, 1876-01-22

che composition Of the present Assembly, which
was elected when personal qualities and position
were regarded as more worthy of consideration
than devotion to the cause ofa Party. Six years
shave passed since universal suffrage decided by
an overwhelming majority on the maintenance
of the Empire.
The domestic history Of Germany and Italy
furnishes few subjects of The
German have once more been in
creased by an extension of service in the Land
sturm to the age Of forty-two, bringing the
whole defensive force on paper up to the num-
Der Of 100000. The Prussian laws against
the Clergy have been both strictly enforced
and increased in severity. One unforeseen re-
suit Of Prince BIsMARCK's legislation has been
the impoverishment of the Protestant Clergy,
who, since the acceptance Of rites Of the
Church is no longer enforced by law. lose the
fees which might have been paid by the large
portion Of their aocks which is wholly indifsr-
ent to spiritual ministrati0ns. In Bavaria a
portion of the higher nobility and the bulk Of
the lower classes have succeeded in returning
a small majority Of supporters of the Church,
who are at the same time opposed t. the I'm.
perial system of national unity. In an address
demanding the dismissal Of the Liberal Minis
try, the Ultram0ntanists imprudently offered
a gross personal insult to the KING. Their
demand has, In consequence, been GOntemptu-
ously rejected and the Ministers for the pre-
sent govern without q Parliamentary majority.
1t might be difficult to justify their conduct on
the principles of Irresponsible government, which,
having been gradually elaborated in England,
are supposed to be applicable to all other
free countries. The Kingdom of Bavaria is
both constitutional in its form Of government
and theoretically Independent, but it is at the
same time an indispensable part of q powerful
Empire. 1t may be doubted whether the I'm
perial CHANCELLOR will pay the same d]eforenoo
to a hostile Bavarian majority which a Colonial
Secretary Of State would accord to a Cape
Parliament or an Australian Assembly, The
King of ITALY has in the course of the year re-
oeived two Imperial visits which are not
without political significance. BY visiting the
KING at Venice, which only nine years before
had been included 10 his own dominious, the
Emperor of AUSTRIA has formally ratified the
new distribution Of territory. The Pope alone
persists in designating the ruler Of all Italy
as the Subalpine King. 1t was, perhaps, In gra-
titude for his obstinate protest that the ex-
Duke of MoDENA, who lately died, beQuoathed
TO the POPE the legacy of his claims on the
Duohy. The Emperor of AUSTRIA acquiesoes
with q better grace in accomplished facts.
Some months afterwards VICTOR EMMANUEL
received the emperor WILLIAM at Milan, to
the great qualification both of Tue Imperial
guest and Of the people Of Italy. Notwith.
standing the untiring combinations of the
Vatican, the Italian dynasty and Government
may be esteemed fortunate and secure, if the
Ministers can only succeed in extracting a
reasonable revenue from the half-civiIized
Provinces of the South, and in establishing a
financial equilibrium. One cause of possible
embarrassment has been removed by tho IN.
expected moderation of GARIBALDl. On his
arrival in Rome, for the purpose, as it was
supposed, of political agitation, his Imagination
was fortunately diverted to the state of the
Tiber and to the desolation Of the Campagna.
He has since devoted himself, with oharacteris-
tic energy, to projects of material improve
ment, and the Government has prudently en-
OOuraged a harmless and useful occupation.
Ito be Continued.J