Ihrfugal. — Le Monde publishes a bitter article on the position of
this countq "Everybody is aware that Lisbon, the capital of that little British entrepOt called Portugal, is now the part of Europe most infected with St. Simonianism, Rationalism, Voltairianism—in short, with progress generally. The insults to which the Sisters of Charity have been exposed in the streets of that capital, and the slanders of a degraded press against those holy women, are symptoms which give a very.accurate idea of the moral condition of a nation once the most distinguished for its Catholicism. At first sight it is not at all surprising that a nation under such influences should recognize the pretended Kingdom of Italy. However, if we examine the situation of Portugal with regard to Spain there is some ground for surprise. After all, what has passed in Italy, If not the absorp- tion of the weak by the strong, contrary to all right, justice, and treaties? What is this approbation of the work of Garibaldi and Cavour, if not an encouragement to all future annexationists ? Should there ever arise at Madrid a Ministr3s careless of the commandment against picking. and stealing, and holding the opinion that the States of his Portuguese Majesty would be a very desirable addition to the dominion of Queen Isabella; if that Government, encouraged by the recognition of accomplished facts in Italy, and relying in conse- quence on the neutrality of England (whom it would not be disposed to insult by supposing she could have two weights and two measures, and by thinking she would disapprove in Spain what she sanctioned at Turin); if, we say, Spain should suddenly, without any declaration of war, and without provocation, march an army of one hundred thousand men on Lisbon ; if she sent before her army some few bags of gold to rouse the disaffected and foment treason even in the King's Cabinet; if, in short, imitating the great Cavour, she expelled the legitimate sovereign and appealed, in the Italian Whim; to universal suffrage to ratify her conquest, what would the King of Portugal say? What protest would England make? Would not Spain be justified in replying—' Diadem right has been proclaimed in London. Now, modern right is nothing but the glorification of force and accomplished frets supported by your principles. I annex Portugal, to which I have, at least, as much right as Piedmont his to Naples.' It must be admitted 'that the new right is a death-blow for little Portugal."
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