PREFACE. 



THE volume of the ANNUAL CYCLOPAEDIA for 1872 presents the satisfactory 

 settlement of all disputed questions between the United States and Great 

 Britain, by the unusual means of arbitration ; the peaceful operation of a re- 

 publican form of government in the ancient kingdom of France, and the most 

 astonishing manifestation of national resources on the part of her people ; the 

 voluntary resignation of his throne by the King of Spain, which was accepted 

 by the people, his retirement, and the gradual introduction of another republic 

 in Europe ; the condition and progress of Italy since the removal of the capital 

 to* Rome, and the exercise of the entire temporal power by the King ; the re- 

 forms in Germany tending to limit the power of the people, and increase, con- 

 centrate, and consolidate the control of the Emperor over the numerous states, 

 and to remove all organized sources of opposition to his absolute sway, together 

 with other changes brought about under the influence of popular or monar- 

 chical principles among the people of Europe. The important local questions 

 and the relations of the various nationalities of the world, arising from race, 

 numbers, military power, wealth, and the combined antagonistic interests in 

 operation, are here set forth with fulness and completeness. 



The interest of the affairs of the United States was increased by the recur- 

 rence of a presidential election. The appeal to the people on the part of the 

 Government for an approval of its conduct and a renewal of authority in the 

 hands of those exercising it, while the determined but confused efforts of oppo- 

 nents were exerted to secure its condemnation and dismissal from office, led to 

 the manifestation of some very unusual phases of political action, which are 

 stated in these pages. The rapid improvement of all sections of the Union 

 since the late disasters, the influence of novel civil and political relations on a 

 portion of the citizens, the efforts to secure equal civil and social privileges to 

 every one, the developments by industry as displayed in the census, the rapid 

 advance of all the States, and especially the Southern, the material improvement 



