No. 516.
Mr. Lewis
to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Lisbon, January 3, 1874.
(Received February 14.)
No. 69.]
Sir: Yesterday, the Cortes of the kingdom of
Portugal was opened by the King in person. The usual ceremonies were
observed, the only variation that I noticed being the attendance of her
majesty the Queen Consort, who occupied a seat on the throne with the
King.
A translation of the King’s speech is herewith transmitted. It will be seen
from this speech, that, for the first time in many years, the expenses of
the government do riot exceed the receipts into the treasury, and that there
is, consequently, no deficit to be provided for by additional
legislation.
The King congratulates the Cortes on the general prosperity of the kingdom,
the improvement in the condition of the national finances, and the increase
of the material wealth of the people, produced by the railways that have
been completed, or are in course of construction. These are, of course,
subjects of congratulation; but, in my opinion, the fact that the nation has
not been disturbed by the political convulsions of their nearest neighbors,
and that the great mass of the people are loyal to the existing dynasty, and
indisposed to revolution, furnishes the best evidence that there is no cause
for complaint, or at least none that cannot be removed by the action of the
representatives of the people.
The political status of Portugal has not been affected by the events that
have transpired in Spain; sympathy with the Carlist movement is confined to
the small and comparatively uninfluential body of ultra mon-tanes who still
profess allegiance to the deposed Miguelite dynasty.
[Page 806]
The great body of the people, of all classes, naturally deprecate the success
of Don Carlos in Spain or the restoration of the elder Bourbon dynasty in
France, as either event would be a signal for agitation in behalf of the
deposed dynasty in Portugal.
With respect, &c.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Speech from the throne at the opening of the Cortes
of Portugal on the 2d January, 1874.
Honorable Peers of the Kingdom, and Gentlemen
Deputies of the Portuguese Nation: On this solemn occasion, in
which I am here to open the legislative session of the present year, I
am happy to have around me the representatives of the nation.
Our diplomatic relations with foreign powers continue to he most
satisfactory.
The public tranquillity has been preserved without the least interruption
throughout the kingdom and our ultramarine provinces. In pursuance of
the authority vested in my government by the acts of the Cortes of the
2d July, 1867, and 5th March, 1858,* public national
subscriptions were opened for the emission of the first series of bonds
of the Minho Eailroad to the amount of 1,535,670 milreis and for the sum
of 38,000,000 milreis, to be applied to the extinction of the floating
debt. In both cases the result was most satisfactory, and the
subscriptions were in excess of the sum asked for by the government.
My minister of the treasury will submit to you a report of the affairs of
his department, which exhibits the vitality of the’country, its
patriotism, and the relative prosperity which we enjoy. In the
prosecution of our aims to improve the armament and equipment of our
army, on a peace footing, my government is indebted to the government of
Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain aud of His Majesty the Emperor of
Germany for a supply of modern carbines for infantry and cavalry, and of
cannon of the Krupp system, which were obtained directly from the
arsenals of Great Britain and Prussia.
To meet the expense consequent upon the purchase of these arms and the
munitions of war which it was indispensable that we should purchase or
manufacture, my government will present to you the necessary estimates,
to which you will give that consideration required by the importance of
the subject to which they refer.
The construction of the Minho Railroad is being successfully prosecuted.
The work on the Regoa Railroad has been commenced, and the section of
the Southeastern Railroad as far as Extremoz has been completed and is
now open for the transportation of passengers and freight. The works on
the ordinary roads have been prosecuted with all the resources placed by
law at the disposal of my government. As every day’s experience tends to
show palpably and incontestibly how greatly increased facilities for
travel and transportation of produce contribute to the wealth of the
nation, the time has arrived for the extension of the railway to the two
districts of Beira, which will not only prove a great benefit to these
important provinces, but will greatly facilitate our international
communications. My government will present to you the estimates
necessary for these improvements, subordinating them, however, to the
determination that the financial condition of the country shall, not be
disturbed.
In addition to the subjects which remained pending, and which await your
enlightened consideration, there are others of general interest that
will be shortly laid before you by my ministers. I trust to your
well-known zeal and patriotism, and am well assured that everything
which may tend to the improvement of the administration itself, to the
prompt administration of justice, to the diffusion of knowledge, and to
the improvement of all branches of the military-and naval service, and
of our ultramarine provinces, will receive your enlightened and devoted
attention. In obedience to the requirements of the constitution, my
minister of the treasury will lay before you the estimates for the
expenses of the fiscal year 1874–’75, and from it and the documents
which accompany it you will see that the condition of the treasury is
most satisfactory, and, thanks to the foresight you have exhibited, the
endeavors of all our people, and the happy continuance of public peace,
our credit has been strengthened, and we shall be able to equalize the
receipts and expenses without increasing the taxes. Calling your
enlightened attention to the duties which are so nearly connected with
the highest interest of the country, I confide fully in your wisdom, and
am confident that with the blessing of Providence you will, as far as
you are able, co-operate with my ministers as far as proper regard to
economy will permit, in improving our finances and addressing ourselves
to the task of availing ourselves of the progress of civilization to
advance the greatness and prosperity of our country.
The session is opened.
