The Dutch elections have had a very curious result. The
Times correspondent at Brussels, telegraphing on Monday night, tells us that whatever may happen in the second ballots, the Roman Catholics are now sure of a. majority in the Dutch Second Chamber, and he auras up the situation with, the remark that "for several years to come Holland will be governed by a Catholic Ministry," so complete is the rout of the Liberals. The defeat of the Liberals in so many parts of the Continent is very curious, but by no means proves the failure of moderate Liberal ideas. It is due rather to the fact that all parties in democratic States now hold the essen- tial Liberal ideas, and therefore the nominal Liberals are tempted to adopt extreme views in order to differentiate themselves from their rivals. But the mass of mankind, except during famines, is Left Centre, and therefore the extremists are apt to be beaten at the polls.
