The Portland daily press., 1876-01-24
Prize Plays ON the American Revolution.


PARIS, Jan. 23,-The jury in Michaelis' COM
petition for plays on the subject of the Amer-
can revolution award no first prize fearing the
public would not ratify their decision. The
two pieces to which the second prize was
awarded the jury pronounce remarkable works,
possessing great merit. One, entitled. A Great
citizen, is the joint production of MN. Ar
mand Artois and Lafitie, the latter being the
pseudonym of well known poet, Francois Cot
fee. The play, The New World, is by Villiers
Lislt Adams and "Free America by Adolphe
Michel. A fourth production, entitled The
Patriots, is written by an American who takes
the name of Fernando Armand, 1t is described
as full of movement and life, but deviates from
the programme laid down. 1t is believed it
will have great success.
The Coffee Market.
LONDON, jan 22.-The Times says the dull
ness in Mincing Lane continues, but COTE ex-
perienced good demand at some further ad-
vance upon plantation Ceylon. According to
the present estimates the crop will be short.
More liberal shipments are reported from Rio
Janeiro, which may, if continued influence the
value Of ordinary qualities here Sugar is de-
pressed.
John Bright ON English Politics.
LONDON, Jan. 23-John Bright and his COL
leagues in parliament, Dixon and Meintz, ad-
dressed their constituents in Birmingham last
night Bright in his speech passed over the
question of the slave circular issued by the ad-
miralty. He said the matter was not SO easy
as some supposed. He questioned, however,
whether it was necessary for the government
to NEEDLE with it. He hoped they would ex-
plain that affair and the Suez canal purchase
entirely to replying to Lord Derby's speech at
Edinburgh. He attacked the law of primo
geniture and monopOlization of land by few
great land holders and argued that possessors
of land should be empowered to bequeath it as
they pleased.
N:
LONDON, Jan. 24-The Times to-day renews
Secretary Fish's note on Cuba and circular to
the European powers. 1t says the grounds of
complaint exclusively refer to the United
States and Spain, and third parties cannot par
ticipate in the negotiations with any prospect
of International advantage. Spain and Amer
lea must settle their differences for themselves.
The risk of loss if either resorts to force is too
serious to be rashly incurred. 1t is possible,
however, that the European powers might help
to promote the compromise which, while saw
ing the honor of Spain, would end the Cuban
difficulty.
The article, after quoting the assertion of the
ant-slavery society in their memorial to Lord
Derby that Spain is willing to grant Cuba the
rights OF self-governng coloHy on condition
that slavery be retained, concludes as fol-
lows: IF the two governments are agreed
with regard to the end there should be little
difficulty in devsing the means. The slavery
question need occasion little controversy. Cuba
with practically Independent legislature
would soon find abolition necessary: The island
would probably be badly governed, but the war
would be ended and Cuba would be allowed to
develop her resources"
London Journals ON Our Affairs.
NEW YoBK, Jan. 23.-Cable specials contain
the following:
The Times thinks the defeat of Halman's
motion against specie payments foreshadews
the placement of the ihfationist section of
the Democrats at the next election.
The Standard thinks the government escaped
great danger in Sherman's proposed equilza-
ton of the monetary systems of America and
England. 1t was naturally greeted very warm
ly in principle, but was quite impractcable.
The Daily Telegraph compassionates the
American ENJOYS on the reduction of their sal
aries It says the best thing the envoy acred.
tied to the Emperor of Austria could do would
be to live at hotel and dine table hote. 1t
thinks it hardly possible, for gentleman in
that position to live with dignity ON $4,000
pei anuum, unless he has private fortune, and
cannot see how such ministers as those at the
Hague can live unless they diet themselves on
salt behring's, Dutch cheese and hard boiled
eggs.