The speech of Queen Maria on opening the Portuguese Cortes
is one of the most unblushing state papers it has been our luck to The speech of Queen Maria on opening the Portuguese Cortes is one of the most unblushing state papers it has been our luck to
read, especially when considered by the light of the public intelli- gence. The Cortes have just been packed by a corrupt election; the Cabrals, whose attempts at returning to power caused the confu- sion, have been restored to the Privy Council; domiciliary visits and other arbitrary measures are sanctioned : Portugal and ita Queen have been helped through a revolution; the revolted pasts, _ were vanquished by external power and the promises of the Go- vernment; those promises are broken ; the efforts of the patriots, their forbearance, the counsels of allies, are rendered vain ; and when all is done, the Queen meets her Cortes with a complimentary speech, a smiling felicitation at the ceasing of "disturbances," and a cool promise that Ministers shall render an account of what has passed since the last Cortes were dissolved, just as if the in- terval had been an ordinary recess ! Such are Portuguese faith and dignity !
