Year: 1876

very important meeting of the members of the late
majority, held few evenings ago in ono of the COM
mittee-rooms of the Chamber it was all but unani-
mously decided TIA votes out OF III presently that
for the present Sella should be considered as the
leader of the party. Tho proposal that this should
be so emanated from Minghetti himself. The disin-
terested and truly patriotic sef-abnegation OF the
proposal was recognized with enthusiastic admlra-
ton by the meeting, and By none more cordially
than by Signor Sella himself But it was thoroughly
understood-and it is we'll. But those abroad who
take an interest in Italian politics should UNDER
stand that the resolution then taken by no means
implied or implies any political abdicatiOn on the
part of Sgnor MingletG. The meeting-instead of
being an event Of truly happy augury for the future
of political life in Italy, earnest Of that genu-
incly higl-mnded self-denial which the political
life of free countries so often demands of it's
seryants--would have been, on the contrary,
great misfortune, if such had been the case. The
temporary retirement from the leadership OF the
party of Signor Mlnghetti was cOunselcd by wise
appreciation Of the present position and needs OF
that party. With view to the reconstruction OK o
majority capable of advantageously carrying on the
business of the country the principles OF the late
Administrations il is expedent to recall to their
party allegiance those dissidents Of the Center,
whose detection alone placed the late Cabinet in
minority. And it is felt that this will be more
readily and easily accomplished by Signor Sela than
by Signor Mngheti, because it was with the latter
that an unfortunate difference of opinion respecting
the policy to be pursued with regard to the railways
led them to quarrel The restoration of these stray
sheep to the fold Of "tho Right" will probably not
be difficult or need much time for its accomplish
ment. And then will come the moment that will
show the world the quality of Sella as statesman
and a man of political honor. He will then In all
probability be called Oh to form part OF new MIN
istry of the Right And in both the above charac-
tcrs it will be his bounden duty to accept that posi-
ton and to fight Loyalty under the banner of the old
chefan of the Right. There are those who think
that the temptation of the situation will be too
strong for Sella's virtue. know Of nothing III the
history of the past years that should justify one In
50 thinking. But if he so to fail and FALL II IL
should come to pass that fOrgetful OF his own decar-
atons the recent meeting of the true nobility OK
Minghetti's conduct and of his own recognition OF
it, he should be tempted by thelow and short-sghted
selfi,hness of a vulgar ambition to refuse this duty
and to endeayor to use Mnghetts generous trust as


stepping stone to the possession of power and place
for himself he will in truth give such measure OK
his baseness as will show dein.tlycy that he is not
tie man needed for carrying on That tradition Ok
hisl-mnded disiuterestedness and devotion oprinc-
ple which is so urgently wanted in the public life OF
this country and of which he has just seen so ad'
mirable an example. But /, for one, hope better
things of sella. Ii is not every day nor often IN
lifetime that man comes to such marked and de-
csive "parting Of the ways" as Sella will reach
when the present incapable Cabinet shall have fallen
to pieces. Let us hope he will be up to the mark!


As to the present Cabinet each day that passes
shows that theirs are numbered and are few. I
might fill q column of The TRIBUNE with the de-
tails of their shortcomings, mistakes, failures ana
absurdities. What can an American OF an EngiiSh
reader think of Minister of the Interior, who,
answering an Interpolation in the Chamber as to his
having illegally prevented the assembling OF meet
ing convened for the p;nposc of complaining OF a
certain tax, tells his audience that he does moo
profess the theory of permitting that the abolition OK
n fax should be asked forp And this man who has
come into Office as an extra ultra "LiberaP III the
place of "Modcrates' who not liberal enough!
All the things that they have been enscreamlng against
past Governments for doing they have continued TO
do OF all the things they have been protesting,
projecting, and promising, they have neither dohe
nor begun to do any one! They declared that no
bargain should be made at all for selling the rail-
roads, and that the bargain arranged by the Right
was very bad one. They decided on selling them,
and attempted to obtain better terms from Baron
Rothschild, with whom Sclla and the Right had
mauc their arrangement. lne baron cams 10 houAe,
but would not advance his proposals Il single silver!
Thcreupon the Ministerial papers declared that
that was because Mcssicurs MinSheti d'l Sclla had
per>uaded him not 10 do sol They Voc furious in
opposition at the length of time alowei the banks
for the tolerated circulation of the old paper to be
Withdrawn in accordance with the recent bank legis-
ation Nearly the only they have passed is
n bill for the prolongator of that time. They
screamed n thousand murders every time the late
Ministry prevented the sending OF political tele-
gram. They have stopped more telegranls in their
few weeks Of office than their predecessors did IN
twelyemontE But as | said at the beginning OK
this letter it il the old story of Liberals in oppos-
ton. and Liberals in Office 1t could not be other
wise Though truly these men have performed The
well-known role with unusual vigor and audaclty;
end that for the reasons which l have assigned.
Doubtless the present Cabinet will 1--we through the
remainder of the present session and the vacation.
Bat do not think they will long survive the shock
of the next meeting in November.


I may mention that Enylild's mleXible is no
longer the most powerful sea-monster atoat on the
ocean. That proud prominence now belongs to tho
Duiho. launched the other day at Castellamae, and
duly "christencd" according to the prescribed Tor
mula by the Princess Margaret--surcly the most
charming godmother that ever sea-monster hdd-in
the presence of the King and the COurt, aud tho
ministers and the foreign dipomatists, and the gold
lace. orders and epauettes, and white Ice, SILK
skirts, and pearl powder and drummers and trlm-
peters. aud cannoaadin. and triumphant shoutingl


r. a. TROLLoPE.