p. 112 | News and Miscellany

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 19, 1872

News and Miscellany.

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

PROTESTANTISM IN ROME.—The Evangelicals are sparing no efforts or expense in the Capital of Catholicity. Protestant schools are being established, Protestant Workingmen’s clubs are opened, four or five Evangelical booksellers already grace the streets of Rome. Bibles are given to every one that will accept, and every inducement is held out in the endeavor to catch the poor and needy. Up to the present, however, the proselytizers have met with the same amount of success as that which attended the labors of their brethren, the soupers in Ireland.—Pilot.

The Pilot has been compelled to make the above assertion in reference to the spread of Protestantism in Rome. He, like the pretended Vicar of Christ, must accept the situation, although he has repeatedly stated that such things could not be. What prophets these Romish popes and editors are!—Am. Protestant.

The London Observer in an article on the Alabama Claims, expresses the opinion that in case England should renounce the Treaty of Washington, the United States would take no immediate action in consequence, but would insist on the validity of the right hitherto claimed for American seamen to fish in Canadian waters, and on that point would meet with no opposition from England.

The London Times’ special dispatch from Berlin says it is thought in that city that the decision of the Emperor William, the arbitrator in the San Juan boundary dispute between the English and American Governments, will be adverse to England.

Count von Armin, the German Ambassador to France, has been ordered to return home for the purpose of reporting to the Government of the German Empire his opinion regarding the stability of the present Government of France.

ALL professions of peace and good-will, notwithstanding, the nations of Europe seem determined to continue the contest as to who shall be best prepared for war. In spite of the fact that Italy groans under a debt of some thirteen hundred millions of dollars, and of the further fact that the Italian Parliament has already voted nearly forty millions of dollars for the naval and military expenditures of the year, it is announced in a cable dispatch that the Minister of War wants two million four hundred thousand dollars more. The only use that Italy can have for a large army is to prepare a possible attack from France in the interests of the Holy See; France, on the other hand, is spending millions on the re-organization of her army, for the avowed purpose of regaining the lost provinces, and Germany keeps up her military expenditure for the sake of being prepared for such a contingency. It is now, as it has been for the largest portion of the century—all Europe keeps armed because France pants for glory, and will not submit to the inevitable.—Times.

TROUBLE WITH SPAIN.

NEW YORK, March 8. It is stated that the recall of the Spanish Minister Roberts, who is to be replaced by Admiral Polo, is an anti-American movement on the part of Spain, which our Government fully comprehends. Our Government is steadily preparing for the breach which Polo will undoubtedly bring about as soon as he takes his position as Minister at Washington.

In the National Assembly (France) to-day Deputy Guirand questioned the government on the resignation of Poyer Quertier from the Ministry of Finance. Guirand made a violent assault on Thiers, who, he said, prevented the successful foundation of either a republic or a monarchy, and nothing remained for the country but the empire or chaos.

NEW YORK, March 9. A Quebec dispatch states that at a mass-meeting of the national party on Thursday the administration of Canadian affairs was strongly denounced by the speakers, and two of the speakers advocated annexation to the United States. The government directed its civil service employes to absent themselves from this meeting, the objects of which meet with the favor of the general public.

REVOLUTIONARY INVASION OF ITALY.

A Berne newspaper says that Giuseppe Mazzini is at Tyrne, in the Tyrol, making preparations for a revolutionary invasion of Italy.

REVOLUTIONARY PLOTS IN SPAIN.

Le Temps in its issue to-day says the authorities of Seville, Spain, anticipate a revolutionary outbreak in that city soon, and measures are being taken to suppress any demonstrations that may be made.

L’Univers asserts that a revolutionary plot was recently discovered in Madrid, and that several of the ringleaders in the movement were executed.

MOHAMMEDANS MOVING.—In Damascus, 3000 Mohammedans have avowed a desire to become Christians. They have regular prayer meetings, and pray to the Lord Jesus Christ that he will reveal himself as their Saviour, and lead them into truth and light. There is also a movement among the Jews. The Druses are now looking for their Saviour’s coming from China. In Persia, also, a great spiritual movement, in looking forward to the coming Saviour, is evident.

The Slavonic World of Prague says the Prince of Servia is about to marry a Russian princess, and it predicts from this alliance a no less important result than the driving of the Turks from Europe.

THE FLURRY OVER.

The tone of the press in England has been materially modified in regard to the Treaty and the arbitration at Geneva. Lord Granville’s letters to our Government are said to be temperate and decidedly friendly. It has turned out, as we said four weeks ago, that the whole subject is in the hands of the arbitrators, and the party now backing out or interposing new difficulties takes the responsibility of war.

If the press of England gets excited again over this matter, the interests at stake are sufficiently momentous to justify popular demonstrations on both sides of the water, to preserve peace and secure international justice.

The flurry, which, we trust, is now happily quieted, is another illustration of the impotency of human reason when passion or pride is stimulated. Men controlling organs of public opinion and able to reach the minds of millions, were ready to burst the bonds of a solemn treaty and put in jeopardy the peace of the world, for the sake of an imaginary blunder. Regardless of written law, and long and costly negotiations and sealed agreements, and the royal word, they were ready to plunge into the whirlpool of war, rather than to abide by their own bargains. Better counsels have prevailed, and the sea is smooth again.—N. Y. Observer.