The Sun.
London, England, 1870-03-22 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1870.

IT is so long since we heard anything good from
Spain, and the symptoms of more evil have recently
been so alarming, that the latest gloomy tidings can
give rise to no surprise. The Montpensier
duel has been followed by another event,
less tragic, but far more important. The long-
threatened breach between the two parties
that brought about the Revolution has at length
taken place. The Unionists, or Conservatives, who
are led by Serrano, and the Progressists, or Liberals,
who are led by Prim, have been quarrelling over
the spoil ever since it fell into their hands.
They allied to expel the discreditable occupant
of the now vacant Throne, simply because such a
feat could not be accomplished without unity ; but
their co-operation was no more hearty, nor any more
likely to endure, than the alliance between the fol-
lowers of Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Disraeli against
the refractory Irish members. The question of a
successor to Isabella produced differences between
the two parties which have never been healed. The
Ministry has several times undergone reconstruc-
tion. The latest intrigues led to the forma-
tion of a Cabinet composed almost en-
tirely of Progressists, with Prim as Prime
Minister; but Marshal Serrano holds the Regency,
and thus serves as a counterpoise against the superior
strength of the hostile faction. The animosity be-
tween the two parties became during the last few
weeks less violent in appearance. Some
delusive signs of reconciliation shewed them-
selves. But well-informed observers at Madrid
saw through the film of official decorum,
and some hardily prognosticated a speedy outbreak
of civil war. The open declaration of difference,
whether it amount to civil war or not, has come
already. Like many other great political quarrels, the
rupture is owing to a comparatively minor question.
The Government—which, as we have said, is composed
almost wholly of Progressists—has just laid before
the Cortes a bill for that inevitable
Spanish nostrum, a new loan. The Unionists,
though one of their leading members
sits in the Cabinet, moved an amendment
to this measure. Marshal Prim interpreted this
hostility as a Cabinet question, and asked the Radicals
to assist him, remarking, "Since the Liberal Unionists
give us battle, let us defend ourselves." Admiral Topete,
the only Unionist in the Cabinet, " ostentatiously " left
the Ministerial Bench ; the Radicals came to the
rescue of the Progressists, and the Cabinet was saved
by the narrow majority of 123 against 117. The
figures shew how serious is the crisis, for the Pro-
gressists and Unionists number between them four-
fifths of the entire Chamber. It is much feared that
the resignation of Serrano will be the issue of this
very grave event. Such a result is by no means im-
probable : the combinations of political parties Are.
however, always hazardous subjects of speculation,
and nowhere more so than in Spain. But the
disaster does, undoubtedly, prove that the coMbina.-
tion between the Unionibts and Progressists was of
the hollowest kind, adopted in the first instance
only to gain an end. which each party
equally and justly desired, and preserved afterwards
only through fear of such assailants as Republicans
a-.d Carlists. There can be no hope of a lasting
alliance such as would secure Spain a Government
strong - enough to defend itself from its many
enemies. Whatever may be the immediate conse-
quences of this schism, the. rivalry must leave the
future of the country a most gloomy and doubtful
problem.

THE distinguished member of Parliament who
unhappily found cause to spend the whole of last
session at a distance from the scene of his
official duties has been the subject of further
strong censure in a court of justice. A little while
ago certain proceedings with which Mr. Harvey
Lewis, &[.P., was intimately connected, were stig-
matised as "false, fictitious, and fraudulent;" fur-
ther proceedings in which the same gentleman
prominently figured are regarded by Vice-
Chancellor Malins as "disgraceful." The Im-
perial Land Company of Marseilles was
started some years ago when the finance companies
were in their brief but busy prime, and was floated
by one of the most distinguished unfortunates of that
/lass—the Cr6dit Foncier. Needless to say that the
Land Company is now in liquidation. Poor as the
Credit Fonolex now itt. it reaped a tolerably fair