total Democratic representation is esti-
mated at 102, against 80 at the present time;
a gain of 43. They expect to gain 2j votes,
in the States OF Alabama, the Carolnas,
Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas.
They expect to gain two in Missouri and Hi
nois each and five in Ohio; five in New York
and the same in Pennsylvania. Louisiana,
Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Texas they
consider as being almost certainly theirs.
They have no doubt apparently of carrying
Kentucky and Maryland as at present, in
spite of $4,000 colored voters in one State and
10000 in the other. They hope to elect one
more in Milwaukee and expect TO lose one in
Minnesota.
HOW II DRAWS THE LONG BOW.
This is the utmost that the Democrats can
can claim, We shall do better than that, for
in Alabama one Of the seats they claim is
that of decided Republican District. In
California Republicans claim that the colored
vote of San Francisco district ensures Re-
publican victory there. In Connecticut We
can carry Barnums District. Delaware will,
it is said, be made Republican by the coored
vote. In Georgia there will be no election this
falliand we,can carry four out of the seven
next year. We may lose one but not two in
Illinois, and we'll beat Dan Voorhees, in In
diana. In Kentucky we expect to elect two
if not three Republicans, through the colored
voters. Maryland will give us one Republican
at least. In Missouri ard New Jersey, it is
believed we shall lose, as figured, but in New
York not to the extent claimed. Our count
is the clever Democrat, Gen. Slocum, being
swapped off for Ned Webster, a Republican,
and losing possibly Van Wyck and Ketchum,
whose districts are very close. We shall lose
one but not five in Ohio. Pennsylvania will
not give five more Democrats. though it may
add two, making eight in all. In South Car
olina well lose one, while Virginia will give
us four out of eight. Party dissensions are
being healed there.
So that we shall retain from the fair Demo-
cratic count l have given at least twenty-six
seats, leaving the Democracy seventy-six votes
in the House, being gain on their present
vote of seventeen members. If we add ten
members whose position is uncertain, we shall
have eighty-lour majority.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
There is naturally great deal of anxiety
as to the situation in Europe. The admins
tratiOn secs possible complication in an at
tack on and seizure OF Cuba by France, il war
begins: otherwise our interest is very slight,
except commercially. Then, if Congress was
wise, we should see our way clear to restora-
ton of our carrying. Navigation Is a trade,
and neutrality would be our opportunity. The
better informed public men believe the war
cloud will blow over. Mr. Sumner said yes
terday, in conversation with gentlemen, that
in his opinion the present cloud will not bring
a storm. He holds that there will be great
war in Europe, but not just yet. A gentle
man just from France, who is well informed
on the political situation, believes that it is
Louis Napoleons deliberate intention to force
the issue on Prussia. France is threatened
with great suffering, owing to the drought
now so long continued, and the Emperor sees
that with all the large towns and cities against
him, as was shown to be the case in the last
plebiscitum, he cannot afford to have diScon-
tent grow, from want OF bread, among the
peasantry. Besides he understands how deep
" France has been chagrined by Bismarcks
victery-not only over Austria but over
France, and in the latter case without firing
gun. My friend says that Bismarck won't
back down, and France will fight. Prussia is
not as strong for fight as she was. North
Germany is not yet in running order. The
Democratic masses and agitators are generally
dissatisfied; finances are disturbed. The
country is bigger, but is not yet made homoge.
nous. The people Of South Germany are for
a united Germany, but not an absorption into
Prussia. This feeling Austria has been play
ing upon shrewdly. SO there is not such des-
peration in Napoleou's move as may appear to
us. What Prussia will do becomes an inter
estng question. Turkey and Egypt loom up,
and now comes China to be plague.
The MessrS. Harpers have just issued two
books which ale most seasonable, bearing as
they do on the men and nations interested.
One is the "Life of Bismarck, Private and Po-
litica, by John George Louis Hesekiel.
Translated and edited by K. II. FL. Macken-
zie," and the other is Hepworth Dixons
"Free Russia" Both these volumes are
handsome Svo's, got, up in this firms usual
substantial manner The "Life Of Bismarck
is especially timely. Though the translation
seems poorly done, for the English is often
inelegant and clumsy, yet the matter and full
ness of information makes one overlook all
faults of style. Bismarck shows to great adj
vantage in these pages, and in none OF them
so well as in the letters and papers from his
own pen. 1t is almost minutely copious and
consequently all the more valuable. DixOn's
'Free Russia" has already created great row
in England, though as the discussion raised
first among certain Russian cities proceeds,
Mr.. Dixon's book vindicates itself. He is
| quick and intelligent, though not always ac-
curate observer, and seizes upon salient OBJ
ccts with great cearness, presenting his facts
| and deductions in style that at once attracts,
interests and hold attention till the end. A
brilliant if not profoundly read man, Mr.
Dixon is always worth reading and is sure to
give us new views Of any subject. Russia
free IS a great theme, and we may be sure
that this volume will enlighten even il it does
not satisfy us fully on the theme. 1t will
serve to show the American student of Euro
pean politics of the present capacity OF Rus