The sun., 1884-01-01
1884 in Europe.

equal In moment to Presidential election,
yet we know that in many Of them impor-
tant reforms will be attempted, and that in
such countries tho political situation can
hardly fail to be materially altered before tho
close OF the year that begins to-day. On
the surface of things there are perhaps fewer
indications OF war among tho Continental
powers than there were twelvemonth ago
Yet the Balkan peninsula is in highly in
ilamcd condition, and it would be a surprise
to some of the most vigilant observers should
1884 behold no disturbance OF tho peace of
Europe.
In the political history OF tho United King
dom the coming year will be made memo
rabc by the introduction Of new Reform
bill. There seems to be no doubt that Mr.
GLADSTONE has yielded to tho wishes OF
the Radical element OF his party, and has
decided to make the extension of the suf-
frage tho main business OF Parliament
during the next session. There is also rea-
son to believe that Ireland will share all the
privileges conferred upon Great Britain by
the Government project of electoral reform
AS Lord HARRINGTON has declared that the
Cabinet is unit with regard to this question:
and as Mr.. FORSTER has assured his constit-
mand his support, we may take for granted
that the bill will encounter no serious dcfcc-
tion in the ranks of Mr.. GLADsTONE's follow
crs, and that it will consequently pass the
House of Commons by largo majority.
The action OF the Conservatives who control
the upper House cannot be predicted with
equal positiveness. but they may be expected
to send back the bill at least once
with an amendment excluding Ireland
from tho operation of tho measure. II
Lord SALIsBURY's will prevails, the Lords
will persist in this course, with the hope of
compelling dissolution of Parliament. But
1t is possible that the Peers will give way
after q single demonstration, and there is
also report, based on a speech of Mr.. HER
BERT GLADSTONE, that, should the upper
House insist on its amendment, the Premier
will avoid an appeal to the country by al
lowing the proposed electoral reform to
drop. In that event what remains of the
session of 1884 will be devoted to tho i'm
provement of the system Of county govern
ment, and to the construction Of coherent
| and efficient system of municipal admins
| tration for the city Of London, together with
| all the parishes that make up the nctropol-
| itan district.
| 1t will be impossible for the GLADSTONE
| Ministry to postpone much longer the adop-
| tion OF a definite policy with regard to Egypt,
and the new year will probably witness either
| the complete withdrawal of British troops
| from that country or the assertion Of vir-
tual protectoratc. Should the former alter
| native be taken, the English Government
cannot with any show of consistency or de-
| ccncy, hinder the khcdivc from seeking as
sistancc in other quartcrs-in Turkey, for
| example, or in France. And even if Eng
| land decides to retain q hold upon the
Nile land as far as the first cataract,
but no further. it is not easy to see upon what
grounds she can refuse the Sultan's offer to
aid his Egyptian vassal in the rcconIucst of
the Soudan. There arc several other matters
connected with the Indian and colonial de-
partments of the British Government which
may give the present Ministry some trouble
during the coming twclvcmonth. Whether
Lord RIPoS's attempt to make Englishmcn
and natives equal to some extent before the
law succeeds or mscarries, there will cor
tanly be great evaporation and possibly
dangerous connections in British India. The
agitation in the Australian colonies for the
acquisition OF territory in New Guinea
| Will require tItuLIiituu Oh lHc piTJ o
tho Colonial Office, il Lord DERBY would
check the spirit Of discomfort which is be-
ginning TO show itself in those remote but
hitherto loyal dependencies. The difficulties
also, in South Africa have lren by no means
smoothed away by the concessions which
Mr.. GLADSTONE, with perhaps an excess o
magnanimity, made to the Transvaal re
public. and it is quite possible that Enslant
, will before long have upon her hands al
other little war in that quarter.
If no question more serious than the man
agement Of the Tonquin expedition wcr
likely to occupy the public mind in France
: NJ JULES FERRY might look forward to re
tanning power during the remnant of TIN
: term for which the present Chamber Of Dep
, | utics was chosen. 1t now looks rs If tn
, French troops would be suffered to tax
4 possession Of IIoDg-Hoa and Bac-ninh with
out any overt Interference on the part q
$ China, but with the understanding that
/ partition Of the territory in dispute shou
be subsequently made. Tho FERRY Cabinet
4 however. will have to grapplc with NOR
4 awkward problems than any presentc
Q by its busy and aggressive colonial policy
l. 1t Is liable at any moment TO be called upo
r. to expcl from Franco the members of dynas
It tic families, and If it manages to escape fror
. that dilemma it may bo wrecked, as GAA
d BETA was, on the reef of constitutional /,
o vision. The Prime Minister has give
y notice that revision Of some sort will be dt
g mandcd by the Government during tho pres
ent session, but he has not yet defined HI
% programme or said whether the introdu
IS tion OF the scr,aiR de liste is to form one
&c its features.
. SO far as the internal affairs of the Gle
IF man empire are concerned, Prince BIsMARc
n would not be greatly iuconmoded if I'll
Is Reichstag should wholly pretermlt II
ID sessions during the year 1884. The arm
y budget has been fixed for u term OF year
So and the Chancellor has got the desired al
Is proprations for other objects in advance,
A. that should he see tit to devote his cncrgi,
10 to n foreign war during tho coming sprir
a ,t;, ,,h