OUR HOME LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 3789, 16 April 1875, Page 3

OUR HOME LETTER.

The results of two elections have just caused a good deal of excitement. One is that of Dr Kenealy for Stoke-on-Trent, and the other is that of Mr John Mitchell for Tipperary. As to the validity «f the former there is not any question, though it is far from gratifying to see a man returned for no conceivable reason but that of endeavoring to identify himselt with the most gigantic imposture of modern times. In regard, however, to Mr Mitchell, there was no chanoe of his being allowed to sit. Papers were laid before the House relative to the circumstances of his trial, condemnation, and escape from penal servitude. From these it would appear that on account of his weak health he was treated with exceptional consideration, and, when in Yan Diemen’s Land, was allowed to go at liberty on giving his word of honor not to escape. This pledge he evidently violated, for though he wrote to the authorities intimating that he should withdraw bis parole, he delivered the letter in person, and bolted before there was even time to read it. There was no disposition to enforce the remainder of his sentence, and indeed it is said to be doubtful whether it could have legally been done. But having been convicted, and not having received a pardon under the great seal he was clearly ineligible for a seat in Parliament.

About twenty years ago the system of patronage appointments to the Civil Service was abolished, and that of competitive examinations, open to all applicants, was substituted. The evils of the former system are sufficiently notorious, but experience has shown the results of the new one to be hardly less pernicious. It is found that the ability to pass a literary examination is no test whatever of business qualification, and instead of giving the country men of intelligence and common sense the result has been to deluge the service with pedantic incapables. The effects of the system on general education are scarcely less pernicious. Every schoolmaster advertises that he prepares pupils for > Civil Service examinations. This ‘‘preparation” consists in a process of unnatural forcing, of cramming the mind with a collection of crude information, that is forgotten when its immediate purpose is answered, and that would subserve no useful gpd if remembered. A week or two ago I picked up a book of questions put to lads of sixteen and under who present themselves for the University middle class examinations, and found it of such a character as to stagger one. Certain I am that if a dozen highly educated able men were selected the most successful that fipuld be found, of any age up to sixty, not one of them would be competent to face such an ordeal At length the evils of the system have become so patent that something evidently must be done to correct them. The report of a commission of inquiry has just been presented, and it embodies some valuable recommenda tions. It advises that a preliminary examination shall still be retained, but simply as a test of general capacity, not to be competitive, nor any claim to appointment to be grounded thereon. Such candidates as come up to the prescribedstandardareeiigihlefor government appointments, but the selection is to be left with the heads of the various departments. This recommendation is most valuable. Under the present system the chiefs of government offices had no voice in the selection of their sub ordinates, nor can they remove them even for very gross incapacity or indolence, Virtually the clerks can work or not, pretty much as they please. If _ disposed to be idle, there is no threat of dismissal hanging over them; and though nominally responsible to their immediate superiors, there is practically no power of enforcing discipline. This state of things no doubt will be considerably modified if the suggestions of the commissioners are acted on. For the sake of their own credit, the chiefs pf ogices have an evident interest in the appointment of efficient subordinates.

The French Assembly has passed a resolution, by a majority of one, which virtually involves the recognition of the Republic. It was carried by 353 to 652, and ran thus The President of the Republic u i looted by the majority of votes 'u the benatc and the Chamber of Deputies acting o,< «ther a« a National Assembly, He is namecTfor 8.7™ ?S r election.” This mara. * * ro^^, y, . w ' not prove as the 353 Votes c _ mi)ns< J J™ n y shades of opinion. But though the Repuouuaa* number so small an absolute majority, they enormously outnumber each of their rivals. The legitimate monarchy can °*dy count about 150 supporters, the constitutional monarchy about as many, whilst the Bonapartists only reckon some 50. It is certain, too, that a dissolution would lead to a large remforcement of the Republican ranks, which are steadily gaining even from the bye elections. _ In the Upper Pyrenees a Bonapartist certainly has got in, but the result is instructive as showing the invincible repugnance entertained to the present provisional state of iaaaa « 0 rs^l Action stood—Bonapartist, ftAft ’ Septennalist, 16,000 ; Republican, 13,000; entire vote, 48,000. And the Republican candidate having retired, the second elecAo o ™£ ave ~. Bona P artißt i 30,000; Septennalist, 23,000 j entire vote, 53,000. In the department of Seiue-et-Oise, M. Valentin, the Republican candidate, obtained a victory over the Due de Padone by 64,594 to 40,877, which is about the same proportion as given by the election of October last, when M. Sdnard was •returned in preference to the Ducde Padone by 59,637 to 44,787. Rumors havebeen current of the intended r ® Bl ß^t\ on of Bismarck. The correspondent of the Daily Telegraph ’ surmises that this may perhaps be attributed to the atmosphere of threats in which the prince lives. It is said that every week he receives hundreds of threatening letter?—some of the most revolting description. The fury of the Ultramontane party against him is said to be so gieat that he is compelled to observe all kinds of irksome restraint. The house is carefully watched night and day, and, whenever he leaves it, detectives keep an eye upon him. He is advised not to drive out in an open carriage, and always to sit well back so as to lessen the chance of a shot taking effect. It will easily be imagined how intolerable these restrictions must be to a man of Bismarck’s temper, and that he observes them at all must mainly be attributed to a regard for his wife and family, who undergo the most cruel anxiety, and are said to implore him to resign. It is not difficult to see that the constant threat of assassination may have an effect upon the nerves which the dangers of battle would never have produced. There aie however, very few; who would not deplore the prince a assassination as a terrible calamity: whilst, should such a thing happen, it would probably cause such an explosion of rage only comparable to that occasioned in England by the discovery of the gunpowder plot.

Affairs in Spain continue in their miserable A month or so back Alphonso was proclaimed king with a blaze of triumph. Everyone seemed happy over it, except poor Don Carlos, who was to be the victim to the general satisfaction. Even the Dope, it was said, had wntten to him urging submission to the rule of Alphonso. Don Carlos, however, has shown himself obstinately inappreciative of the wellmeant advice, and so the wretched war drags itself on, with the regular alterations of victory and defeat. The more recent letters of newspaper correspondents tend to show that the accession of Alphonso is the result of a mere coup d'itat, and does not spring form any general One correspondent writes—“ It was impossible to help admiring the sturdy, healthy looks, the strong limbs, and the energetic forms of these men, who had taken up arms, not to play at soldiers, but to defend their towns or hamlets against roving partidas and night These men, who are styled Liberals of Navaire and the Kioja, presented arms, but never a cheer did they give the King as he passed them in an open carriage followed by all his staff and lhat of General Laterna. The Spanish officers followed the King with drawn swords, and two squadrons of cavalry also filed past.” Extensive military precautions were everywhere observed. “A tremendous escort of troops,” says another correspondent, “ accompanied his Majesty, and a very largo force of infantry, cavalry, artillery, and local militia were posted, almost without a break, along the entire line. It cannot, therefore, be said that the Monarch of Spain did not start for Saragossa under due and proper escort.” No wonder we are told that the poor lad looks haggard and jaded, and looks with anxiety and weariness at the perils awaiting him.