The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-30
For the National Fra.
Sketch of the Political History of Europe,
THE CAPITULATI0N OF PARIS, IN 1914,
THE PRESENT TIME.
BY A FRIEND OF LIBERTY.
For the National Fra.
BY A FRIEND OF LIBERTY.

July, 1910, had existed between France and
England. Lord Aberdeen, who had succeeded
Palmerston as Minister for Foreign Affairs,
met with much evident satisfaction the advances
made by Guizot, and consequently the friend
ship between the French and English Govern
ments was restored and still more confirmed,
by personal visit which Queen Victoria, from
her own inclination, as we'll as from the sug-
gestions of Sir Robert Peel, was induced to pay
the King of France.
Louis Philippe, who was very anxious to
promote the interests of his own family, and to
strengthen his own position, as he supposed,
by intermarriages between his numerous chill
dren and the legitimate princely houses, had
meanwhile formed the plan of uniting one of
his sons in marriage with the youthful Queen
of Spain, or at least with her sister. The pres
ent intimate relations between him and the
English Government inspired him with the
hope that he might obtain the object in view
without exciting the luminosity of the Cabinet
of London. He was not mistaken in this ex-
pectation, because he succeeded in inducing
Lord Aberdeen to express his ready acqui-
escence with the execution of the plan in ques-
tion-at least, so far as it concerned the sister
of the Spanish Queen. In order, however, to
do away with the jealousy that hence might
arise in England, Louis Philippe resolved soon
to return the visit of Queen Victoria, and on that
occasion endeavor to strengthen her personal
friendship for him and his family, as well as to
increase his popularity among the English ma
ton.
The attempts which Guizot had made to in.
duce Espartero to favor the marriage plan be-
tween one of the sons of Louis Philippe, either
with Queen Isabella or with her sister, had not
proved successful. The cause of this appears
to have been, that Espartero apprehended that
Spain might thus be made dependent on France.
But his refusal to favor the wishes of Louis
Philippe and Guizot were construed by these
powerful personages as originating in some
ambitious and even criminal scheme on his
part, as he was then the Regent of Spain.
Espartero had, however, much reason for the
suspicion entertained by him, because, after
the departure of Queen Christina from Spain,
the King of France and NJ. Guizot had made
several attempts at interfering in the internal
affairs of Spain, and exercising authority over
Espartero himself But these attempts had
proved abortive, because Espartero had too
much firmness and too much patriotism to per-
NIT himself to become the satrap of the King of
France. Hence, much GOODNESS had arisen
between the latter and Espartero, which by
degrees was changed, on the part Of Louis
Philippe, into enmity.
Queen Christina, on leaving Spain, proceeded
to Italy; but not meeting, on the part of her
relations, with the most amicable reception,
she sought for and received an asylum at the
Court of France. The power which she had
herself resigned, on account Of the limitations
by which it had been surrounded by the Span
ISL Constitution, she had now become very de-
sirous to regain. Hence she BEGAN to excite
Louis Philippe against Espartero, whom she
represented as a very ambitious and dangerous
man. The King, not less than his Minister,
Nj. Guizot, much displeased with the Regent of
Spain, on account of his unwillingness to sub
NIT TO their authority, and to favor their mar
rage plan, gave willing ear to the complaint
of Queen Christina, especially as she held out
the hope that, by her instrumentality, the wished
for marriage might easily be accomplished.
Hence the plan was concocted of overthrow
ing the authority of Espartero, and of elevating
Queen Christina again to the regency. NJ.
Guzot was the more willing to enter into this
scheme, as he seems to have hoped that it
would also lead to a change in the Spanish
Constitution, so as to render the royal power
less dependent on the pleasure of the Cortes
and consequently less limited.
Still, before any step was taken toward un-
dermining the authority of Espartero, and de-
priving him of his well-deserved popularity, the
attempt was made at inducing him voluntarily |
to resign his power. But he remained equally |
deaf to this suggestion, as he had been to the |
marriage plan between one of the French |
Princes and the Queen Of Spain. Though his I
motives were no doubt laudable, the prudence |
of the course ITSELF which he pursued, might |
aoh1 h IL L IL
alienated from himself the only Government |
from which he could hope for assistance, in |
case of a new rising of the Carlists. He could
not but know that the Peel Ministry was far
from being friendly to himself, or to the present
state of affairs in Spain. 1t might also have
been better for him to have favored Louis
Philppes plan, at least so far as to promote
marriage between one of the French Princes
and Queen Isabella's sister. But, confident of
the support of the Spanish people, and relying
upon the purity of his motives, he braved the
danger of provoking the resentment of Louis
Philippe and NJ. Guizot.
But, in taking into due consideration the YER
satility of popular favor, the mutinous spirit
which in the course Of so many revolutions
and revolts had got the better of the Spaniards,
the immense influence exercised by the priest
hood, the impetuosity of the Eraltados, the
envy of the proud nobility, and the chaos of the
finances, it must be admitted that it was moth
ing but what was to be expected, that Espar-
tero became the victim of the combined machi-
nations of the French Government and his
other enemies. Besides, the Peel Ministry had
done all in their power in fomenting the hos
tility which the privileged classes in Spain en-
tertained against Espartero, who, however, had
been deceived by the friendly assurances which
he had received from Lord Aberdeen. The
brave warrior seems not to have known that
the words and the real intentions of a diplomat
are frequently Numerically opposite.
Therefore, Espartero began by degrees to
meet with opposition from all quarters within
Spain. The Eraltados, or the Republican par
ty, accused him of having entered into the
most intimate relations with the inveterate ene-
mics of freedom, showing thus that he had be-
come traitor to the cause which he had for
merly cherished. The Constitutionalists began
10 accuse him of being inclined to maintain the .
supreme authority in his own hands, by exclu.
ding the youthful Queen from the throne. The |
Priesthood who had always shown much hos
lity to him, endeavored to instil into the minds
Of the multitude the suspicion that his attempts
% dispose of the property of the church for
worldly purposes originated from the influence ,
IF the Heretics with whom he stood in the ,
most friendly relations. The Absolutists. ami |
mated with the most intense hatred, described ,
him as sanguinary tyrant, and a consummate
,ypocrite, who, actuated by unbridled ambition, ,
lad succeeded in depriying the legitimate heir '
VI the crown. Many of the soldiers were alien l
tied from him, by being made to believe that n
lie had sold himself to France, and was endeay- 4
ring to extend the influence of Louis Philippe {
'ver Spain. No wonder, thus, that the author il
ty OF Espartero was undermined, and that the b