12 MAY 1894, Page 2

When the Lower House in Hungary passed the Civil Marriage

Bill by such an unexpected majority, it was sup- posed that the question had been settled. The House of Magnates had not, however, been placated, the Clerical party has used its privilege of creating estates in favour of younger sons, who can thenceforward vote, and the Bill was on Thursday rejected by a majority of 21 votes, due entirely to the great number of ecclesiastics present. The people attribute this difference between the two Houses, in great past, to influences exercised by tbe Catholic party in Austria, and resent exceedingly what they consider interference by a foreign State. It is believed there- fore that the anti-dynastic party in Hungary will increase,. and that an attempt will be made to disestablish the Church. We do not believe much in the anti-dynastic party, the House of Hapsburg being indispensable to the Magyars, who, with- out it, would be swallowed up by the Slays around them, but it is quite possible that Hungary may be much more difficult to govern, and that the status of the Church may suffer greatly.