Year: 1868

mate condition OF Europe, or any respect 10 the
best principles of our own ruler Prussia Is still
despotic, and seems likely TO remain go. Her
great ally in a war with France would probably
be Ru sia, and this would give to the struggle
all ,he character of 'legitimlst crusade"


woud Spe be- right Sy e Sa
occasion, and in some measure warranted by
the enthusiastic support which he would be
sure TO receive from his people. Russia would
not give her countenance on any understanding
favorable to liberty, and IL is hard to see ho "
the independence and unity of Germany would
be the gamer by such q compact, while IL is
quite certain that other Municipalities, such as
Poland. would be placed in a still more hopeless
position than that which they now occupy. As
to the action which Italy would be likely to
take in such contingency 1t is hard to form
any opinion. Italy Is out OF love with both her
patrons, and Just now Prussia Is apparently even
more dslIked than France.


II, passing from Italy, we turn our eyes
towards the East, we ind q danger certainly no
less than those to which we have been advert
ing, and capable, perhaps, OF spreading out
into yet more formidable dimensions aGd still
graver results. The prospects of the Turkish
Empire touch very intimately on those great
considerations of nationality which are among
the most important elements of the future Of
Europe. The Servian members Of that discord-
ant family dream of establishing an independent
kingdom; other branches OF the Slavonic stock
look to Incorporation with Russia, while the
Greeks, not unnaturally, desire TO join their
brethren under the scertre OF King George. The





nucleus of a general Hellenic movement, which
might bring the whole Eastern question to a
crisis. How far the Cretan rebellion can
be considered national rising is involved
in considerable doubt The persistence with
which it is maintained looks as if it was some
thing more than the effervescence of discontented
tribes; yet some independent observers charac-
terizeit as little better than brigandage and con-
slderiDg the mixed population of the island, end
The fact that proportion of the people are
Turkish Mobammedans, it is not easy to see
where the materials tor national movement
are 10 be found. The incopgruity of the popu-
lation OF European Turkey, the tendency of the
people to quarrel amopg themselves, and the
low degree of civilization prevalent among
the Christians of that part Of the world,
render it difficult for an unprejudiced OBJ
server to view with entire comDlacency the
prospect of a breakup of the Turkish
suZerainty, which holds together many iarring
forces. If strong nationality could be formed
In Eastern Europe, we should of course, be de.
lighted 10 see 1t arise; but If the choice is be-
tween Ottoman supervision and anarchy or
Russian predominance, we must be excused for
desiring the continuance of the former until the
Christians are better educated for independence.
Tins we see that in Central Europe, in the south
and IN the east many difficult and dangerous
complications lurk beneath the calm OF the
moments; and we can only hope that the Gov
eminent and the public opinion of England are
prepared to meet the future with policy at
once temperate and assured.


The Irish Church Revenues.


Mr.. Gladstone sent the following letter to be
sent to somebody who has asked him what he
proposed to do with the revenues of the Irish
Church:-Mr. Gladstone desres me to acknow.
ledg the favor of your letter of the 22d, and, in
reply to the question therein contained, to state
that he has many times publicly stated that in
his opinion the dsposable property of the irish
Church should not, when it is disestablished, be
employed IN the endowment of any other
church. Mr.. Gladstone fears that those few
who are unaware Of this are, pei haps, not very
willing to be informed.