The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-30 00:00:00

Mani g _Sint

LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1847.

ISTURITZ and his colleagues have fallen, and they
have fallen as ignobly and disgracefully as they de-
served. It is well for the maintenance of the spirit
of patriotism that the violatori of the national interests
of their country should receive the recompense of
their political crimes—that sowing the wind, they
should reap the whirlwind. The downfal of the
Afrancesado Administration is another example
afforded by history for the guidance and warning of
mankind ; it is another example of the foolishness of
sacrificing the independence of one kingdom, and
that kingdom one's own, to the avarice and ambition
of another. A more contemptible exit for any Cabi-
net could not well be imagined than the exit of the
once powerful, if not once popular, Ministry of Senor
IsTuarrz. At the very commencement of the legis-
lative session, before the Government could lay its
statements on the table of the Cortes, before any pre-
liminary step could be taken for the elucidation of the
opinions of the representatives of the Spanish people
upon the recent proceedings of the Executive, the
Ministers are rebuffed on their first entrance into the
Chambers of the Legislature, the wand of authority
is ignominiously stricken from their grasp. This is
just towards the defeated Cabinet; it is bold and
creditable on the part of the triumphant Cortes.
The mediate cause of the resignation of the Istu•
ritz Ministry was the decision of the Chamber of
Deputies on the election of its President. On the
announcement made by CAsTno Y OROZCO, that he
was not prepared to go "hand-and-glove" with the
Administration in its obnoxious policy, it will
he remembered that but one man could be found
sufficiently obsequious to be nominated -as a can-
didate for the presidential chair, and that man was
BRAVO MURILLO. So great was the precariousness
of the Government at this crisis, that MARTINEZ DE
ea Rosa was disturbed in his drawing-rooms at
Paris, and hurried off to Madrid as rapidly as post-
horses could be induced to gallop. It booted but
little, however, what were the exertions of the Afran-
cesados to retain the seals of office in their posses-
sion—their doom was fixed, the insignia of power
were already slipping through their fingers. On the
21st ultimo the popular candidate was elected Presi-
dent of the Chamber of Deputies by a majority 'of
eighteen—ninety-three votes for BRAVO Munna.o,
one hundred and eleven for CASTRO Y Onozco.
Could there be any more significant indication of the
disrelish of the national representatives for the con-
tinued supremacy of ISTURITZ ? Could there be any
plainer condemnation of the policy sanctioned by
himself and his colleagues ? The Cortes have well
vindicated the dignity of their solemn office, so wan-
tonly insulted by the seizure and imprisonment of
the leader of the Opposition. OLOZAGA is no longer
unrevenged.
What may be the consequence to Spanish affairs
from this sudden termination of the career of the late
shameless Cabinet can as yet be scarcely conjectured.
The old clue has been broken in twain because it has
only served to conduct the nation deeper and deeper
into the labyrinth of troubles—the new clue has
yet to be discovered through the assistance of which
the mysteries of that labyrinth can be threaded, and
Spain be enabled to emerge again into freedom and
prosperity. There is already a confused mass of in-
telligence as to the nature and the constituent parts
of the succeeding Administration, but little reliance
cm be placed upon the multitude of rumours gene-
rally floating about during such moments of transi-
tion. Upon the discrimination of the SOVEREIGN in
the selection of her new advisers will depend the hap-
piness of her people, it may be, for many generations.
May wisdom guide ISABELLA. in that momentous
selection ! May this renovation and regrafting of
authority produce, not merely the blossoms of hope,
but the fruits of good government, of independence,
of social and commercial activity I By the
latest information it would appear that the QUEEN
had empowered the Due DE SOTOMAYOR—one
of the leaders of the Moderado party—to form a
Cabinet. Some progress was immediately made to-
wards the distribution of the portfolios, but the en-
deavour was reported to have failed through the re-
fusal of MON to retain his position as the head of the
Finance Department. Whether these rumours be
correct, or the reverse, it is certain that considerable
difficulty will be found in grouping together a band
of competent and united statesmen. The fortunes of
Spain are dependent upon the accidental tempera

ments of a few men. According as their tempera

ments at the moment of application are lymphatic,
bilious, or sanguine, will the future condition of the
Peninsula be flourishing or unfortunate. At this
moment a precious opportunity is afforded for shaking
to pieces those moral trammels which extend

across the Pyrenees from the Tuileries to Ma.

drid. Latterly it has been our pleasant duty
to comment upon the signs of independence
which are being manifested in the royal couple
of Spain. We have recorded circumstances which
would imply that his Majesty the KING-CONSORT is
not altogether the cipher that had been conjectured,
and that ISABELLA. herself was evincing her disincli-
nation to be the crowned vassal of either Louis PHI-
LIPPE or CHRISTINA. These indications of the rise of a
more honourable spirit in the Spanish Court were
visible even under the shadow of the Afrancesado
Cabinet ; now that that shadow is removed let those
propitious indications be realised, and Spain will re-
assert her old dignity and regain her old grandeur.

Among the numerous schemes which have been

1
propounded for the diminution of distress in Ireland
and the more extended employment of its peasantry,
none is of greater importance, or more calculated to
effect the benefits desired, than the encouragement of
railways. While we are endeavouring to foster the
agricultural spirit of the sister island, and to 'elicit
from its soil the greatest amount of nutrition which
its natural fertility, aided by the application of
sc:entific treatment, can possibly produce, the
facilitation of the transit of that increased
quantity of provisions must by no means
be forgotten. It would be absurd, indeed,
to stimulate works of a reproductive character with-
out likewise extending the means of rapid and cen-
venient communication, whereby that reproduction
may be made available. The necessity of aiding the
formation of new railroads throughout Ireland is
kind be
therefore obvious. Unless same movement of this
made, a moietyof tbe
advantagesr
the a
1 e Ni
at
in
arisingo
from all our Preceding efforts far of
the sufferings of
gietsefptodulation will be entirely lost.
tTohbaet
othffeeotpuaat
lr,osnparin g
from s
ovspecies of enterprise should,
eartiaki.nf of such ex-
traordinary t itself is equally
obvious, seeing that a national
magnitude necessitates
vision and assistance. The justice of thiess.eative super-
vision
has been long acknowledged by every on® who