News and Miscellany

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 30, 1872

News and Miscellany.

“Can ye not discern the signs of the times?”

SPAIN is in a state bordering on revolution. The following dispatch dated, Madrid, Jan. 26, describes the very ominous scene that occurred on the dissolution of the Cortes, or the legislative assembly of the nation.

“A stormy scene followed the decree of dissolution of the Cortes. The House seemed taken by surprise, and the members seemed unable to conceal their indignation. Passionate speeches were made, which were answered with derisive cheers by the few supporters of the Ministry. One delegate exclaimed, ‘The time has come for barricades.’ The greatest uproar and confusion followed, amid which the sitting was declared to be at an end. It appears that Amadeus finally refused to accept the resignation of the Ministry, tendered by Senor Sagasta, and the decree dissolving the Cortes was issued in consequence. The people generally sympathize with the Deputies, and demand a retirement of the present government. The King is urged to accept their resignations and immediately form a new Cabinet. The agitation is very great in this city. Disturbances are feared, and the troops are under arms.”

—The idea of ceding Cuba to the United States finds no favor in Spain.

“In the Spanish Cortes, Diaz Quintera said it was quite time to cede Cuba to the United States, but he was howled down by the whole House.”

—There is reported to be no prospect of any immediate quelling of the revolution in Mexico. When she has sufficiently worn herself out by internal contention, her territory will probably be absorbed by the United States.

—Our difficulties with England respecting the Alabama claims, seem not so easily to be settled as many supposed they would be by the commission appointed to adjudicate the matter. A dispatch dated New York, Jan. 22, says:

“A London letter says, Englishmen are much dissatisfied with the statement of the American case submitted by the Geneva arbitrators, and it is stated that the English public, and probably the government, are startled at the extent of the demands made. The Britishers will warmly contest every point contended for by the Americans.”

“Mr. O. W. M. P. for Chatham, addressed his constituents to-night, Jan. 26, upon political affairs. He expressed the opinion that the state of Europe was pregnant with complications which might lead to war. He also discussed, at great length, the Alabama question, and, in the course of his remarks, said that if the claim of the United States was granted, war between England and that country would become a necessity. He added that this blunder of the English government might become a cause for future discussion at Poland, and deprecated the honors which have been conferred upon the negotiation of the Treaty of Washington.”

—In Paris all places of business were closed on the 27th inst., the anniversary of the capitulation of the city. Agents in behalf of the restoration of Napoleon are active. M. Thiers, during the recent crisis, said that if Napoleon had 50,000,000 francs, he would be in power in fifteen days.

—In Persia we have the spectacle of a country fast becoming depopulated by the horrors of famine. The Detroit Post of Jan. 23, says:—

The famine in Persia is becoming absolutely terrible. The agent of the London Relief Society at Ispahan telegraphs that ten thousand persons are dependent upon him for aid. Three thousand people in the whole country, according to the estimate, die daily from starvation. Fifteen thousand dollars a month would not provide food for those who have nothing to eat. This seems horrible enough in these days of plenty. Yet famines were somewhat common in Europe a thousand years ago, and frequent among the nations living previous to the Christian era. Probably the mortality was not so great, because the population was not so dense. But the same causes produced in those days the same effects. There was a want of agricultural knowledge and skill; a want of foresight, an inefficient government, and, more than all, isolation. Persia could be helped were she not isolated. In those ancient days all communities were more or less isolated. The masses of the people in Christendom who still have grievances, some of which are real, and some imaginary, are not exposed to be swept away by famine. They have advanced, at least, so far as that.”