ly efficient system of government, and
because the introduction of conscription was not well adapted to the
national tradition of lawless and untrained vigour. Major Temperley
testifies that the Republican party gained the suffrages of numerous
returned emigrants who admired the state of things in America. He shares
Mr. Bryce's opinion as to the insignificance of the pro-Nikita party.
"Even making large allowances," says he, "there seemed to me to be no
doubt that the pro-Nicholas party were the weakest in Montenegro."
Certain of his devotees were simply brigands who, like the Neapolitan
miscreants after 1860, sought to cast a glamour over their depredations
by affecting to be in arms on behalf of their former King. This
personage himself was so well aware of his unpopularity that he was
prudent enough to tell his supporters to abstain from voting. Those who
did abstain were altogether only 32.69 per cent. of the electors, though
one would have been justified in expecting a much higher proportion,
since the people have not yet fully grasped their rights and duties with
respect to the franchise; the distances to the booths were often very
great, and the peasants were often indifferent as to whether one
candidate or another with a very similar programme should be elected.
The tribal or family system is still so prevalent in the villages that
one member of a family would be sent to express the considered views of
his fellows. The effect of the elections being held on a Sunday was to
increase rather than diminish the number of abstainers, for although
Sunday is a public holiday the Christian Montenegrin is under no
obligation to hear Mass and for that reason travel to the village. The
churches are practically deserted, for he is accustomed on that day to
remain at home; while the Moslem voters largely declined to vote because
there were no Moslem candidates. That is why it would appear that those
of the 32.69 per cent. who abstained because they were in favour of
Nikita were extremely few. Their simple-mindedness has its limits, while
that of good Mr. M'Neill believes that because France, Great Britain and
America undertook to restore Montenegrin independence, they were still
obliged to do so after they perceived at the conclusion of the War that
an overwhelming majority of Montenegrins did not desire it. This
majority dethroned its traitor-king; but Mr. M'Neill maintains that
France and England have dethroned "a monarch who