The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-04
ProgIes Of Democracy In Europe.

ter it's essential features being liberty Of con.
science and of the press establishment of the
national guard; annual meetings of the Cortes;
ment for political offences subsection Of the
army to the control OF the representatives Of
the pee pie and the right of the Cortes in case
OF need to appoint a regent for the kingdom
1t is assuredly difficult to conceive q monarchi,
cal constitution more republican in it, charac
ter than this. The measure of authority which
is left to tho monarch is hardly worth mention.
ing.
Spain has been long aiming at democracy.
As far back "a the reigns Of the two last Car
loses, the popnlace Of Madrid, Barcelona. Cadiz
and other large cities, was noted for its turbu-
lent and rlotous character. On several occa.
sions it forced the court to bend otis will; and
once even threatened the throne itself. When
the wretched Carlos and still more wrstched
Ferdinand threw themselves into Napoleou's
arms, the common people" of the Spanish
cities sternly refused to submit to the French
yoke, and gave Joseph Bonaparte and the ge-
nerals plenty Of work. During the long wars
which followed, there was scarcely less sympa-
thy between the French troops and the Spanish
populace than between the latter and their
English allies. The British sought to replace
the Bourbons on the throne the Spaniaris
demanded democratic liberty. 1t was in
the midst of this collision of interests
that the democratic constitution of 1912 was
promulgated. This charter guaranteed political
and individual liberty but as a, that time, the
great danger to be apprehended seemed to be
the centrallzaSon Of power in the capital
which had ruined the French republic-the
Spaniards sought, at Cadiz, to guard against
this peril by investing the communal govern
meDts with unusual powers. In seeking to avoid
one mistake they fell into the opposite one.
Their communal governments were little indie
pendent powers, who did nothing bat quarrel
together and thwart each other.
AT Ferdinabd's restoration, he would have
nothing to say at first to the constitution Of
1872, and strove for a long time to govern on
the plan of his ancestors. Finding this would
not aDsfer, and terrified by the outbreak Of In
surrections, he consented 10 his false, cowardly,
treacherous way to accept the democratic char
ter Of Cadiz, and formally promulgated it in
the towns. This did not prevent his doing his
best to nu,lify its provisions until the French,
under the Duke d'Angouleme, came to his as
~sistance, and he could venture to trample his
oath and the charter under foot together.
For fourteen years the Spanish democracy
was silent and powerless. During the last
half of this period, civil war ragged and
served as a safety vent for the animal spirits
Of the patriots But in 1887, the liberals
who supported Isabella's claims forced
Queen Christina to resuscitate and confirm
the charter Of 1872 at La Grapja- This con.
cession to the progressistas led ultimately to
the revolution Of ls43, when the liberal con.
s~titution was again altered or revoked, and
Narvaez succeeded Espartero in power. From
lS43 up to the present time, democratic thco.
ries have been contraband in Spain. They are
now revived, it seems, by the Espartcro minis
try, and are in q fair way OF again becoming
part Of the law of the land.
Simultaneously with this progress OF de.
mtcracy in Spain, a most startling change is
taking place in the tone of public sentiment
in England. The striking freedom Of The
British press has already attracted much attcn-
ton in this country. Partly in consequence
of the fermentation Of animal spirits conse-
Quent upon the war, and partly from the con-
spicuous incapacity of the present mioistry,
the press has in fact taken the control of afrairs
out of the hands of the government, and is
driving before il Queen, Cabinet, Parliament
ard people in headlong confusion. This stu.
pendous power is being used by the London
Times for the interests Of the democracy, and
to oppose and assail the mobiles. Already we
have seen the Tunes expose The pitiable mean
Dess or the rulc Of the Horse Guards which
forbids generals from noticing in their des-
patches the bravery or good conduct Of private
soldiers. Passing from this to other branches
Of the military service, it has attacked with
proper virulence the absurdity OF the present
system OF favor, pa'ronlg &c and purchase
10y which commissions in the British army are
obtained, and shown how the democratic plan
on which the French army IL managed is the
true and only cause OF tho great superiority of
Canrobcrt's force to Lord Raelan's. These are
only two points: many others might be mon
TONED, which Indicate most plainly the power
ful democratic tendencies Of the leading organ
o. British opinion.
Nor is the phenomenon wholly confined to
Epelard. In France and Germany similar,
though less decided symptoms OF Q renaissance
Of democracy have been mar Tested. Since the
war began, the icne Of the press both ct Paris
and in Germany has been ireer than il ever was
siIce 1918.
1t Is clear In fact that oil over Europe .
powerful subttrIarean process is going or, dis
euised here in the shape of foreign war, There
in that Of civil disscnsion bat tending every
where 10 the establishment Of republican theo-
rles IL not republican Institutions. Should