The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-13 00:00:00

SPAIN AND THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

How will the rapid march of events in France affect
Spain ? is a question which all Spaniards are at present
anxiously asking each other, but which they find it diffi-
cult to answer satisfactorily. It is now nearly a year
since the Federal Republicans in Spain rose in arms
against the Government. That the movement was then
popular was shown by its strength as regarded numbers,
but it was smothered in the cradle by the superior
force of military discipline ; and since then the fire has
been smouldering, and waiting only for a waft of outside
sympathy to fan it again into a flame. Republicanism is,
undoubtedly, an important political element in Spain,
but it has hitherto been weak from internal divisions and
disagreements-on minor points between the heads of the
party. The Republicans were divided into two
classes, or parties, namely, the Unitarian and
the Federal Republicans. Tho Unitarians com-
comprised the Progressistas ; for, although the Progres-
sistas called themselves monarchical, it was evident to all
that, in default of a monarch, they would choose a pre-
sident. It was even alleged that they, with their leader
Prim, were Republicans at heart, but restrained from
putting their ideas into practice by the threats of Napo-
leon and the menacing attitude of the small but well-
disciplined Carlist party. The Federals, it was asserted,
were ready to link their fortunes with those of the
Unitarians, if these would only declare the Republic
at once, regardless of Napoleonic consequences ; but the
Unitarians could no be prevailed upon to plunge
into this course, and thus Spain jogged on, trusting to
chance for a windfall. The question now is, Will the
Spanish Republicans consider this an opportune moment
for action ; and, if so, will the Federals adhere to their
former ideas, or modify them so as to meet Unitarian
views and obtain their support ? Should the Federal Re-
publicans rise again, as they did in October last,
they must succumb, for their organisation is
not military, and they have already had ex-
perience of what this force • can do in quieting - rest-
less spirits. The Carlists, however, by their ill-advised
agitation, are cluing all they can to rouse the spirit of the
Republicans. The army is being increased, and extra-
ordinary precautions are taken all over the country,
specially in the northern provinces ; but what does it
portend? It is difficult to tell. Rumour says that Prim
contemplates a coup d'etat, but the only importance to be
attached to this is that it is quite certain that Prim is
prepared to take advantage of any good thing
that may turn up, but as regards any par-
ticular course you may feel sure that he
has none. The prevailing opinion is that if the
Republicans become the party of the present it will be
because Prim so chooses, and, although people speak of
him contemptuously, all know that he has the army with
him, and that, as long as he is thus supported, he will be
the man of the day. Whether Spain is to be a Republic
or not everyone here feels confident of one thing, and that
is, that the crisis in France must produce a crisis in Spain.
—St. Sebastian Correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette.

The Himalaya troop ship has brought home the
headquarters division of the Ist battalion 9th Regiment'
which has been withdrawn from the Cape without its bpi'.l
relieved. At present there are only two regimontAt.'. tilt
colon
K4ffir4iv'no, man-
Cape of Good Rope for the protection of the
against any outburst on the part of the
fear, are only waiting for their opportuurtt-th_
---e
f rontiery
regiment at Cape Town, half a regiment 0 f one
and the other half at Natal, ,