The Evening Star. TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2941, 23 July 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star. TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1872.

The news by California affords but little room for comment. It is not, in fact, so late in date as that already published, although some of the details are fuller, and other items are given that were not mentioned in the telegrams by way of Australia, The chief interest to us in the affairs of Europe and the relations of European countries with each other, is the effect of their policy upon the interests of the world at large. Many persons may be disposed to regard this as a grovelling view of international politics. They seem to have transcendental notions concerning them which are as unsound as the conduct to which they lead is pernicious. They forget altogether that the test of sound policy is the extent to which it forwards art, science, and commerce, and that any course tending to retard these, no matter how high-sounding its pretensions, is detrimental in its effects. In view of this principle, tho state of feeling between the different countries of the globe must be looked upon with deep anxiety. Distant from us as are France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and llussia, and small as is our direct intercourse with them, their relative political action affects us more or less indirectly. So far as can be gathered. Horn the telegraphic news, Germany and France are endeavoring to rid themselves of their present irritating position—Franco by paying the agreed indemnity, and Germany by withdrawing the troops from the provinces occupied as security for the amount. It is hardly likely that any renewal of the ■war will speedily take place. Both countries have suffered too severely for that, notwithstanding M. Thiers’s somewhat imprudent speech some months ago. The chief suffering of Franco was from her her own population, and this fact must form a significant warning in the reconstruction of government and the re-organisation of society. From ■whatever cause it may arise, there is a national organisation in Germany ■which forms a fine contrast to the division of classes in Franco. It is a striking feature in the German chai actor, and the course of home policy that has led to this result is "well worthy the earnest investigation of politicians. The insurrection in Spain appears to have been suppressed. We dare say very few persons of this generation feel sufficient interest in the Spanish troubles to enquire what these Garlist insurrections continually cropping up really mean. In these democratic Colonies, tho order of succession of kings and queens troubles our minds very little, and we arc so accustomed to read of Spanish revolutions and insurrections that when in European news we see tho heading “ Spain,” allusion to them hj looked fovwavd to

as a matter of course. A little explanation of the matter, will, however, lead to greater interest in it. The chronic state of disorder in which Spain has been for forty or more years’ has arisen from disputes as to the succession to the throne. According to ancient usage in Spain, females could only reign as sovereigns when the king had no son. But when the French Bourbon family succeeded to the sovereignty they introduced the Salic law of France, which excluded females fiom the .throne, and this continued in force until 1789, when Charles IV., with the secret sanction of the Cortes, restored the ancient law of succession. This continued until 1812, when Ferdinand, the reigning king, having no son, the Cortes reestablished the Salic law : but in 1830 ho issued a decree placing the succession on the same footing as before. Don Carlos was brother to Ferdinand, and by the Salic law was heir presumptive to the throne ; but by this decrees he was cut off from it, as Ferdinand had a daughter, Isabella. Matters, however, were not to remain thus. Don Carlos was leader of a powerful and bigoted party, and the ministers of the King, anxious to secure his brother’s tavor, surrounded the monarch on his supposed death bed, and made him sign another decree, revoking that issued in favor of his daughter, and restoring the Salic law. Singularly enough, although Ferdinand had been pronounced dead, and his body exposed in one of the halls in the palace, he recovered, dismissed his minister, and annulled the act into which he had been inveigled when ho was supposed to be dying. His daughter Isabella succeeded him in 1833, and ever since that time Don Carlos lias sought by force to take the throne. Such was the origin of the Spanish troubles. The Don’s chances of success seem now very remote. In Italy, Church and State are at variance. In the weakened condition of France and Spain, the result is not problematical. There can be no doubt that ecclesiasticism will be confined within its legitimate boundaries, and will not be again allowed to fetter and trammel human liberty. As for the Alabama question, it seems likely to result in a peaceful settlement. Most probably, should the present arbitration not sucoecd in dealing with the matter, its final amicable adjustment will only be postponed for a few years. There is one little war cloud arising out of Cuban relations with Spain. But as it is merely at present a matter Ik tween a Colony and the Mother Country, it is not probable it will very widely affect commerce. No one can toll, however, where a conflagration once begun will end. If the United States are drawn into the quarrel, it may prove worse- than is anticipated.