Untitled article | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · December 17, 1867

Europe.

The Italian Parliament.—Florence, Dec. 6.—The session of the Italian Parliament opened yesterday. The Prime Minister, Menabrea, in a speech justified the action of the government in arresting Garibaldi, and suppressing his illegal attempt at invasion, but declared that it was as inconsistent for the temporal power to exist at Rome, as it would be for a foreign power to hold possession of Paris.

The Alabama Question.—London, December 6.—The Times, in an editorial on the correspondence in the Alabama controversy, says: Lord Stanley is right in refusing to permit the foreign policy of England to be reviewed by any foreign power whatever. On all other points England will gladly meet the United States half way, as she is thoroughly tired of the discussion.

The St. Thomas Purchase.—London, December 6.—The Times has an editorial on the subject of the sale of the Island of St. Thomas to the United States. It is pleased with the transfer, and hopes the sanitary measures of the Americans will extinguish the causes of contagious fevers which are so prevalent in that island.

The Roman Question.—Paris, Dec. 6.—In the Corps Legislatif, yesterday, Minister Rouher made a speech defending the policy of the Emperor's government on the Roman question. He admitted that the unity of Italy was desirable, but in accomplishing it, Italy should never go to the extreme of taking possession of Rome by force. At the close of the debate M. Jules Favre's motion for interpellation of government in Italian affairs was rejected.

Spain Wanting to Sell Cuba.—New York, Dec. 6.—A Havana letter says that, through letters received from Madrid, it is rumored that ex-Queen Christina and Don Romero Navares are urging the cession of the Island of Cuba to the United States, for a consideration of about $200,000,000.

Italy.—Florence, Dec. 8.—It is reported that General Garibaldi has again disappeared from the Island of Caprera, and it is feared that another attempt against Rome will be made by the party of action.

The speech of the French Minister, M. Rouher, in which he said Italy should not take forcible possession of Rome, gave rise to an angry discussion in the Italian Chamber of Deputies yesterday. Prime Minister Menabrea informed the House that he had asked the French Government for an explanation of the speech, and he expected to receive a reply from Paris by Monday. He added that Italy could only gain possession of Rome with the concurrent consent of France and other European powers, and that it would be impossible to achieve that object by force. At the end of the debate a vote was taken, and the government was sustained by a majority of the members.

The Earthquake in St. Thomas.—Havana, Dec. 4.—Forty-seven earthquakes, rapidly succeeding each other, were felt at St. Thomas on the 20th of November. One shock lasted two minutes. The sea rose 60 feet on the city, and everything was submerged. The loss of life is enormous, and immense quantities of merchandise were destroyed. The surviving inhabitants, houseless and destitute, fled to the mountains. Those that remained are striving by every means to leave the island. The steamer La Plata is the only vessel which has sailed since the calamity, and she left 150 persons behind for want of accommodations. Every business firm on the island is insolvent, and all the steamship and other companies have abandoned it. No coal is to be had; and the wharves are destroyed. At the time of the sailing of the steamer, the earthquake continued at intervals. The destruction is incalculable at St. Thomas, and also at Tortola and St. Croix. Little Saba is a horrible volcano, and nearly burned to ashes.

France.—Paris, Dec. 8.—Fears are entertained here of a Ministerial crisis, in consequence of the last speech of M. Rouher on the Roman question in the Corps Legislatif.

A Congress of American Churches.—The Evangelist, New School Presbyterian, mentions that the late movements toward union in the Presbyterian Church and elsewhere, have led many to look forward to a still larger union, which should bring into one fold, or at least into close relations of intercommunion and Christian fellowship, a number of evangelical churches, which in time should include all the great branches of Protestant Christendom. As a step in this direction, the Christian Intelligencer suggested that the evangelical churches in the United States are “approaching a period in which they might organize a general convention or congress,” composed of duly appointed delegates, the same to meet, say once in three years.

The work of this general congress of American churches would necessarily be changed from time to time; but the following are suggested as features that would obtain certain degree of permanence: 1. It would be charged with the duty of exemplifying the essential unity of the several evangelical denominations. 2. By its fraternal counsels it might magnify the essentials and minify the non-essentials of religion. 3. It could concert and recommend plans of labor, which, if commonly adopted, would harmonize and consolidate the aggressive efforts of all the churches. 4. Its deliverances on supreme questions of public morals, could not fail to have large influence, and sometimes check political iniquity when intent upon mischief. 5. It would present a united front against the adversaries of Church and State, and quicken the public conscience when enervated by popular errors and delusions.

The Protestant Churchman (Episcopal), in speaking of the fraternization between the Episcopal and Presbyterian clergy, at the late convention in Philadelphia, says: “The scenes of Thursday and Friday convinced us that our foes are not those of other evangelical communions; let us then more heartily than ever unite with them in repelling the assaults of our common foes—genuine and counterfeited Romanism.”

Commenting upon the above, the New York Observer (Old School Presbyterian) says: “These are words which will awaken a cordial response from all in every communion who love Christ and the souls of men more than mere forms and ceremonies.”