Brinton Brinton Cutter THEOLOGICAL AND MYTHOLOGICAL. Scribner, Armst'g & Co. 394 Jonah, the Self-willed Prophet Claxton, Remsen & Co. 394 THE PENN MONTHLY. JANUARY, 1876. THE MONTH. HE purchase by England of the interest of the Khedive of Egypt in the Suez Canal affords food for reflection. The aqueduct which, starting from the huge stone defences against the shifting sands of the Mediterranean, fights through seventy-two miles of rock, sand and lagoon into the Gulf of Suez, is probably the grandest engineering feat of modern times. After years of consideration, labor, and expense, the natural disadvantages of the isthmus have been overcome, and the overland traffic to the East is carried on in ocean merchantmen. That proud sense of exclusive sovereignty was not expected from Egypt which would have made stronger powers refuse the occupation of their territory for such an international operation; but every one must be surprised to see the Khedive willing and anxious to sell out what interest he has in it to a foreigner. The explanation most charitable to his wits is that he must be sorely at a loss for available assets. That the greatest trader in the world can purchase a controlling interest in a canal upon which all the Eastern overland traffic depends without in the least disturbing the composure of Europe is a gratifying proof of the commercial and pacific temper of our times. Not long ago such a thing would have sent the firebrand theory of the balance of power flashing through the councils of the Continent, and discreet cabinet combinations would have been made to sap the health and strength of a neighbor who might, and the theory was would, at the first profitable opportunity show her claws. But it is now understood that it is not the only, nor the best strength, which consists in weakening others, and the only indignation felt is by the French at the Bank of France, to whom the Khedive first offered to sell, and who refused to buy. It does seem strange that so large a share of an undertaking which was planned by a Frenchman, and really accomplished by France, should have fallen into the hands of the country whose engineers and financiers reported against it from the first. THE Sick Man of the West has for the past month been full of wars and rumors of wars with the United States, which the English journals have eagerly spread as subjects for the exercise of prophetic powers. Nobody in this country, knowing the conciliatory temper that Spain's embarrassments compel her to display in foreign relations, and the aversion that our government always has to war, could have thought a serious complication possible. But it is not surprising that Don Carlos, with postal and diplomatic facilities comparatively limited, should have given to the canard greater credence than it deserved. He wrote a letter to Alfonso, offering, without waiving his rights to the crown, to join forces with him in case of a war with the United States. Unfortunately for the construction of the document, it was published just as the journalistic clouds had begun to break, and has accordingly been received as a pretext for retirement from a field which Don Carlos cannot hold, or as a bid for popular favor. Yet probably the only thing, except the annihilation of one of the contending parties, that could unite Spain, would be resistance against a common enemy. The intelligence and imagination ought to be stretched to receive anything with the semblance of chivalry which comes out of the miserable contest for a crown that has more debts than sovereignty. Since the discovery of America, Spain has by ignorance or dissension been deliberetely rooting up her commerce, manufactures, wealth and education. If she be still fated to make herself a bankrupt among nations, it had better be in quarrels picked with foreigners for fancied provocations than in this insane rage against herself. THE past two weeks have been most prolific of news of all sorts, and newspaper men must have their hands full in gathering and commenting on item after item. As if we had not enough else to excite us, there comes the terrible news of the wreck of the steamer "Deutschland," carrying dismay and personal loss to many on both continents. There have been two inquests held in England over the recovered bodies, but neither has completed its labor nor given its verdict up to the time of our writing. No blame seems to be due the captain; for, though he was out of his reckoning to the amount of several minutes, the weather had been such since the vessel left port as to make it impossible to obtain an observation. If, as one report states, he was not furnished with a "patent log❞— (whatever that may be)-but had to rely on old-fashioned instruments, the company that sent him are to be blamed for the accident; but the absence of a life-saving station on that part of the coast would seem to make the British government responsible for the great loss of life that ensued. Following soon after the above, we have the loss of 128 lives on the steamer Mosel; just as she is about leaving port with all her passengers aboard, a package of dynamite bursts, scattering death all around. We do not envy the feelings of the remaining passengers who have the perilous voyage before them; nor of the crew, who, with the superstition of sailors, will doubtless feel they are sailing on a doomed ship. The French steamer "L'Amerique" has been towed into port in a disabled condition; the "Los Angeles," a Pacific mail steamer, we are glad to say, is safe, the delay in her case being caused by broken machinery. MICHAEL C. KERR, of Indiana, has been elected Speaker of the House, and all the significance which newspapers always attach to such events belongs to this case rightly, as far as can be seen. In other words, the election shows that hard money, revenue tariff, and all the traditional doctrines of the Democratic party, are the true creed after all, so far as that party itself is concerned; that soft money, protection to American industries, and id omne genus, belong, so far as they are as party questions, to the Republicans; that the Democratic party, like the Ultramontanes, must be true to their history or be nothing; that Allen, be he in the abstract wrong or right, is not a representative Democrat; and that Tilden, be he in the abstract wrong or right, is at least a true and consistent Democrat. Kerr, we hope and believe, will show himself honest, and has been always sufficiently independent. New York rejoices in his triumph, and Philadelphia has nothing to say against him. The House being |