The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-13 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, JULY 18G8.

General BLAIR, we learn by the tele graph, has
accepted his nomination by the Democa tic Conven-
tion as candidate for the Vice-Presidency of the
United States, and we may supposa -that Mr. SEY-
MOUR will not be averse to his selection by the
Convention as the future President. We have
hitherto heard little of these na•mcs in connection
with the long-talked of struggle, tho ugh there have
not been wanting plenty of candidates on paper for
both sides. GRANT himself, who is now the
chosen representative of the Republican plat-
form, was at one time talked of as likely to
be put forward by the Democrats. Recently
Chief Justice CHASE has been freely discussed
as likely to fill that position, though his theories
respecting universal suffrage have proved a stum-
bling-block. It shows the uncertain and conflict-
ing state of American politics that GRANT, who is
now nominated by the Republicans, was formerly
thought of by their opponents, while CHASE has
been talked of as the nominee of both sides without
his own individual opinions having undergone any
change. His independent and impartial administra-
tion of affairs during the Impeachment trial
alienated the Radicals and forfeited his chance
of nomination by them, while it gave hope
to some of the Democrats that they might find in
him a just and enlightened ruler. Certainly Mr.
CHASE could not have supported the new financial
theory arloptel by the Democrats, but it is not pe-
culiar to them. The House of Representatives, in
which we know the Republicans have a vast pre-
ponderance, have recently decided upon taxing the
State bondholders " at least 10 per cent.," and the
leading Radicals, STEVENS, BUTLER, and others
have long advocated some short and simple method
of cutting the gordian-knot of the financial diffi-
culty. At Chicago, indeed, the question was
not discussed, but General GRANT, in
his acceptance of the nomination, dwelt
much upon the duty incumbent on a President of
obeying the expressed wish of the people—thus
leaving a loophole for escape from any perplexing
situation. The nomination of Mr. JOHNSON has
never been looked for, as it was known he would
have had little chance, and he has frequently de-
clared that he bad no wish to renew his term of
office. He has played his part and done good ser-
vice at a critical and momentous time, whatever his
imprudences or his shortcomings. Americans may
be thankful that they have bad at the head of
affairs at this crisis so resolute and uncompromising
a defender of the old constitutional doctrines,
which embraced the whole of the States as one
nation.

Just as we were congratulating ourselves that
affairs were peaceable throughout Europe news
come from Spain that is of a distressing character,
and bodes ill for the future policy of the country.
The Duke of MONTPENSIER and the Duchess (the
sister of the Queen of SPAIN) were arrested last
Thursday at Seville, and only allowed two hours to
leave the country. They were afterwards taken to
Cadiz, and there embarked to some place they did
not know of ; but since then information has been
received that they were to be taken to England.
This last piece of intelligence is not confirmed, and
partakes of the confused nature of Spanish news
altogether, which generally puzzles those most versed
in such matters, and capable of elucidating
the mysteries of foreign affairs. There is too much
fuss made to proclaim that all is quiet to impart any real
confidence, and after looking at the sudden changes
and stormy scenes that have followed upon these
tranquil epochs we may well distrust them for the
future. This last exploit of indignation bids fair
to eclipse all those that have proceeded, and seems
at any rate to show that it is no make-believe or
trivial matter, but a bona fide affair so far as inten-
tions are concerned. The relations of the QUEEN,
and those who under rare circumstances might
inherit the throne, to be forcibly expelled the coun-
try is indeed a serious thing, and sad as it is serious
to contemplate. The fact is that we are not at all
au courant with the affairs of Spain, and so many
hindrances are interposed in the way of those seek-
ing for information, that it is idle to expect we can
follow events as we can in other countries more
distant. M. GONZALEZ BRAVO, the President of
the Spanish Ministry, acts in a very strange manner,
and refuses to let the news circulate as it ought,
and certainly would under the influence of a more
enlightened statesman. It is said that he is actually
absurd enough to think that by this means he
outwits the calculations of journalists, and pre-
vents them from making comments on his policy.
It is always difficult to make out the tactics of such
arbitrary individuals, and hence there is no cause
for surprise and disappointment that this country,
with the other enlightened nations of Europe, is
totally at a loss to account fur Spanish affairs, and
must finally content itself with wondering and la-
menting by turns whenever and anon the extraor-
dinary news reaches it that tells of conspiracies,
imprisonment, banishment, and so on. At any rate,
to measure them by their own standard, the autho-
rities of Spain believe that they had discovered a
plot in Madrid, in which six generals were impli-
cated, and in which the Duke of MONTPENSIER had
a share. In the usual ambiguous style of the coun-
try the telegram declares that the Government had
full information of the Duke's complicity in the
affair, and the QUEEN had also conveyed her know-
lenge of the fact.
For many reasons we must regret this circum-
stance, and though in all probability it is not
founded on fact, still the impression produced
thereby will be unfavourable to the Duke, who has
been very popular through the country, and de-
servedly so, for his advanced policy and his frank
and confiding manner. The QUEEN, it is true,
was not friendly to the Duke or even to the
Duchess, but at the same time it was not sup-
posed that any idea could be entertained of a
nature like this now conveys. The Spaniards were
more likely to get on with a military man at the
head of affairs than with a civilian, and
the present ruler in Spain is one not
to be admired for his qualities, or re-
spected for his actions. His ingenuity at least
cannot be doubted, and he has taken desperate
means to put his enemies hors de combat, and it
must remain a moot point if the Generals who have
been arrested after so summary a fashion were
guilty or innocent. At any rate they were to blame
for coming in the way of BRAVO, and he has taken
very good care to get them out of it. There is
little to envy the Queen of SPAIN in a throne that
is only maintained by force, and which depends on
the bayonets of her armies, instead of resting on
the respect and regard of her people ; but by this
time every one may be too well accustomed to con-
spiraciesand plots in Spain, for. their discovery,real or
imaginery,to occasion much alarm,or to cause or sanc-
tion desperate measures. When all this is over, we do
not see how the Minister will be more secure or his
Government more popular. He may imprison and
banish to a large extent, but he must put bounds
to his- indignation, and fix some limits to his arbi-