New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-11-16
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER is, 1871.
European Complications.

and Emperors found that the people would no
longer submit to absolute rule, no longer recog-
mise a power above the law, constitutional
monarchy was the expedent resorted to as the
means of reconciling the claims of hereditary
royalty with those of the people. 1t was
compromise, half measure, and an attempt
to unite two principles incompatible in their
very nature, and therefore doomed to be
failure. All European States, with the ex
eeption of the Russian Eppire, Switzerland,
and the so-called French Republic, are nova
days constitutional monarchies, most of them
q sufficiently long time to show the beneficial re-
suits of the system TO their full extent. A
glance on them reveals to us, however, a large
part in state of constant fermentation, as il
it were a kind of chronic Inflammation, others
are shaken every few years by great revolu.
tons, from which they will emerge with some
advantages gained, part of which they may
preserve, while others will slip from their hands
again, to be regained only by fresh exertions
and fresh sacrifices. 1t would be a mistake,
however, to lay the fault of this state of affairs
entirely at the doors of those in power; Oh
the contrary, it has to be admitted that the
majority of the people are yet far below the
mark in their conceptions Of popular sove-
reignty and republican liberty. 1t is true,
there are many earnest and uncompromising
republicans, and their number is daily in
creasing, but the great Masses the unthinking
multitude thus far believe stillin the excel
lence and efficiency of their system of consti-
tutional representation and monarchioal power.
The evils and abuses growing from it do no.
enlighten them, for they will lay the RESPONSE
bility on individual men, and shut their eyes to
the truth that the institutions which place
such power for mischief in the hands of the
few must necessarily be the real cause Of the
evil. Once in a while some particularly un.
scrupulous monarch will meet with his de-
serts by being sent into exile, and just at this
moment the circle of fallen rulers, pretenders
and of their descendants is probably as large
as at any previous time-most prominent among
them-Mr. and Mrs. NAPOLEON and son, the
children and grandchildren of Louis PHILIPPE,
the Count of Chambord, Mrs. ISABELLA Of
Spain with hopeful family, King Orro OF
Greece and lady, and some half dozen of
Italian Princes; yet, instead of improving the
opportunity and securing their independence
the people have invariably only substituted one
ruler for another, exchanged King Log for
King Stork, to swing once more round the
circle Of misrule, abuses, and disappointed
hopes.
During the last few weeks the complications
arising from party struggles in Spain and
Austria have attracted general attention. In
Spain the Progressista Ministry of Gorilla has
been overthrow by the combined opposition
Of the radicals and reactionists, and the King
either blind or wilfully shutting his eyes to
the fact that radicalsm is growing fast, and
will rule in Spain before long, has thrown him
self in the arms of the Conservatives, who,
under the party name of the Liberal Union,"
were the chief instruments of the odious des-
potism which became the immediate cause of
the revolution of 1868, and the downfall of
the Bourbon dynasty. Of course, such a
Cabinet has no elements Of vitality it will
fall and deserve to fall, and we may conse,
quently look for new dissensions, conflicts, and
perhaps even revolutionary outbreaks in the
next future. There is one subject, however,
upon which an parties, Conservatives, Pro-
gressistas, and even Radicals seem to be uni
ted that is the prosecution of the criminal
and cruel war they are waging in Cuba. For
several years it has been drain on the blood
~ well as on the treasure of Spain, instead of
furnishing an income as in former times; be |
sides, one. would think that by this time most |
every toleraby intelligent and enlightened |
man ought to see that the whole system OF |
holding colonies is in itself wrong and unjust, |
q remnant of old barbarous times, doomed to |
die out sooner or later, and that consequently
even if the present insurrection could be sup |
pressed-Cuba is bound to be independent in |
the necessary and inevitable course Of events. |
Probably some of the Radicals are conscious |
of this truth, yet do not venture to utter il, |
for fear OF encountering the odium of the |
masses, who imagine the honor of the nation |
involved in the preservation Of Cuba under
Spanish rule.
In Austria it is the old feud between the |
Czechs and the Germans, and the attitude as
sumed by the Emperor towards the contending |
races, that lead to the anticipation of serious |
troubles. The Czeehs insist that Bohemia. |
under the imperial scepter, be made entirely |
of German dictatiou, aud the |
Poles demand the same for Galica. They |
claim the same rights with the Hungarians,
who obtained their autonomy some time ago.
The cases are however widely different for the
Msgyars are united and Homogeneous people,
and since their demand was granted there have
been friendly relations and mutual good feeling
between them and the rest Of the Empire. In
the Sclavonian regions, on the contrary, there
10 large German minority Of about two 6fths
Of the whole population. who protest energeti-
,slly against being delivered into the hands of
! race that. besides entertaining an inveterate
national hatred against them, is much inferior to
hem In intellect, culture, and enlightenment.
Il need not be told that the Germans in all
provinces of the Empire warmly sympsthize
With their countrymen, and insist on the strict
observance Of the Constitution. On the other
'ide, it might appear strange that the Emperor,
,imself German, should take sides with the
Sclavonians were il not for the incorrigible
'eactionary disposition Of the Hspsburg tribe,
which leads him to sympathise with reaction
sts-no matter OF what racs-rather than with
liberal. progressive men. The CEechs, litter
lte, behind the civilization Of the age, super
,titious, bigoted, and fanatical in their deyo-