New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-31
MINOR EUROPEAN STATES.

| King Alfonso has strengthened his position In
Spain by allowing his Ministers to have freedom OF
action under the constitution and by accepting
overtures from Berlin for diplomatic alliance.
Premier Sagasta reOrganized the Ministry on Janu-
airy 8, retaining Martnez-Campos and Aguilar,
and obtaining six recruits from various sections OF
the Libira party The King declined to interfere,
saying that constitutional monarch ought not to
favor any party or faction The Deputies decided
In April to reduce the army expenses and Martinez,
Campos offered his resignation. Ministerial
crisis was temporarily averted In August
there was q military uprising in the Province
of BadajOz,, on the Portuguese frontier, the
garrison prOcppm15g Republic WITH Ruiz
speedily suppressed. The King visited Vienna
and Berlin during September, and was appointed
at Strasburg. This incident excited resentment in
France, and the King was hooted and insulted by
the Paris mob President Grevy made an informal
apology, but the King set out at once for Madrid.
where he received with great rejoicing. Dip
lomatic remonstrances were interrupted by the
downfall of the Ministry, the Dynastc Left refus
ing to support Sagasta. Posada- Herrara accepted
the Premiership and succeeded In uniting the
groups of the Liberal party. Prince Bismarck fol-
lowed up his diplomatic success by sending the
Crown Prince to SPAIN where he was cordially re-
ceived
In italy specie payments were resumed on April
10. A gold balance Of S33500,000 had been
cumulated and there was only slight demand for
coin in place of paper. There have been minor
changes i'll the Ministry, but Depretis has remained
at the head of the Government. The Foreign Office
succeeded earl Y in the year in forming diplomatio
combination with Germany and Austria. The Pope
while gaining ground in Germany has not made any
advance in Italian politics. The Government,
meanwhile, has obtained the support of the Right
as well the Left. Minghetti and his Conservative
associates have agreed to vote with Depretis and
the Liberals. the two sides of the Chamber having
coalesced. The result or the extension Of the suf-
Ra to Rndsa Tae eru
tiOn Of CasamcclOa and neighbOrlng villages In
Ischia by an earthquake on July % one of the
great calamities of the year.
There has been no marked change in the ottoman
Empire. The Sultan stands in dread OF assassina-
ton, one serious p OF against his life having been
assert his authority In the SOudan but even IL the
British Government consents to his sending troops
TO that quarter, the condition of the Turkish
treasury will not permit formidable expedition
The East Roumelian Assembly has passed a law
ducing she tribute paid to the Porte. In Bulgaria
Prince Alexander having eyinced sympathy with
Cars agents t0renounce the autocratic power CON
ferred by the Assembly and TO revert TO the prlnoi
pies of constitutional government; lie recalled the
Liberal Ministry. In accepting office they promptly
rcpudiated the foreign allies who had undertaken
TO use them for their own purposes. he Russian
generals were dismissed and the influence OF
the Car was temporarily impaired. In
December Russian general was appointed Minis
ter Of War. In Servia King Milan sought 70 draw
his Ministers into an alliance with Vienna but the
general elections resulted in the defeat of the Aus
tran party. The Radicals In entering upon offco
set their faces against Russian intrgues precisely
IA the Liberal Ministry had done IN Bulgaria. The
Prince Of Montenegro has been negotiating directly
with the Porte and pls Z less dependence upon
Russian diplomacy. GhI hout the Balkan there
is a growing disposition discard foreign in
luoncc aud to depend upon Iudiyl dual effort
The curious constitutional conflict IN Norway has
reached the hnal stage Of impeachmen the Minis
ter, having been placed on their defence in DC
tober In sweden the Ministry have been forced
10 resign owing to a hostile vote on an army bryan
ization bill Baron Nordcuskj0ld's Crcenland expe-
dtion returned in safety without finding evidence
10 support the geographical theory which had been
advanced by the explorer The DANISH exploring
vessel commanded by Lieutenant Hovgaard was
wrecked in the Kara Sea, and the Dutch steamer
Varna was also crushed IN the ice while conveying
Arctic co.0nists TO Dickson Harbor. The general
scheme of international Arctic observation has
been carried without other accident. the fate of
the party ut Lady Franklin Sound remaining IN
uncertainty. -,
The Dutch colonial possessions in Java met with
a terrible calamity on August 20. There were
volcanic eruptions OF extraordinary magnitude, IN
yolyIng the destruction OF many villages and an
immense loss Of life. An island 5000 feet high
was submerged, sea wave 100 feet high was
formed and devastation was wrought ON land and