The Portland daily press., 1875-01-01


President for aid but he does not respond. In
the meantime Brooks is suing at Washington
for recognition. Meanwhile tie present gov
ernment is recognized.
The party conventions were held from June
to September in the various states. In the
East both parties declared for an early return
to specie payments. The Democratic conven-
tions also assailed the civil rights bill and ex-
pressed sympathy with the South. In the
West the Republicans while declaring gener.
ally that the country should at some time re-
tprn to specie basis were indefinite as to time
and expressed the opinion more or less posi-
lively that Congress should regulate the
amount of the currency to the requirements OF
the country. In Indiana, Ohio, Missouri and
other states the Democrats not only declared
for an expansion of the currency but declared
that the national debt, when not otherwise dis
tinctly stipulated, should be paid in green
backs.
On tile oath of Juue Postmaster General
Creswell rendered his resignation. The posi-
tion was offered to Congressman Hale OF
Maine but upon his declining to accept, Hon.
Marshall Jewell then Minister to Russia was
appointed.
In August and September there were many
local disturbances between the white and colored
people of the South In Lancaster, KY, there
was mob of such proportions that the Gov
ernor called out the militia. 1t lasted three
days. A Jail was broken into in Trenton,
Tenn, and several colored people charged with
breaking the peace. taken out and hung Sew
eral prominent Republicans in the Red River
country, louisiana were shot by white leag-
uers. Numerous outrases upon colored people
were reported in Texas, Louisiana and other
states.
During the last few months in Louisiana and
other sections of the South, political conflicts
have assumed at times an alarming aspect.
September 14th large numbers of white leaguers
organized and armed, successfully accomplished
coup d etat at New Orleans One Penn as
suming to have been elected Lieutenant Gov
ernor on the McEnery ticket issued procla-
nation calling upon the state militia to over
throw Kellogg. The leaguers seemed to be
ready for this; conflict ensued between the
police and Pennites in which about twenty
were killed and forty wounded. Kellogg fled
to the custom house and Penn had govern
ment for few days but deemed it prudent to
retire when the President issued his proclama-
tion. The same organization at Vicksburg to
the number of 600 requested the colored sheriff
to resign. To save his life he did, or promised
to do so. Out of it grew a conflict in which
over hundred negroes were killed and one
white citizen. At the going out of the year,
there are serious apprehens:ons of trouble in
Louisiana.
The fall elections were disa strous to Republic
can ascendency. As usual, Vermont and
Maine were carried by the Republicans by the
usual majorities. The October elections first
showed the reaction. Ohio, Indiana, Arkan-
sas and West Virginia went heavily against
the Republicans and Iowa and Nebraska for
them November the elections in twenty-three
states showed a still greater reaction In
Massachusetts the change was most marked, the
strongest Republican districts electing Demo-
Gratis or Independents-ap protest against But
lerism and ring rule. AS the result the Demo-
Gratis have about sixty majority in the next
House of Representatives. The cons titutional
amendment proposed in Michigan comforting
suffrage upon women was overwhelmingly de-
| feated.
Oct goth the Vermont Legislature reelected
Mr.. Edmunds United States Senator
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
| The election for members of the German par
lament or Reichstag which took place in JAN
uary resulted in a victory of the liberal party
| led by Bismarck, the liberals electing 230 and
| the ultramontanes 100
SPAN begsn the year with coupG etat The
! government of CASTELAR, was defeated by the
| Cortes whereupon Gen. Paria of his own ac-
| cord demanded the dissolution of that body and
| sent company of troops to disperse the depu-
| ties CASTELAR, refused longer to hold office
| whereupoh few members of the Cortes at the
| instance Of Gen. Paria selected new govern
| ment with Marshal Serrano as President. Ser
| rano has continued at the head of the govern
| ment since.
| January "a by the advice of her ministers, the
| Queen dissolved the British Parliament Elee-
| tions were accordingly ordered for new Par
| lament to meet March 9Th, which resulted in
signal victory of the conservatives, who elected
| 351 to 3O2 liberal members On the 18th of
January, Mr. Disraeli succeeded Mr.. Gladstone
as Premier. A large number of voters did not
exercise the right OF suffrage as the total vote
was only 2,5O0,000.
| The war which the British government had
| been carrying on against the Ashantees for
| some time, was concluded in January by the
defeat and humiliation of the King who agreed
to pay an indemnity of 100000, with which
| condition, said King has failed to comply.
The Tichborne trial was ended Feb. % hav-
ing been in progress 1870 days. The claimant
was convicted of perjury and got fourteen
years of penal servtude
| King William Lunalilo of the Sandwich Is
lands died Feb. Sd and was succeeded by Prince
David Kalakaua now visiting this country.
| In May the De Broglie ministry was defeated
in the French Assembly on question as to
which of two questions should first be consider
| ed. NJ. Goulard was called to name new cab
| met but failing, President MacMahon found
| new ministry Subsequently a bill declaring
the government monarchy was defeated by
| 100 majority A bill confirming MacMahon's
| Presidency until 1880 was passed. July the
| government was defeated on nearly the same
question, that of the rights and power of the
President On the 18th a ministerial crisis oc-
| Cured when Due de Broglie formed a new min
| istry which did not contain Bonapartist.
| The German Parliament before adjournment
passed new ecclesiastical law which places
the Roman Catholic church under the control
of the government in certain respects. Bishops
cannot exercise the duties of their offices until
they have sworn fealty to the king and obedi'
| ence to the law of the land.
In May there was a general strike in the coal
mines of England by which 10000 men were
| rendered idle.
During the last of July and the first of Au-
gust, the Carlists in Spain sustained a series of
defeats and through the active agency of Bis
marck, the Republic of Spain was recognized
by the governments of Germany, England,
France, Holland, Italy and subsequently by
| Russia.
| At the suggestion of the Russian govern
| ment an International congress was held at
Brussels during the summer, which was par
| ticipated in by all the leading powers of Eu-
rope. Its purpose was to clearly define the
rights of nations, of belligerents in time of war
and to devise plan for the arbitration of in.
ternational difficulties without recourse to war;
Nothing definite was accomplished. Russia has
| requested second congress.