The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-21 00:00:00

Zi)g,

LONDON, MONDAY, JULY 21, 1856.

There is an ominous silence respecting the
affairs of Spain that renders it more than pro-
bable that the movement is of a more serious
character than the despotic Powers would wish to
be believed. It is true that we are told that
" tranquillity has been restored at Barcelona,"
and that " the National Guard has been defeated
and dissolved." But these statements come from
Paris, not from Spain ! It is therefore manifest
that the telegraphs are no longer within the
power of those acting in the name and under the
direction of the QUEEN, and who have joined in
the reactionary conspiracy against constitutional
government and liberal institutions in the Spanish

peninsula.
The scheme for a coup d'etat has been steadily
carried out. O'DONNELL is the present instru-
ment ; but he may ere long feel that he has been
only a tool in the hands of others, who will cast
him aside without hesitation when ho has served
their turn. It is greatly to be apprehended that
the Duke of VICTORY—the man whose name was
a tower of strength to the Constitutional party—
has fallen into the hands of the conspirators, and
that he is for the time being in durance. Pro-
gress and reform, of which ESPARTERO
was the representative, is too greatly
dreaded in certain quarters to permit
his Government to be regarded with favour. His
influence might be used in the hour of danger to
prop up the tottering throne ; but the moment
the emergency has passed away, that it was pos-
sible to do without him, all his former services
were forgotten, and lie would be readily offered
as the earliest victim on the reactionary altar.
The first step taken on the nomination of the
new Ministry was most significant. It was a
proclamation placing the whole of Spain under
martial law. This was not founded on any
outbreak or insurrectionary demonstration. It
was published at the saute time as the nomina-
tion of the new Cabinet, and was ready cut and
dry in the hands of the author of the plot at the
time, that he pretended to be acting with good
faith towards the colleagues whom he had made
up his mind to deceive and betray. It may in-
deed be regarded as the official declaration of the
Ministerial policy--the evidence of the palpable
intention to substitute despotism for freedom,
and the authority of the strong hand for that of
law and justice.
But will tie Spanish nation submit to this ini-
quitous attempt ? General GUERREA, the tried
and faithful friend of ESPAATER*, is at Saragossa
with a large body of troops, and we hear nothing
from Saragossa. There is a strong liberal party
in other quarters, and we believe that a protracted
contest must take place before the freedom so
highly prized is tamely surrendered. Meanwhile,
NARTAEZ has hastened to the frontier, like a bird
of ill omen, ready to turn the crisis to his own
purposes, as on a former memorable occasion.
There are other significant movements. Two
French regiments have been despatched to Bay-
onne, by the orders of Louis NAPOLEON, and it is
more than hinted that peculiar facilities have been
granted to the members of the Spanish reactionary
party, now or lately resident in France, to return
to their own country. This would seem to show
hat the French Government has not been
altogether ignorant or indifferent to the progress
of events. We would, however, emphatically
protest against any foreign interference. Had
such a thing been attempted in France the Em-
peror might not have succeeded to his present
positions and the precedent may be made we of