The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-09-08
The Republican Party In spain-POIicy Of
Our Administration.


Our Administration.
The last accounts from Spain represent the
new constitutional government as struggling
under the most formidable difficulties. The
juntas Of the different cities are asserting their
right to Independent action the leaders Of the
republican party are every where making their
influence felt, either in the partial disturbance
Of public order, or in successful resistance to
the measures Of the new government /; and to
these elements Of anarchy are added the inter
ruption Of trade and the ravages Of the cholera,
two effective auxiliaries Of political agitators.
In Cadiz, Seville, Malaga, Alicante, Saragossa,
and even in Madrid ITSELF all these disturbing
causes arc actively at work, and it is feared,
even by the warmest friends Of the Espartero
ministry, that it will be unable to make head
against the dangers that menace It's existence
political refugees from all parts OF Europe,
and in all the principal towns and cities clubs
are being organized on the model Of those
which were established in Paris after the Revo-
luton of February. The Masonic order, which
has been SO frequently made political instru-
ment of in Spain, has again been diverted from
it's legitimate objects, to subserve the purposes
Of the revolutionary party. The Grand Lodge
at Madrid has become the focus Of repub-
lican action, and through its numerous
ramiiications in the provinces vigorous
system Of propagandism is being carried on, the
results of which are daily making themselves
manifest in successful outbreaks, in which the
authority of the government is set at defiance
and the popular will placed above the majesty
of the laws.
With public opinion thus ndustriously I'M
dermined, with dynasty which has fallen into
contempt, and that has yet to submit to the
last crushing ordeal Of public humiliation, and
with men at the head of affairs who can only
govern by endeavering to reconcile elements
that can never be brought to amalgamate, it is
not to be wondered at that the general feeling
in Spain should be that of distrust, apprehen-
sion and vague speculation as regards the fu-
ture. In such condition Of things as that
which we have just described, it is evident that
the least false step upon the part of the gov
eminent viii precipitate another explosion. Its
position at the present moment is as embarrass-
ing as can well be conceived. The Juntas arc
calling out loudly for the impeachment of the
Queen Mother, and unless previous to the as
sembling Of the Cortes some means can be con.
trived of averting that misera BILE necessity
such, for instance, as q connivance at her escape
there will speedily be an end to the new con-
s'itutional regime and to the revived popular
ity Of the Duke dc yittoria. Judging from bis
cautious antecedents and monarchical ten
denotes, we do not believe that Espartero will
be party to any violent measures against
the Queen Mother, which would have
not only the effect of trailing in the
dust the dignity Of the crown, but Of en-
suring the triumph Of the republican party
Matters have in fact arrived pretty nearly at
the same pass as when, previous to the first
revolution in France, the more moderate
friends Of constitutional liberty endeavored
to shield the throne against the assaults and
encroachments which they foresaw must lead
to its downfall and to the subsequent triumph
Of anarchy. Differing widely in their charac-
teristics and in the sources of their influence,
the positions of Mrabeau and Espartero offer
many points Of resemblance. Drawn towards
the court by class interests, and towards he
people by his love of power, Espartero, like the
French tribune, win endeavor to conciliate
BOTH and will thus at once lose his bold over
the public mind, and his opportunity of guiding
to great and stable results the policy which he
was called upon to inaugurate.
AS might be expected in this chaos of con-
fictng interests and prospects, foreign infu-