The sun., 1884-01-01

for completing the absorption OF tho Prus-
sian railways by tho State. Whether Bis
MARcK succeeds or fails In these designs, and
whether he ventures to reintroducc in tho
German Parliament his tobacco monopoly
project, will depend upon the nature OF tho
compromise to be effected with the Vatican.
There Is scarcely ono OF the Chancellors
schemes that could not be carried out
by the cooperation OF the Clerical party
with the Conservatives, but it remains to be
seen whether tho repeated overturcs and
substantial concessions made by BISMARCK
during the last two years will secure the sup
port OF the Ultramontancs, or whether Herr
WINDTHoRsT, knowing how Indispensable he
is, may not exact more than the Chancellor,
with all his cynical contempt of consistency,
can afford to grant.
In Italy, since tho expansion OF the fran
chise and the election of n new Chamber of
Deputies by the enlarged constituency, there
have been many indications Of reorganiza-
tion Of parties, but provided Signor DEpRE-
TIs lives, and the country Is not involved,
through its connection with the central
powers, in n foreign war, 1t Is unlikely that
the next twnlvcmonth will see any marked
change in the political situation. The
present Ministry rests on majority
made up OF tho moro conservative portion Of
tho old Left aud the more progressive part
OF that old Right which under Signor MIN
aHErTt so long controlled the consolidated
peninsula. Against it are arraycd, besides tho
dissidcnt Right. which Is numerically very
weak, nll the Republicans and extreme Rad
icals, together with tho personal followers Of
ex-Ministers who, like Signor NIcorERA,
have been successivcly eliminated from
tho CAIRoLI and DEpRETIs Cabinets. Tho
coming year will scarcely furnish an occa-
sion for disclosing the real weight of the un-
known factor in Italian politics, namely, tho
voting strength of tho Clerical party. which
has hitherto held itself nloof from the cleo
tions, in conformity with tho Injunction of
PIus IX., not yet rescndcd by the rcgning
Pontiff. Neither is it easy to see how thcrcGs-
tnblishment of friendly relations between tho
Prussian Government and tho Vatican can
materially improve the position of the Pa
pacy with regard to Italy No doubt the
good will of BISMARCK would insure the 10y
al enforcement of the Papnl guarantees
which not long ago the Italian tribunals
showed II disposition to infringe, but the
German Chancellor cannot be expected to
alienate n useful member of the triple alll-
u
the Pope. Something will have becn gained
however, if the Ministers of King 1IuMBEET
feel constrained by the moral influence of
Germany to treat the occupant of the Vatican
| with respect, and n marked improvement in
this direction is attestcd by the difference
shown to the wishes of LEO NH. in deciding
to erect tho memorial to VICTOR EMANUEL in
n side chapel of the Pantheon instead of in
the centre of that editcc.
Italians may be warranted in surmising
| that the visit made to their King by the
Crown Prince Of Prussia was only pretcxt
for visiting tho Pope, but 1t is pushing sus-
picion too fart suppose that tho journey to
Spain was itself only preliminary TO the Vati
can interview. After King ALFONSO had been
Kissed by the Paris mob--an incident which
derived some significance from the curious
attitude assumed by President CREWS
son-in-law and by the French Minister
OF War-it was plainly BIsMARcK's
cue to captivate Spanish opinion by an i'm
pressivc demonstration of esteem and cour-
tcsy, and the signs are that his purpose was
eflectually accomplished. The effect of this
proceeding will be visible enough should a
| European Congress assemble during 1884, for
the central powers have already signlficd
n Willingness that Spain should figure
in such body SO far, at least,
rs Mediterranean interests should be
the subject of discussion. AS regards the
internal politics Of Spain, it is most improb-
able that the coalition between the so-callcd
Dynastic Democrats and SAGASrA'S follow
crs--to which the present Ministry owes its
cXistcncc-will last n twelvcmonth. In
deed, it was only by tho abiura-
tiOn of their most important promises
on the part Of its progressive mcmbers that
the Cabinet was held together until the open
ing of the Cortcs, and it is thought that the
debate on the Kings speech, which will take
place in few days. must bring about their
overthrow. Should Scnor SAGASrA there
upon resume the Government, no would
find himself much weaker in the Sen.
ate and ut court than he was be.
fore he quarrcllcd with the friends
of Marshal CAMpos, and the chances
are that sooner or later during the new
year he would have to give way to- CAEovAs
, DEL CASTILLO. Tho lattcr'5 return to power
will OF course entail new general election
since the Conservatives are II minority II
the present Chamber OF Deputies. The re
appearance OF Conservative Ministry would
we scarcely need TO say. bodc anything bu
, good TO plundcrcd and exhausted Cuba.
In the Scandinavian North the year nov
opened will SEQ the end of the long constitn
tiOnal struggle between the people of Norwa,
and their King, provided the impcached Min
, istcrs are convicted and punished by the tri
, bunnl before which they have been ar
: raigncd. In view Of such an issue of The
( trinl, it is not probable that rencwc
4 Attempts would be made to ovcrrid
the privileges secured to the Norw"ga
, Legislature by the Constitution. Should
0 however, encouragement be offered to con
1 tinucd usurpation by the escape of the in
:. criminatcd Ministers, the people Of Norway
n who for ages have been virtually sclT-goy
: crnng, will probably stop at nothing in th
n assertion Of their chartered rights Th
: present King of Sweden and Norway Is Il