New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-11-25
kEVOL UTiONARY SPAIN.
serenth Arficle [


the movement had not yet subsidized, and the very
disfavOr which the Central Junta had Incurred re-
commended its antagonists, who to great ex tent,
belonged to the revolutionary minority of the
nation. At the first meeting Of the Cortes. the
most democratic provinces, Catalonia and Galicis,
were almost exclusively represented the depu.
ties from Leon, Valencia, Murcia and the Islas
Bsleares, not arriving till three months later.
The most reactonary provinces, those Of the
interior, were not allowed, except in some few To-
calties, to proceed with the elections for the
Cortes. For the different Kingdoms cities add
towns of old Spain, which the French armies
prevented from choosing deputies, as welfes for
the ultrsmsrine provinces of New Spain, whose
deputies could not arrive in due time, supple
mentaIy representatives. were elected from the
many individuals whom the troubles of the war
had driven from the provinces to Csdiz, and the
numerous South Americans, merchants natives
and Others whose curiosity or the state Of affairs
had likewise assembled at thatplace. Thu. ith,p-
pened that those provinces were represented by
men more fond of innovation, and more impreg-
mated with the ideas Of the eighteenth century,
than would have been the case If they h.d been
enabled to choose for themselves. Lastly, the
circumstance of the Cortes meeting at C,diz was
of decisive influence, that city being then known
as the most radical Of the kingdom, more re-
sembling an American than Spanish town. It's
population filed the galleries in the Hall Of the
Cortes and domineered the Teactonists when
their opposition grew too obnoxious. by q system
Of intimidation and pressure from without.
It would, however, be great mistake to sup
pote that the majority of the Cortes consisted OF
reiormers. The COrtes were divided into three
parties-the SerriLes, the Liberales, (these party
denominations spread from Spain through the
whole of Europe and the Amerieans, the latter
voting alternately with the or the other p.rty,
according to their particular interests. The Ser.
viles far superior 10 nu nbers, were carried away
by the activity, zeal and enthusiasm of the Liberal
minority. The ecclesisstic deputies who formed
the majority Of the Seryile party, were always
ready to sacrifice the royal prerogative, partly
from the remembrance of the antsgonism Of the
Church to the State, parity with view to court
ing popularity. in order thus to save the privileges
and abuses Of their caste. During the debates on
the general suffrage, the one-chamber system, the
improperly qualification and the suspensive veto
the ecclesiastic party always combined with
the more democratic part of the Liberals against
the partisans Of the English Constitution. Oae
of them, the Canen Cshedo, after ward Archbishop
of Burgos, and an implacable persecutor Of the
Liberals. addressed Senior Muncz Tarrero, also q
Canon, but belonging to the Liberal party, in
these terms: you suffer the King to remain
excessively powerful, but as priest you ought
Ito plead the cause of the Church, rather than
"that of the King" Into these compromises
with the Church party the Liberals were forced
10 enter, as we have already shown from some
articles Of the Constitution of 1912. When
the liberty Of the press was discussed, the par
sons denounced it as contrary to religion" Az
ter the most stormy debates, and after having do
clared that all persons were at liberty to publish
their sentiments without speciallicense, the Cortes
unanimously admitted an amendment which, by
inserting the word political curtailed this liberty
of half its extent, and left all writings upon re-
Geious matters subject to the censure Of the
ecclesiastc authorities, according to the DEGREES
of the Council Of Trent. On August Is. lol7,
after decree passed against all who should con-
spire against the Constitution, another decree
was passed. declaring that whoever should con-
spire to make the Spanish nation cease to profess
the Catholic Roman religion should be prosecuted
AZ a traitor, and suffer death. When the Toto Dc
Santiago was abolished compensatory resolution
was carried, declaring Saint Theresa de Jesus
the patroness of Spain. The Liberals also took
care not to propose and carry the DEGREES about
the abolition of the Inquistion, the ti1es, the
mopasteries, etc., till after the Constitution had
been proclaimed. But frem that very moment
the opposition Of the Services within the Cortes,
and the clergy without became ine1orabie.
Having now explained the circumstances which
account for the origin and the characteristic fei
lures of the Constitution of lSl2, there still re-
mains the problem to be solved OF it's sudden and
resistless disappearance at the return Of Ferdin-
andyII. A more humiliating spectacle has sell
dom been witnessed by the world. When Fer
dinand entered Valencia, on April 10, leli'
"the Joyous people yOked themselves to his car
"riage, and testified BY every possible express
" sion of word and deed, their desire of taking
"tbe old yoke upon themselves, shouting, Long
" live the absolute King Down with the Con-
.. .stitution p" In all the large towns, the Plaza
Mayor, or Great Square, had been named Plaza
de Ia Constitution, aud q stone with these
words engraved On it, erected there. In Valen-
I'll. this stsne was removed and provisional
stone of wood set up in its place with the inscrp-
ton: "Real Plaza de Fernando VII The
pop.lace of Seville depOsed all the existing au'
.hn,;ties elected others in their stead to all the