Before our next issue appears, the election to the American
Presidency will have been decided. The issue is as doubtful as ever ; but we should say Mr. Blaine's chances had slightly in- creased, the agitation having rearoused party feeling; while the allegations as to the laxity of Mr. Cleveland's private life have de- tached from his side many of the religious party, which is, as usual, the core of the party in favour of pure government. The Inde- pendent newspaper, for example— the most influential religious organ in the. States—has taken a decided line on this side. No new feature has arisen in the contest, except the increased interest with which it is watched in France by M. de Lesseps and his party. A rumour is afloat that they have succeeded in inducing the United States of Columbia to cede the State of Panama to France, and thus seat her in full sovereignty right across the junction of the two Continents. If Mr. Blaine is elected, that bargain, it is said, will fall through ; but if not, it will be carried out. We are unable to believe a word of the story ; though, no doubt, the proprietors of the Panama Canal sadly need certain exceptional powers for maintaining public order and a good police. To suppose, however, that M. Ferry, with all he has on his hands, would place himself in direct antagonism both to the United States and Great Britain on behalf of a Mercantile Company, and would, in fact, risk war with the Power before which Napoleon I11., with 50,000 troops in Mexico, fled, is prime's fade absurd. No Government of Washington, Re- publican or Democrat, will tolerate the transfer of sovereignty in the Isthmus of Panama to a single European Power. It might as well sell the sovereignty of the Mississippi.
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