The difficulty in Hungary between the Government, which ii Liberal,
and the Opposition, which is clerical and reactionary, seems to be coming to a head. The Clericals have succeeded by steady obstruction in making legislation impossible, and have even stopped the renewal of the Ausgleich, or " arrangement " with Austria. They hoped thus to drive Baron Banffy from power, but it appears that the Emperor-King has determined not to yield. Baron Banffy beirg Premier with a majority, has a constitutional right to his position, and the Government has, therefore, published in the official journal a regular appeal to the people. They are told that their liberties are at stake, for if the wino rity are allowed to arrest all action, either order must disappear, or laws must be passed in which the representatives of the nation would have no voice. It is hoped thus to rouse public opinion against the minority, and if the mani- festo fails stronger steps will be adopted,—probably the expulsion of the refractory Members by decree. The Emperor, warned by experience, is most reluctant to suspend the O. stitution ; but still, if it will not work, what is be to do The need would seem to be of .a Referendum; but then to get that the Emperor must obtain a law, and to obtain a law his Ministers must make an end, if only for a few days, of organised obstruction. It is curious that the greatest danger to the Parliamentary system should prove to be the possibility of a minority arresting the action of a majority. The older constitutionalists would have held that to be impossible, for in their simple directness they would have expelled the obstructives.
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