Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-11-19
SPAIN.


has been brought by the weakness OF her
sovereign, has fixed upon her the eyes OF
ell Europe. Within an incredibly short
space OF time, the whole character oil her
government has undergone an entire
metamorphosiS. The people have no
longer the protection oil a constitutional
Cortes, nor the tyranny Of monarchical
despolism both these have given way
TO a system OF Meocracy, out oil which
has grown state OF things too monslrous
TO be tolerated. The progress of this
new despotisn is tracked by prescription
and death; and the King himself is COM
PEELED to give his sanction TO measures,
Of the tendency of which TO expedite his
own RUN, he cannot but be aware. A
few weeks since, it was asserted that
Ferdinand wsuld be compelled to abdi-
cate his throne, and that the Holy ALI
ance would set up Carlos in his room.
Now, however, different aspect is given
TO the affairs Of Spain With a visw to
sustain Ferdinand aud to oyerawe the
partisans Of Carlos, two camps are 10 be
formed, one at each extremity of The Ply
renees, the aggregate force OF which will
amount TO about $4,000 men. 1t is
stated 10 be The objec, OF this force +" to
await, in these convenient positions, the
proper crisis for advancing into Spain,
whose great political changes are either
medi,ated by the French government, or
ab1u, to be attempted in spite of it," In
observing on the course which France
has heretofore pursued in relation to
Spain, the London Times has the follow
ing language. 1t appears that the
French Government as much miscalcu-
lated the end, as it did the means, of its
own attack on Spanish liberty; since the
very despotism which IL succeeded in
establishing, has proved either an agent
too refractory to be directed by its au-
thors, or sceurge too sharp to be longer
tolerated by its victims and, therefore,
alike incompatible with the tranquility
OF the power that created, and of that
which yields it." France, however, has
cemmitted the error, and is now too ma
nifestly and too deeply involved in the
endorsements of Spain, to be indffer-
ent to the result. AT the same time, it is
sufficiently evident that her movements
are marked by much perplexi,y and in
decision. An impulse has been given
to the discordant elem ents, bat she ap-
pears to want either the penetration or
the power to direct their operations to
those results which she desires forms
part OF her present plan, to overawe the
the Carlistos by her two encampmeDts al
the extremilies of the Pyrenees. After
the completion of this arrangement, il is
said that the Royal Family OF Spain viii
quit La GranJa, and approach the French
frontiers. When King Ferdiosnd gets
there, and is surrounded by the leaders
Of the moderate party, he will issue pro-
clanatlops in The name Of legitimacy and
his allies, vii! order the disarming of the
royalist volunteers, and the Punishment
Of the Carlisle faction. He will talk, at
the same time, Of oblivion of the past, of
the union OF parties, ofrepresenla,ive go
vernment, and OF a charter !" Measures
are said to have been taken to prepare
the way for the execution OF this project.
That it will be opposed by the juno of
fanatics, cannot be doubted; that every
means will be employed to work upon
the minds OF the people, with view TO
compel the abdication of Ferdinand is TO
be expected. If the mere physical force
OF the French allies of Ferdinand should
be suscessfulin overpowering the moral
force which the subtle and powerful
theocracy of Spain will WELD against it,
the situation OF that unhappy country will
experience temporary moderation ; but
it will only be temporary one.
1t is asked, with singular propriety, in
an article in Belgie paper, dated from
Madrid" Can we be such dupes as to
believe that the French Government
means to give US liberal institutions, while
il is daily taking them from its own peo-
pie; Can we ever believe 10 the veracity
OF the authors Of the censorship, of sep
tenniai election, of the law of sacriege,
OF the restoration of the Jesuits, of cleo.
toral plots, and of administrative puri6-
cations who among US is ignorant that,
OF all perhdious governments, moderate
despotism is the most dangerous -
Looking at all the circumstances in which
SPAN IS placed-viewing the ambitious
and selfish feeling OF the priesthood, the
preiensions of Carlos, the imbeclity Of
Ferdinand, and the position which France
has assumed, the only conclusion at
which we can arrive, is, that great po-
litical revolution is on the eve Of its de-