The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-01
FOREIGN.
General Review.

Abroad the year has been marked by no
great wars, but many important constitutional
changes have been effected in governments.
New empires are in process of formation, and
old sovereignties are falling TO pieces. The
year has been one of unexampled disaster by
famine and flood and convulsions of nature.
1t has been characterized too by great financial
and business depression. In political affairs
the events of note have been the steady ap-
proach of Germany towards uniieation, the
recuperation of France, the liberalization of
Spain and the revival of the vexed Eastern
question by the revolt of certain Turkish prov
inces.
The German Empire.
Under the wise bnt imperious rule of her
great Chancellor the German empire has held
her way steadily onward, encroaching here q
little and there little on the local independ-
enee of the small states which send represen-
tatives TO her legislative assembly, and occa-
sionally assuming threatening tone towards
those kingdoms like Bavaria and Belgium,
which she believes destined to become at no
distant day integral parts of her domain. Great
efforts have been made to Germanize those
provinces of which she despoiled France, but
Alsace and Lorraine cling to their old allegi-
| ance with wonderful and touching constan-
| cy. Bismarck has prosecuted his campaign
| against ultramontanism with merciless rigor.
| All state grants have been withdrawn from
| Catholic bishops, priests have been deprived Of
any share in the administration of local church
| property, and those clauses of the constitution
which granted the Independent administration
of ecclesiastical affairs, the unimpeded inter-
course of religious associations with their supe-
riors, and freedom of clerical appointments.
| have been abrogated. But while in affairs po-
| litical Germany has held an osward course, in
business and financial matters she has felt
great distress. The large influx of gold from
France has quickened the spirit of speculation,
hazardous enterprises have been entered upon
and inevitable bankruptcy and widespread dis.
aster have followed. The stringency of tho
money market has been further increased by
the demenetization of silver and an attempted
reform in the currency. But on the whole the
people of Germany are well content and have
with great enthusiasm erected near the con-
fines of the Black Forest colossal monument
to Hermann, the ancient German hero who
drove the legions of Varus beyond the Rhine
in the first years of the Christian era, and who
is recognized as the apostle of German unity
and of resistance to Rome.
The French Republic.
France has shown marvellous energy in the
recuperation of her powers and the develop
ment of her resources, and under the mild rule
of the Marshal-President is fast regaining her
former position among European nations. The
only drawback she has met with has been an
immense destruction of life and property by
great floods on the Garonne. But the enor-
nous aud constantly increasing demand for
the production of the land of the mulberry aud
the vine by all other nations will enable her
soon and easily to recover her material loss.
In her Assembly acts have been passed defining
the public powers. The presidency of Marshal
NJ Mahoa for seven years has been def nitively
established, and a Senate and Chamber of
Deputies provided for. The Senate is to con-
sst of 800 members OF these the present
Assembly have elected 70, of whom a great
majority are Republicans. The remaining 225
will be chosen by the departments and the col
onies this winter. The senators elected by the
Assemblyare life members, the others hold
office for nine years. Deputies are to be an
nualy chosen by electoral districts. The new
Assembly is to be elected in April, and will
meet in May. To crown the work the estab-
lishment of the Republic has been formally
recognized. The war of the factions still goes
on, and though the adherents of the Boy of
Chiselhurst vapor bravely, it is believed the
Republicans have the confidence of the country.
The army has been thoroughly reorgauised, the
war establishment has been put upon sub
stantial footing the finances are on sound
basis, and all business and industrial pursuits
find prosperous ways. France has tho gratif-