, 1876-01-26

Generals and 10 the hope that his name may
be associated with the restoration of peace. Ii
the expectation is realized, the Cortes will be
summoned, and Spain will once more, after
many failures, tho experiment OF
constitutional Monarchy.
The suppression, if effected, of the Civil
War at home may, perhaps, at last render 1t
possible to quelI the chronic insurrection in
Cuba. The Spanish Government has lately
been reminded of the danger of foreign inter
vention by reports of a threatening despatch
from the United States. 1t was afterwards
understood that the American Minister at
Madrid had only presented a Note, which had
been some time before prepared, to be used
when occasion might serve. The delivery OF
the Note was recorded in the American jour
nails on the eve of important State elections
but the Republican successes in Pennsylvania
and Ohio rendered it unnecessary to prosecute
q quarrel which had never been serious.
The most interesting circumstance In the
domestic politics of the Union has been q re-
action against the Democratic successes of the
previous year. The Lower House of the Con-
gress, which has recently commenced its first
Session, was elected in the Autumn of 1874,
with q Democratic majority OF sixty. The
scandals which affected many members OF the
last Congress and 0 Government function
aries appeared at last to have broken the
supremacy Of q Party which had held power
from the first days of the Civil War. Untortu-
nately for themselves, the Democrats were not
prepared with a policy which would have ena-
bled them permanently to profit by the unpopu-
larity of their opponents. Some of their lead
ers rashly supported projects of imitation of the
currency which we're supposed to find favour
in the Western States. In the canvass pre-
oeding the Autumn election in Ohio the Demo
cratic managers pledged their Party to Lula
ton and their political allies in Pennsylvania
adopted the same policy, in opposition to the
opinions of many of their adherents, on the
ground that it was expedient to make common
cause with the Democrats of OaiO. In the
meantime the New York Democrats, under the
guidance of Mr.. TILDEN, who is Governor OF
the State and probable nominee for the Presi-
denoy, declared themselves in favour of an ear
ly resumption of specie payments. By an odd
result of the elaborate Constitutional machine
of the United States, the Lower House OF Con
gress represents a Party which, since the cleo
ton, has ceased to enjoy public confidence.
The PRESIDENT, during the remainder OF his
term of office, and the Republican majority in
the Senate will effeotually prevent any party
legislation which may be attempted by the
House of Representatives. The Republicans in
the House have joined the Democrats in a
nearly unanimous vote against the reelection
Of q President for a third term.
Amid superficial Party disputes, which but
slightly affect the prosperity and progress Of
the nation, the Americans may congratulate
themselves on exemption from a~nxieties which
at present weigh heavily on European Govern
ments. The Eastern Question, depending on
the antagonism of races in European Turkey,
has once more risen to the surface. In the
present instance provincial disturbances, which
have already produced grave consequences,
have been caused, not by foreign intrigue,
but by local grievances. In the early part of
the year acts of violence committed against
one another by Turks and MontenegrinS, on
the frontier, excited passing attention. An in
quiry into the merits of the dispute, held at
Podgoritza, led to no satisfactory result; but
the quarrel had apparently been settled. In
the middle of the Summer it was announced
that an Instruction had commenced in the
Province of Herzegovina, which adjoins Servia,
Montenegro, Bosnia, and on the west the Aus
trian territory of Dalmatia. The provOoation
to the enemy was given, not by the Turkish
officials, but by the Mahomedan landowners,
who form an oligarchy of about one-third of
the population. In Herzegovina, as in Bosnia,
the resident Mahomedans are of the same
Slavonic race and language with the Chris
tians, having at the time of the Turkish con-
quest conformed to the dominant creed for the
purpose of securing their property and privi-
leges. AS in other Provinces where the pOpu.
lation is similarly constituted, the MahOmedanS