viers, setting forth the duties of Catholic electors, declaring that "if they fail to vote against candidates hostile to the Catholic faith, they commit a mortal sin," and describing the State schools as nurseries of atheism. Vigorous measures have been taken against the signers of the letter. About forty of the seventy Royalist Deputies in the Chamber, have issued a manifesto announcing that they do not hold themselves bound by the Pope's advice to accept the Republic. The manifesto says: "French Royalists, while respecting the decision of the Pope in spiritual matters, claim for Frenchmen the right of preserving their political preferences The form of gov ernment is a question that should be decided by Frenchmen alone. The Papacy has recognized all previous forms of government in France, but it has never called upon the adherents of preceding régimes to forget their fidelity or renounce their hopes." This declaration, drawn up by the Duc de la Rochefoucauld, completes that split between Monarchy and the Church in France, of which Pope Leo took the initiative. Its tone indicates that those who signed it are at last convinced that the Royalist hopes are dead. At the instance of the French Government, the United States Secretary of War, on June 27, issued an order recalling from his post as Military Attaché at the American Legation in Paris, Captain Henry D. Borup, of the Ordnance Department of the United States Army. Captain Borup was suspected by the French authorities of having bought plans of the French defenses, and of having communicated them to Germany and Italy. In response to a demand for explanation from the American Minister, T. Jefferson Coolidge, he admitted having followed the example of all military attachés in paying for secret official documents, getting them from M. Grénier, a clerk in the French Navy Department; but he denied emphatically having communicated anything to Germany or Italy. His course, however, was strongly disapproved by M. Ribot, the French Foreign Minister; and his recall was necessary to prevent a diplomatic breach. His place has been temporarily filled by First Lieutenant Wm. A. Glassford, of the Signal Corps. Emile Zola has for the third time been defeated for election to the French Academy. On June 2, Professor Lavisse was elected to fill a vacancy, M. Zola receiving only three votes on the second ballot. M. Ernest Lavisse is a noted writer on special epochs of the history of Germany and other European countries, and has for the last three years also directed an annual historical resumé, La Vie Politique a l'Étranger. M. Zola's hopes were based on his latest novel, Le Débâcle, the style of which is not offensive like that of his former works; but his accurate picture of the overthrow of the third Empire estranged from him the votes of the small Bonapartist clique who count for something in a society of only forty members. Professor Lavisse is a thorough Republican in practice and theory. At the trial of the American, Mr. Deacon, whose shooting of M. Abeille was recorded in our last issue (p. 52), the jury on May 20 returned a verdict equivalent to one of willful wounding with intent to kill; and Mr. Deacon was sentenced to a year's imprisonment. SPAIN. Ever since the execution of the Xeres Anarchists (p. 52), riots in Spain have been frequent. On June 9, an attempt to remove an Episcopal See from Calahorra, in Castile, to Logreno, caused an outbreak in which a Bishop and Canon were stoned, and the military defied by a mob. In the prison yard at Seville the same day, a quarrel between two convicts over a game of cards caused a general fight which nothing but an infantry charge with fixed bayonets sufficed to stop, one of the prisoners being killed by a bayonet thrust. Barcelona-the "Liverpool" of Spain-was terrorized for several days toward the middle of June, by a mob of desperate armed strikers. Cavalry and infantry reinforcements were summoned to restore order. The prevailing political discontent in Spain, the confused state of public finances, and the general depression in trade, make the conditions favorable to lawless agitation. Although it long seemed as if Spain and France could not agree upon a basis for their mutual commercial relations, other than that afforded by the maximum rates in their respective tariffs (p. 22), it was announced toward the end of May, that negotiations had finally ended in the conclusion of a modus vivendi, whereby Spain was to give France "favored nation ment until July 1, and after that date the minimum tariff with " favored nation" treatment in the Spanish West Indies, and special reductions on silks, woollens, and cottons. In return, France gave Spain the benefit of the minimum rates. The wild and thieving subjects of the Sultan of Morocco who dwell in the region around the Riff rocks, have from time to time shown a tendency to piracy, annoying foreign commerce, especially that of Spain. The latest instance occurred about May 1. A Spanish sailing vessel, while off the coast, had been becalmed and drifted shoreward. She was boarded by the Moorish pirates and looted; but managed to sail away while the robbers were landing their spoils, a breeze having sprung up. The Madrid Government has borne these outrages patiently, probably knowing that its intervention in Morocco would open a question in which other European Powers are interested; but a continuance of the outrages may yet precipitate serious trouble. On Good Friday, April 15, a horrible murder was committed during service in the church at Anglesola, in the. Province of Lerida. While the priest was kneeling at the altar, he was attacked by a maniac, his head being almost severed from his body by a blow from a sword in the madman's hands. The murderer fought his way out, shooting one woman to death, and seriously wounding several parties, and managed to escape, but was captured two days later. ITALY. The Italian Parliament was prorogued June 15, after a stormy session. The average life of an Italian Cabinet is about eleven months, the present Ministry of Signor Giolitti being the thirty-third which has held office since 1861-a record of rapid changes which surpasses even that of the Republics of South America. Italy's obligations as a member of the Triple Alliance necessitate the expenses of large armaments which are beyond her financial ability to meet; and there has of late been a marked sentiment in favor of retrenchment. In view of this, the demand of General Pelloux, Minister of War, for a supplementary credit for the new rifle for the Army, caused a breach in the Cabinet that led to its resignation April 14. The new Cabinet immediately formed by the Marquis di Rudini, lived only about a fortnight, being defeated May 5, by a majority of eight, on the demand for a vote of confidence in its financial program. The general features of the program consisted in covering the estimated deficit for 1892-1893, by a reduction of the army expenses, by the collection of funds to be produced by the sale of certain national properties, by a reform of taxation on successions, and by other minor measures, such as the establishment of a State monopoly on matches. This would leave still remaining a deficit of 17,500,000 lire (about $3,250,ooo) to be provided for by economies not indicated. On the following day, therefore, the Rudini Cabinet resigned; and Signor Giolitti was commissioned to form a new Ministry, which he soon succeeded in doing, retaining the former Premier's old Ministers of War and Marine, and appointing Admiral Brin, a well known partisan of the Triple Alliance, as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Signor Giolitti, on May 26, obtained a vote of confidence in the Chamber, but only by the small majority of nine. He and his colleagues, therefore, tendered their resignations, which King Humbert refused to accept. He then asked the Chamber to pass the most urgent bills before it, and to grant the Government a provisional vote of credit for six months. This the Chamber agreed to; and, for a time at least, the political tension was relieved. Public sentiment against the great sacrifices entailed upon Italy by the Triple Alliance, may, however, become so strong as to force a change in Italian policy ere long. The policy of the Giolitti Cabinet is virtually to leave things as they are. The Triple Alliance thus continues the basis of Italian foreign policy, and the Military and Naval Budgets remain practically unaltered, although the credits are to be limited to the necessities of defense, and the extra expenditure for rifles will be met by the gradual sale of silver lying in the Treasury. PORTUGAL. The one question in Portugal continues to be the financial question. The Cabinet's decision not to ratify the scheme for a fifty per cent reduction of the interest on the public debt, and the raising of a $20,000,000 loan, which scheme was adopted both by the Chamber of Deputies, March. 20, and at a subsequent convention, May 24, raised a storm of indignation among the foreign bondholders. The British, French, German, Belgian, and Dutch Committees, representing the holders of Portuguese bonds, have forwarded a protest to the Portuguese Government. The German Minister at Lisbon addressed an official communication to the Portuguese Government, protesting against the Royal decree, in so far as his own country was concerned. What the foreign bondholders object to, is the injustice of paying 70 per cent to the internal bondholders, which action allows 30 per cent for the gold premium, and represents 49 per cent, instead of 30 per cent, to the foreign bondholders. leaving them no alternative but to accept. The unfortunate condition of the finances and commerce of Portugal was shown by the report that the Society of Geography made last February, as the result of serious study which a committee of seventeen had given to certain questions, one of which concerned the establishment of a line of mail steam-ships between Lisbon and New York. After reciting the many advantages to be derived from a westward voyage across the Atlantic, they declared that the condition of the commerce of the country with the United States was such that it was absolutely impossible to establish the line of steamers desired. The statistics of Portuguese commerce show a stationary balance for the last ten years, ending with 1890, in which 88.5 per cent is made up of commerce from the United States, and 11.5 per cent of exportation to the United States. For the last five years of this period, the wheat shipped from the United States has been three times the value of all other shipments, while Portugal exported cork doubling the value of all her other shipments. AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the Austrian Emperor's coronation as King of Hungary, was celebrated with great splendor at Buda-Pesth, on June 8. The occasion brought out evidences of the cordial feeling between the two great divisions of this great Power. Austria's position twenty-five years ago contrasts wonderfully with her position to-day. Then, the recent defeat at Sadowa had left a memory under which both King and people still smarted, bitter discontent pervaded the various nationalities under the Monarchy, and the House of Hapsburg seemed destined to speedy ruin. To-day the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy is more highly respected by its neighbors than ever before, and is likely long to remain the bulwark of European civilization against Russian invasion, the main hope of the struggling Balkan Provinces, and not the least important member of the Triple Alliance, nor the least efficient influence for peace in Europe. This changed aspect is mainly due to the fact, that at a critical period in Austrian history, Francis Joseph was wise enough to accept the Dual Principle, and come to terms with Hungary. Since receiving the Constitution embodying what they had always regarded as their rights, Hungarians have been most loyal to the Empire. One result of the celebration was the formal recognition of Buda-Pesth as a capital and Royal residence. Vienna thus ceases to be the exclusive capital of the Dual Monarchy. Practically this state of things has existed for many years, Buda-Pesth being the seat of the Hungarian Government, and the Emperor spending several months there each year. For a long time the Roumanian population in Hungary have been hostile to the Hungarian Government, and have refrained from sending Deputies to the Parliament at Buda-Pesth. They claim for Roumanians the rights possessed by the Magyars. The Emperor has lately refused an audience to a deputation from the malcontents, sent to put their grievances before him. The attention of Christian communities generally has been called to the recent restrictions upon Methodist worship in Vienna (p. 54). For over five months an investigation was carried on, resulting in the putting of a petition for the State recognition of Methodism before the Minister of Public Worship, Baron Gautsch. The Minister is a high-minded Liberal, and the hopes of success are high. The Lutheran Church has opposed the Methodist claims. RUSSIA. The Hon. Charles Emory Smith, since February 14, 1890, United States Minister to Russia, returned to America early in May, and on June 27 formally resigned his post. He did not leave, however, until he had seen the relief cargoes of the Indiana and the Missouri, and the other contributions received from America, properly distributed. Besides the two ship-loads of food, over $77,000 in money was sent, all of which, with the exception of three payments specially indicated by the donors, was expended through the Relief Organization of the British-American Church of St. Petersburg, the Jewish Relief Committee, and Count Tolstoi. The expense of transportation after landing was borne by the Russian Government. The Indiana and the Missouri have been followed by the Conemaugh and the Tynehead. The Conemaugh sailed on April 23 from Philadelphia, and on May 12 arrived at Riga, a Russian port nearer to the famine district than Libau, where the Indiana was unloaded. Her cargo comprised 6,000,000 pounds of bread-stuffs, 188,000 pounds of rice, and other provisions. She was chartered by the Philadelphia Relief Committee. The Tynehead sailed from Brooklyn, N. Y., on May 2, with a cargo of 117,000 bushels of corn, 200 tons of flour, and several tons of canned meats, soups, etc. She was chartered by the American Red Cross Society, with money contributed by citizens of Washington, D. C.; and her cargo was stored and loaded free of charge by the owners of the Dows and Columbia stores in Brooklyn. America's munificent gifts have been received with the highest gratitude by Russia, and have drawn the two countries closer together. England and Germany have done something to relieve the people, but from America alone have come the needed supplies of food. Large as have been CHARLES EMORY SMITH, the efforts put forth, Minister Smith thinks that only about one-third of the relief required to put an end to the misery has been given. Even with abundant crops, the famine cannot be completely conquered before September; the sickness will endure even longer. Now that the snow has begun to melt, the wretched state of the roads makes large tracts inaccessible to relief. It is probable, however, that with a continuance of the efforts, the absolute necessities of the distressed will be pretty well provided for during the summer. That this is the case would seem to be indicated by the fact that the Imperial restrictions upon the exportation of wheat, oats, barley,and other cereals except rye, were withdrawn toward the end of June. The outside world is apt to overlook the vast work that has been done by Russia herself in the way of relief. It is officially stated that the sums expended in the distressed provinces, from December last to May 25,amounted to 125,370,500 roubles. The nobility and the landed proprietors have done almost everything they could. Count Bobrinsky, to take an example, is feeding 10,000 people on his estate. Another noble family is supporting 30,000 people. The good work of Count Tolstoi we have already referred to (Vol. I., p. 512). And these are only a few out of many such cases. The greatest apathy has prevailed among the tradesmen and the well-to-do merchants. It turns out that the rumors of Count Tolstoi being ordered back to his estate and being placed under official surveillance, were untrue (p. 55). The alleged letters published in a London paper were surreptitiously garbled. At the close of the quarter, anxiety in St. Petersburg about the famine and the doubtful prospects of the next harvest had given way to alarm about cholera. For months the scourge had lurked in Asiatic centers, ravaging certain parts of India, carrying off thousands of victims in Afghanistan, Turkestan, and Persia, and even spreading along the Arabian coast to the Italian possessions in Africa. In spite of the sanitary regulations which the Russian Government forced the Ameer of Bokhara to take toward the end of May, the disease managed to effect an entrance into Russian territory in Europe, coming presumably along the route of the Trans-Caspian Railway. At the end of June it had gained a foothold, and was rapidly spreading, in Baku, a Russian city on the west coast of the Caspian Sea, and in other frontier towns, being brought thither, it is supposed, by Parsee pilgrims. It was also reported to have appeared in the valley of the Volga; and, although the mortality reports for June were not alarming, covering 374 deaths out of 512 persons attacked over a wide area, yet the possibility of the disease spreading to the already sorely tried famine districts, where it would have full sway, excited the deepest apprehension of the authorities. Even Germany and Austria were aroused to take active precautions against the entry of the dreaded scourge into their territories. |