, 1876-01-22
II h 9 avis"
EXTRACTS FROM THE TIMES
REVIEW OF 1875.
Is PUBLISHED
EvERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.

The year 1875 will be remembered, not by
any striking event, but as the date of some
definite stages in the history of political
change. A year ago Spain was nominal!y a
Republic, while France hesitated to describe
existing institutions by their proper titles.
The Eastern Question still slept, with the
unanimous and anxious cOnnivance of Europe,
and he English Government was exerting its
Influence at .Constantinople to defend shipown-
ers aud freighters against the increased de-
mands of the Suez Canal Company. Both
France and Spain have since advanced nearer
10 the unknown consequences Of a long period
of transition and the Great Powers are un-
willingly discussing the methods by which a
Turkish catastrophe may be once more avert
cd or postponed. In the domestic politics of
England there is little change to record, ex-
capt that the Government, being one year
older, has. partly by the mere lapse OF ume'
and also by some administrative miscarriage,
rubbed off some of the gloss of its popularity,
The Parliamentary Session had, on the whole
left a balance of credit to the account of the
Ministers, and it had definitely confirmed their
tenure of Office by proving that they had, for
the present, no formidable combination to fear.
LokD HARRINGTON, whose appointment to the
post of Leader Of the Opposition is now uulYer-
sally approved, has on more than one OCCASION
in the course of the Recess, warned his follow
ers that they cannot expect q speedy return
TO power. In the meantime be prudently
teaches them, by precept and example, the eX-
pediency of exercising a critical vigilance
which has not been deprived of fitting oppor-
tlnilies. -.
The peace of Europe has not been disturbed.
The alliance of the three great military En-
hires has been affirmed and re affirmed with
a p|ertinaci y which might provoke suspicion Il
they were not all obviously interested IN avoid
ing collision among themselves. In the course
of the Spring some uneasineSs was caused by a
demand on the part of Germany that the Belgian
Government should modify its criminal legIsla-
ton so as to render penal plots against the
lives of foreign statesmen. The Belgian Gov
eminent complied, in substance, with a de-
mand which was not unreasonable nor W04ld
The correspondence have attracted attention
but for rumours of war which were at the same
time sedulously propagated by accredited Ger
maniournals. A military party atBerIin affected
alarm at a French law which had been passed for
the organization of the Army. 1t was pretend
ed that the French were preparing for an i'm
mediate war, and that it was necessary to an
t~icipate their designs before they were fully
ready for the struggle. The agitation would
have been worthy of the French factions which
at different times assailed Louis PHILIPPE
or NAPOLEON III. with charges of tame
and coWardly aCquleScence. IL may Dc
inferred, from phrases afterwards used by
Prince BISMARCK, that he was opposed
TO the m%enacing policy Of the war party yet
the crisis was sufficiently serious TO justify
Diplomatic remonstrances on the part of the
English Government, and the personal inter
yention of the Emperor ALEXANDER, who paid
a visit to Berlin. German susceptibility was
afterwards offended by an ostentatious an
nouncement that the Emperor of RpssTA had
secured the mainten anoe of peace. The
French Government had, in the meantime,
waited in dignifed silence for the result of a
wholly unprovoked attack. Nothing could be
further from the intention of Marshal MAC
MAH0N or his advisers than a premature war,
which would have neutralized the recovery of
the finances, and which would have interrupted
the slow reorganization of the Army. All
Parties in France were sufficiently occupied
with domestic political combinations. At the
beginning of the year the duration of the AS
sembly and of the provisional state of affairs
seemed likely to be Indefinite. A message from
the PRESIDENT recommending the institution of
q Senate produced no practical result and Q
proposal by the Left Centre for the proclama-
ton Of the Republic was rejected by the AS
sembly. The first step to the enactment of .