The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-23 00:00:00

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LONDOIV, TVEDSESDAY, SEPT. 23, 1868.

Things are getting worse and worse in Spain, and
there seems but little chance now of the throne
being preserved for Queen ISABELLA. Cadiz is now
in the hands of the rebels, which of itself is sufficient
to create great apprehension. A proclamation to
the Ca' alans sets forth the wrongs and grievances
of the nation, and doubtless may stand good as the
feelings of the general community. It declares that
the " dynasty, deaf to advice, treats the nation as
an enemy, and pauses not in its path of immorality
and hypocrisy ;" and it concludes by declaring that
the " struggle will be short, because all classes have
been injured and offended." This last intimation
is likely to prove correct, for already the disaffec-
tion has spread so rapidly, and comprised so many
influential portions of the State, that a few more
days may witness something of the most decisive
kind, and this is evidently the opinion of the leading
authorities in the country. The QUEEN lefc for
Madrid, but was obliged to return to St. Sebastian,
the Castile Railway having been interrupted. A
most significant item in the intelligence is that
which informs us that there is " great agitation" at
" Madrid;" and it is impossible to overlook the im-
portance of this news, because the next step in the
affair wilLno doubt be that the capital is as much
in earnest as the provinces can be. It is well
known how fast any disaffection will spread in
Spain, and when once matters have gone so far that
any admission is made, the rest will follow as a
thing of course. While the rebels are carrying
matters with a high hand, and gaining ground in
all directions, little or nothing seems to be done in
the way of checking their progress. The truth is
that the QUEEN is perplexed, and her advisers
paralysed. It is a most unfortunate time to change
the Ministry, and General CONCHA, who has been
appointed President of the Council, cannot succeed
in forming a fresh Cabinet. An appearance of
strength has been made, it is true, by issuing a
royal decree, and the official Gazette declares that
the Spanish Government is determined to
resist the movement made against it ; but
still the awkward fact remains that no suc-
cess, however trifling, can be put against the
overwhelming triumphs of the insurgents. In
Andalusia the forces of the insurrectionists have
been computed at fourteen thousand soldiers and
eleven vessels of war, having on board five thousand
men. It is said that the French Government have
determined not to interfere at all, but to preserve
a "strict neutrality" in Spanish affairs. The ac-
counts given by the French journals are no more
reassuring than those furnished on the scene of
action, and we find in the Gaulois that the revolu-
tion is spreading. Besides Cadiz and Seville,
Malaga, Carthagena, Ferral, and the whole
coast between Malaga and Carthagena
have risen. This seems conclusive news at any rate,
and when viewed in connection with other events
in Spain seems to leave little chance for the
Royalist party. Indeed it may yet be too late for
the modifications and changes which it is said are
contemplated. The rival claims of the Duchess of
MONTPENSIER and the son of QUEEN ISABELLa arc
being weighed, but even now the strongest party in
the State may spurn all solicitations from either
quarter, and resolve upon starting itself; but lx; the
decision what it may it must be all arrange 1 by
tin nation, for foreign Powers will not be inclined
to take part in the dispute.

It is not surprising that the increased constitu
encies and the change in the political eituatiou
should have brought forward an unusual number
of new and untried candidates for the suffrages of
the electors. More especially is this the case in
regard to the metropolitan boroughs, where hitherto
there has been some ground for complaint that the
members were all of one stamp. Aspirants for po-
litical honours have generally thought the London
boroughs too formidable to contest unless they
possessed some strong local influence or
were backed by a large fortune. The metropo-
litan electors were not, we may suppose, any more
corruptible than the rest of their fellows, but the
idea that a London contest must necessarily be an
expensive one was popularly prevalent. Whether
the additions to the constituencies render the case
less formidable, or whether the new class of candi-
dates are more ambitious, it is certain that the elec-
tors will have no reason to complain of any lack of
variety in their representatives in the general elec-
tion of 1868. We have had candidates of all shades
of opinion coming forward with their addresses and
their speeches. The spell of the old regime having
b.:en broken, claimants appear to think that other
opinions will have a chance of being represented as
well as those of the long-established majorities. If
this prove to be the case, the representation of the
metropolis may very possibly be improved, since
the old members will be kept up to the mark by
the rivalry of the new ones, and will not only find it
necessary to be more liberal in their pledges, but
more active in their fulfilment. In the City of
London the Liberals must certainly look to their
laurels. There are three new Richmonds in the
field, and all of them well armed for the combat,
and putting forward promises of active and in-
dustrious service. Where a band of Liberals,
headed by GOSCIIEN and ROTHSCHILD, have held un-
disputed sway for years, three adventurers have
dared to thrust themselves forward, professing to
be perfectly competent to occupy their places. The
electors of the City of London were told to expect
great things from some of their members, and ac-
cordingly they have waited and watched year
after year and session after session patiently
enough. Before the grand scenic effect has been
produced, however, new actors have come
on the stage, and unless the first group look to
their laurels they are likely to dispute with them
the favours of the audience. Mr. CHARLES BELL,
Alderman GIBBONS, and Mr. TWELLS are not in
any way behind their rivals in their promises. With
the solitary exception of the Irish Church, indeed,
there is little apparent difference between the Libe-
ral and the Conservative programme. Taking Mr.
BELL'S address, for instance, we find him " cor-
dially acluiescing" in the extension of the fran
chise, and promisiag to assist in discovering the
most efficacious remedies for any inconveniences in
its practical application. He further de3lares it essen-
tial that legislation shall be directed towards the
remedy of the anomalies and insufficiencies of the
law, to the better administration of bankrupt estates,
to the greater diffusion of education, the careful
adjustment of taxation, and the improvement of
the poor laws. As a City man, it is natural that
commercial interests occupy a prominent place in
his programme, and the same may be said of his
two coadjutors. Aldorruan GIBBONS, indeed, as a