New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-11-24
REVOLUTIONARY SPAIN.
Istxsh Ari.l.l

February 20, 1911, they removed their si,.inss
thence to Csdiz; on March 10, 1872, they promui.
gated the New Constitution; and on September
20. 1878. they closed their sistinss. three years
from the period Of their opening.
The circumstances under which this Congress
met are without parallel in history. While no
legislative body had ever before gathered its
me mbers from such various parts Of the globe, or
pretended to control such immense territories IN
Europe. America and Asia, such diversity OF
races and such completely Of interests uesriy the
whole of Spsin was occupied BY the French, aud
the Congress itself, actually cut OF from Spsis
by hostile armies, and relocated to small neck OF
land had to legislste in the siehtofa surrounding
and beseging army. From the remote angle OF
the bla GaSi,sna they undertook to lay the
foundation Of new Spain, as their foreashers
had done from the mountains Of Csvsdongs and
Sobrsrve. How are we to account for the curious
phenomenon of the Constitu ion OF 1912, after
ward branded by tue crowned heads Of Europe.
assembled at Verona as the most inceodiary in.
venton of JacObinism, having sprung up fcom tho
head of old monsstic and absolutioList Spaia at
the very epoch when she seemed totally absorbed
in wsging u holy war against the Revolution
How, on the other hand, are We to account for
the sudden disappearance Of this same constitu-
tion vanishing like a shadow-lke the " snsho de
sO,nbrG." ssy the Spanish bistorisns-wheu
brought into contact with living Bourbon II
the birth of that Constitution is riddle, its
death i, no less SO. To solve the enigma, We
propose TO commerce with short review Of this
e 81 -.
tried again to realize at two subsequent epocas.
first during the period from 1920 % and then in
1886.
The Constitution of 1912 consists Of 33i arti-
ces and comprehends the following 10 divisions:
l. On the Spanish nation and the Spansrds. 2.
On the territory Of SPAIN its religion, govern
ment, and on Spanish citizens. 3. On tho
Cortes. 4. On the King. 5. On the tribunals
and administration of justice in civil aud criminal
matters. 6. On the interior government of the
provinces and communes. T. On the taxes. 3.
On the national military forces. g. Ga public ed
ucation. 10. On the observance Of the Constitu-
tion and mode of proceeding to make alterations
therein.
Proceeding from the principle that the soye-
"reignty resides essentially in the nation, to
(which, therefore, alone belongs exclusively the
fright of establishing fundamental laws" the
Constitution, nevertheless, prOclaims division
of powers, scco riding to which THE legislative
power is placed ia the COrtes Jointly with the
"Kng;" 1.-The execution of the lawsis confded to
1.-THE King" "the application Of the laws In civil
and criminal affairs belongs exclusively to tho
tribunals neither the Cortes nor the King be.
" ing in any case empowered to exercise judicial
authority, advocate pending cases, or com
mand the reyissl of concluded judgment"
The basis Of the national representation is mare
population, one deputy for every 10000 souls.
The Cortes consists of one house, viz; The COM
mons, the election of the deputies being
by universal suffrage. The elective franchise
is enjoyed by all spaniards, with the exception
of menid servants. bankrupts and criminals.
After the year 1880, no citizen can enjoy this
right who cannot read and write. The election
is, however, indirect, having to pass through the
three degrees Of parochal district and pro Tincsl
electors. There il no defined property qualld-
cation for deputy. 1t is true that according to
art. o. sit Is necessary. In order to be eligible
las deputy to the Cortes, to possess proper
tionate annual income, proceeding from real
personal property" but art 93 suspends the
preceding article, until the COrtcs in their future
meetings declare the period TO have arrived in
which it shall take effect. The King has neither
the right to dissolve nor prorogue the Cortes.
who annually meet at the Capital on the first Of
March, without being cOnvoked, aud sit at least
three months consecutiyely.
new COrtes is elected every second year. and
10 Deputy can cit in two Cortes corsecutiyely;
ie, one can only be reelected after an Intervening
COrtes of two years. No Deputy can AK or ac-
cept rewards, pensions, or honOrs from the
King. The Secretaries Of State, the Counsolors
of State, and those fulfilling Offices Of the royal
household are ineligible Deputie, to the Cortes.
No public officer employed by Government
shall be elected Deputy to the Cortes from the
province in which he discharges bis trust. To
indemnity the Deputies for their expenses, the re-
spectye provinces shall contribute such daily al
lowsnces as the Cortes, in the 'econd year Of
every General Deputation, shall point cut for tho
Debutstion that ia to succeed it. The Cortes
cannot deliberate in the presence Of the King.
In those cases where the Ministers have any
communication to make TO the COrtes 10 the
Dsme Of the King they may attend the debates
when, and in such manner as the Cortes may
think ft, and may speak therein, but they cannot
be present at q vote. The King, the Prince Of
Asturias, and the Regents have to swear TO the
Constitution before the Cortes, who determine
sny question of fact right that may occur in tho
order Of the succession to the Crown, and elects
Regency If necessary. The COrtes are to ap-