The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-18 00:00:00

THE SPANISH CROWN.

The election of a sovereign for Spain has taken
place. 191 deputies have voted for the Dec d'Aosta ;
for Espartero, 8; Prince Alfonso, 2; the Republic,
63 ; the Due de Montpensier, 27; the Duchess de
Montpensier, 1 ; blank papers, 19. In other words, the
Duke of Aosta has 191 votes in his favour, and 120 of
different shades against him. It remains to be seen
whether the Duke will accept the crown with such
an adverse minority, unless a better result can be
obtained.

IMPIIOVEMENT IN SPAIN.

Whether the Duke of Aosta get the crown of Spain
or not, it is highly desirable that some settled
Government be given the country. The general
condition of the people is improving, and there is
reason to think that the settlement of the throne
question would give a further impulse to this upward
course. A gentleman of influence at Madrid says
that with a good Government and an able
Finance Minister, the revenue and expenditure would
soon balance—a condition of things unknown
in the Peninsula. This authority observes one very
hopeful feature. Since the fall of Isabella, and
more especially during the last 12 months, the
Spanish people themselves have been steadily invest-
ing in their own stocks—the low price being favour-
able to so disposing. of small sums, and there
now appears to be as much pride in supporting the
national credit, and regularly paying the dividends,
as there was formerly carelessness on the subject.

THE NEW EMBBOGLIO.

Prince Gortschakoff's circular, whatever events it
may ulthuately bring about, has already produced an.
amount of confusion which ought to be highly gratify-
ing in Muscovite circles. It is a remarkable proof of the
vast extent and unforeseen character of the compli-
cations which this Russian difficulty may involve,
that the news has been received with equal satisfac-
tion both in France and Prussia. Frenchmen are
full of joy. Any fresh European difficulty must bene-
fit, and cannot injure France. Moreover, it is
probable that Germany might be drawn
into the war as Russia's ally, and thus an
excellent chance for France would present
itself. In Prussia the Russian circular is regarded
as justifying still further the annexation of Alsace and
Lorraine. It must, it is argued, be evident that
Germany cannot abate her demands for material secu-
rities, since a new proof has been furnished of the
worthlessness of treaty guarantees. No state has done
more than Prussia herself to prove the worthless-
ness of treaty guarantees. It is certainly rather neat
that the very nation which encourages and abets
Russia in breaking the treaty of 1856 should regard
such a breach as a proof that material, and not
paper guarantees, are needed for German security.
If treaty-breaking is now to be regarded as legiti-
mate business, the Germans should not forget that
the French may violate a treaty handing over Alsace
and Lorraine as well as any other.

THE COMMANDER OF THE .LOIRE ARMY.

General Aurelles de Paladine is little known to
military fame, though he has seen much service, and
is now in his 67th year. In 1853 he was engaged in
the Crimean war. Leaving France as a general of
brigade, he soon won his promotion to the rank
of general of division, in which capacity he
commanded one of the best bodies of infantry
engaged at the siege of Sebastopol. After his
return to France he was for several years in com-
mand of the military division of Marseilles. When
the Italian war broke out in 1859, his good services
in this locality contributed in no small degree to
the regular despatch of the numerous parties
and trains which were sent to Genoa and
the Italian peninsula. During the period of
peace which followed this campaign, General
Aurelles de Paladine held a command in the east of
France. He was placed on the retired list about
eighteen months ago. The commander of the Loire
army enjoys excellent health, is famous for energy
and activity, and if not a great strategist, is at any
rate an excellent organiser.