The political contest which has been raging in Hungary round
the pivot of the proposal to make civil marriage obliga- tory has ended in a complete victory for the Constitu- tionalists. The Emperor, who was reported to be greatly opposed to the project, has, as we expected, given way, and has appointed Dr. Wekerle Premier and Minister of Finance, with permission to introduce civil marriage and a number of administrative reforms. Dr. Wekerle's
promotion has caused great rejoicing in Hungary,—first, because he is regarded as a man of exceptional ability ; and secondly, because he is a plebeian, and has broken through a dead wall of aristocratic prepossession. It is said that the -Vatican is greatly annoyed at the change, which is a defeat for the whole Clerical party, whose policy is to worry the Emperor so long as he adheres to the Triple Alliance. The Pope is roundly accused in Vienna of sacrificing the friend- ship of faithful Catholics to his hope of regaining the Temporal power, which is also assigned there as the reason for his recent briefs to the French Monarchical party. The story hangs together very well, but is hardly consistent with the Pope's great knowledge of different States. He must be well aware that France will break up Italy if she can, without instigation from him, and that Hungary always accepts any overt clerical challenge. We should have noted last week, by- the-way, that Dr. Kohn—a pure Jew by race, though a Christian by conviction—has been installed, with the consent of Pope and Emperor, Prince-Bishop of Olmiitz, to the grievous discontent of the Anti-Semites.
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