The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-08-15 00:00:00

DON CARLOS.

One o the Correspondents of the New York Herald has
recently had an interview with Don Carlos, which he de-
scribes in a letter to that journal The following extracts
have been sent to 7'he Times and other London papers by
Mr. James Gordon Bennett

"Elorio. Aug. 4.
"It was always the practice of the old Spanish
Monarchs to receive and to converse with everybody
who desired it. Every Spaniard, as a rule, was
deemed to possess the right to address the sovereign,
and Don Carlos, acting up to his tradition, is not
difficult of access. Ile goes among the peasantry,
talks with them, shakes hands with them, and does
not disdain even that horrible Spanish soup, which he
seems to swallow with avidity, thus showing that he
has the stomach of a soldier. Thus he makes himself
generally popular, and the result is that the people
are ready to follow him even to death. It was not,
therefore, difficult for the representative of the Areiv
York Herald to obtain an interview.

"You have only to prove that you are really what
you represent yourself to be in order to be received. I
found that the Pretender resided in a very large house
(even Spanish peasants live in palatial houses as far
as size goes, if not splendour) the ground floor being
occupied as a stable. I was received in a very friendly
manner. The King, addressing, me, said, 'We are
pleased to have you with us as the representative of a
fair and impartial journal , in fact, we are always glad
to have Correspondents if they will tell the truth and
nothing but the truth. We do not ask favours from
any of them; we want no partiality. We are not with-
out faults, and therefore are ready to take the responsi-
bility of our actions; but our cause is so good that we do
not fear the light of day. The false news spread by
our enemies is both audacious and persistent, and they
possess the means of giving it publicity through the
various telegraphic agencies. We are but too glad to
have honest journalists with us, so that they may gather
evidence to show theMsurdity of the stories which are
floated in regard to Carlist atrocities.' We have not
at our disposal the means of making known the true
state of things, while our enemies by reiteration would
in the end make the world believe that we are really
the monsters and cruel beings they desire to represent
us. We therefore extend a cordial welcome to the
New York Herald Correspondent." I hope, your
Majesty,' I remarked, 'that I shall not meet with
the fate of the German Correspondent, Captain
Schmidt." Ah !' said Don Carlos, 'there is no danger,
I think. Captain Schmidt was arrested under very su-
picious circumstances, was tried by a Court-martial,
found guilty, and executed ass spy. Nevertheless, I re-
gret that my order to spare his life, in common with the
others, arrived too late." Does your Majesty apprehend
any danger from German intervention on account of his
execution ? " Not at aIL The German Government
knows very well that any foreigner, of whatever na-
tionality, throwing himself into the midst of an inter-
necine conflict like that at present going on in Spain
does it at his own risk and peril, and althougo I
repeat that I regret it exceedingly, yet it is an occur-
rence which cannot be avoided. As to intervention,
the detestation of Spaniards with regard to inter-
ference in their own affairs is so great that German
intervention would do me more good than harm.
Those who are now against me would at once favour
me; there would be but one army in Spain and I
should be its chief.'

" Of course I did not expect a free discussion of the
political aspect of the question, but I heard enough to
enable me to assert that his views are far more liberal
than has generally been supposed. lam quite sure
that his policy will be one of absolute non-intervention
in respect of foreign affairs. He said, 'Spain has been
so impoverished by revolutions and wars and changes
of Government that it would require my whole life to
restore to her that degree of prosperity I wish her to
enjoy. This can only be accomplished by a long and
fruitful season of tranquility and repose, by cultivating
the arts of peace, re-establishing and consolidating the
finances of the country and the credit of the Govern-
ment, and by giving the country that rest which it has
never enjoyed since the time of Charles V. I desire
to restore to Spain something of her ancient grandeur.
This will be my task, and my only task.'
" 'Your Majesty, in referring to the kind of govern-
ment it is proposed to give to Spain, spoke of the
Cortes. Might I ask the nature of the Cortes?'
"'Certainly—Cortes fully and fairly elected by the
people, Cortes which will reflect the ftelings, interests,
wishes, and sentiments of the people, and not consti-
tute a mere body of factious politicians who are
powerless for good, and strong only for evil. We do
not want men who find their way into the Legislature
for the mere purpose of furthering their own private
interests, of promulgating doctrines which overthrow
the basis of society and end in barricades.'
"Turning to the subject of modern progress and
civilization, the King remarked :

_
" • I wish Spam to march forward in progress and en-
lightenment, and not to remain behind her sister na-
tions in science and education, because without these
she would be also outstripped in the race for wealth
and prosperity. But there is something radically
wrong in modern currents of thought and modern
systems of education. The world is rushinz into
Fross materialism and unbelief—a materialism which,
if not checked, will end in the extinction of the human
race. The fault of all this lies in the modern godless
system of education, the modern methods of inves-
tigation. The so-called savants of to-day, who will
be called fools by the savants of twenty years hence,
wish us to discard the truth which has borne the test of
ages, and to accept their whimsical theories instead.
Spain shall never do this if I can help it. Religion
and education should go hand in hand, and assist each
other, for science without religion is blind. I have not
yet had time to elaborate a system of education for the
Spanish people, because my attention up to this
moment has been occupied by more pressing matters
but,' added the King with a smile, 'when I have
conquered my throne, and restored peace and order, it
will be time to consider education.'

"I ventured to put a question to him with regard to
his intentions respecting Cuba, but he is evidently too
much absorbed in the present to think much of the
future. He said enough, however, to convince me that
he could never consent to any arrangements involving
a secession of Spanish territory. He would offer a
free pardon and amnesty to the rebels. and guarantee
a Government honestly and wholly devoted to the
interests of Cuba, and opposed in principle to slavery;
he would abolish it in Cuba with all speed."