The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-09

ventn dencel0rth she is to be the Napoleon OF
Spain.
For moment, in contemplating such events,
and the successful issue Of such plots as these,
one is apt to grow dizzy, and to feel flashing
doubts Of the truth Of all political principles: one
inquiries whether there can be such thing as
rght-in the face of such wrongsg There are
now left in all Europe only two governments over
which the people exercise any direct control
those of England and Piedmont There is less
practical democracy in Europe now than there
was ten, twenty, or forty years ago. Where
there were fifty millions Of men concerned in DO
litical affairs, and managing their own govern
ment-a few years ago-there are now not five
The tendency of French legislation is more anti
popular now than it wasunder the republic, under
Louis Philippe, under Louis XVIII. Spain is
entering upon period that will doubtless recall
the worst age Of Ferdinand Naples is sunk lower
than ever in despotism there is not spark Of
liberality in the policy Of the legislation Of Aus
tria every trace of 1916 and 184S has died out:
Prussia is gradually passing into the hands of the
party which for want Of better name we may
call high tories In all Europe, Russia alone
seems imbued with progressive spirit: and there
one-thrd of the people are incapable OF owning
property and SO far as we can see now, in almost
irremediable bondage
These are sights which warn us to fall back
upon our own history, and strengthen our con-
victions and refresh our hearts by large draughts
at the pure fountains of principle. 1t is not, it
cannot be the design of Providence or the policy
of wisdom to undo the work Of 1889, and to es-
tablish absolute monarches in Europe. Such a
scheme is opposed to the whole spirit of the lite
nature and philosophy of the day: it is at war
with the convictions Of every distinguished mind:
iii abundantly proved that it would be injurious
to national prosperity, and fatal to commercial,
industrial and agricultural well being. What
we see is no symptom of permanent retrogression:
it is merely temporary reaction
1t is in this view that the declaration of the
Emperor of France-that he would intervene in
the event Of the establishment of republic in
Spain--becomes significant. The reaction that is
seating Isabella on an absolute throne must be
followed by movement in the opposite direc-
ton. Her government will last certain time:
till her creditors execute her, or her funds fall
too low to pay soldiers or she gets into war, or
new generation grows up hating her and fearing
nothing; then she will fall, and nothing can
take her place but democracy in some shape
or other. And this event cannot be very
far distant. France has always possessed
government machine so perfect in its subordi-
nate details that, the furry of revolution once
over any man of intellect and nerve was pretty
sure of holding his own for generation. In
SPAIN the case is different: Capitalization has
never gained foothold in many provinces: the
government is chroncally weak Hence we find
revolutions in Spain following each other at inter-
walls Of four or five years. There was one in
1887; another in 1913; another in 1913; another
in 1854: and now the last in 1856. There is no
reason to suppose that the O'Donnell system will
last any longer than that of Narvaez. or any of
the other constitutions. If ii stands lustrum it
will be doing very well.
We conclude therefore that Napoleon will
have a chance to perform his threat before he is
himself overthrow; and we conceive that a
French armed intervention in Spain for the pur-
pose OF preventing the Spaniards setting up the
form OF government they like best, would be an
event Of very marked Importance, and could not
but lead TO strange complications. How Great
Britain would act, when the case occurred,
neither Lord Palmerston nor any one else can
now tell. We cannot even be certain how we
should be affected by il. In the event of the fill
busters holding rule here, il might alter our
destinies materially.