The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-07-24
The Situation in Europe.

The aspect Of Europe is thus referred TO in sol.
emn language in an article in the brilliant Spectator
Of London.
1.-THE social disturbance in Russia, a disturbance
marked we are told, by an inclination to threaten
the rich and to commit violent crime, II on the in.
crease the finances are believed TO be In grave
disorder the army, in spite Of desperate Efforts. is
not fully recognised the Asiatic provinces are
honeycombed with discomfort and infested by a
corruption with which the Gar, however willing.
is unable to contend. In Germany-so recently
elevated to the top of the world-all classes, except
herhaps the great military officers, are III at ease.
The statesmen fear that too much rests upon Bis
marck's single life. All classes but the Junkers
are oppressed by the iron rigidity vita which mill
tary service is demanded. A thinly-veiled relig.
iOus war is raging in half OF the provinces Of the
Empire. Thirteen millions-one-thir Of the peo-
ple-are mortified by attacks upon their creed,
sanctioned with eXultation by another two-thirds,
while those two-thirds are disquieted by the
thoughts of a possible retribution, in fear Of which
they every day demand stronger and stronger
measures Of prevention. In Denmark a semi-polit-
zeal, semi-social war is raging between the proprie-
tors and the peasantry, in which neither side will
give way. In Scandinavia, the upper classes, who
watch the situation of their country with alarm,
OIeduluS NtIIldnJ az HluCu d5 tnty ever uIehueu
Russia, seem unable, even with the Government at
their back, to reorganise the army they consider
essential to their freedom. In Austria the doubt
full experiment Of dual government is about 20 be
revised there is universal suffering under a hnan-
cial crisis, and there IL a growing perception that
the very safety Of the Stale is menaced by pecun-
larry corruption. In Turkey bankruptcy IL rapidly
coming on, the conflict between the Empire and the
vassal princes grows daily sharper, and the Gov
eminent seems to vacillate between an impulse to-
wards despairing concessions. such as dismizsing
Grand VisieTs on demand from abroad, and releas-
ing Mussulman tanaticism for that sanguinary
struggle in which. true 10 the law Of It's being, Il
should one day expire. In France the whole ener-
gies Of a great people are taxed TO bear, without
glory, new military burdens, 10 pay for the ex-
penses Of a lost war. and 20 establish a system Of
government which shall admit Of incessant change
and yet be permanent. The conviction that an
other dreadful war must come weighs upon all
minds, and is not accompanied by the usual con
viction that it will be successful. Europe for ages
has had no parallel for the condition Of Spain. has
seen no people in a condition which seemed TO
themselves and others 20 nearly 10 justify despair.
In Belgium the religious strife divides the towns
from the country the FleInings from the Belglans.
the parties from each other, till. If Belgium were
Spain, and therefore isolated from Europe. il might
be the scene Of a raging religious war. The
United Kingdom, it Is true, il tranquil, except
Ireland. and Italy except in the old Kingdom Of the
two Sicilies, within which social order does not
exist bat the two exceptions 10 each case are snf-
fcient 10 cause perpetual anxieiies. not diminished
in either by a sense Of inadequate military strength
which yet cannot apparently be increased Out
side Germany the nations certainly look to no one,
-. -. - 49, fl u
ion Al once Of lassitude and fear for the something
which does not happen. but seems always at hand.
1t may be war, l. may be a religious revival"