The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-14

The spanish General In New York-Ths
Dinner Last Evening".
An interesting account will be found in our
columns this morning Of the dinner given at
Delmonico's last evening to the distinguished
Spanish General, and of the speeches delivered
on that occasion. Gen. Prim is too well known
as one Of the most enlightened and liberal Of
Spanish patriots to require any reference at
this time to his brilliant antecedents. He came
on visit to our shores, after taking bold and
daring step, which none but man Of tho most
enlightened and liberal views would have.
ventured upon on his own responsibility
When he found that the French had the inten-
ton of marching upon Mexico to subdue peo-
pie, to crush their nationality. and to impose
foreign prince as monarch over them, by an
initiating their republican liberties, he boldly
and at once refused to lend his aid to such
despotic views, and left the French alone to
pursue the ignominious tenor Of their way.
We are happy to learn that the government
and people Of Spain have since approved Of
the course he pursued. and have sanctioned
his conduct in cutting loose from an al
lance which manifested such treachery against
popular institutions.
Such is the hero who was honored with the
grand reception recorded in our columns Of to-
day, and few, if any have been more deserv-
ing Of such homage. General Prim came to
our shores with mind well prepared to do
justice to our country and nation, and capable
Of understanding the vital character of the
grand contest in which we are engaged. He
felt, in common with every lover of the Union,
and every friend to liberty and progress
throughout the world, that it was the great
battle Of democratic against aristocratic princi-
pies, in which the future hopes Of mankind for
liberty and popular institutions were at stake.
With such great and enlarged views, and also
with military eye and martial experience, he
fastened, Immediately after his arrival on our
shores, to visit the scene of warfare and ex-
anime the condition of our army in
front of the rebel capital. We hear
that the General, who, it will be con-
coded by al, is the best of judges in such mat
tiers, has expressed himself privately among his
friends in the most enthusiastic manner in
praise Of our troops, and in admiration
of General Mcclellan, who commands
them. He gives it as his opinion that
the man who has shown himself capable of
leading so large an army, from the trenches
before Yorktown, through so many difficulties,
through such wilderness country, after so
many battles, routing the enemy on all points,
after driving them out of SO strong place as
Yorktown-and then who displays such front
Of well prepared heroes, in such good condition,
all eager and burning to snatch more victories
from malignant and Wanting foe-deserves to
be accounted as a second Napoleon in all that
relates to the art of war. Such testimony from
such man is worth not q little.
The speeches delivered on the occasion re-
ferred to will be found quite interesting and
suggestive. 1t is to be regretted that Mr..
Seward, who had been expected, was not able
to be present on this occasion toast had
been prepared expressive of wish for the
establishment of the Union, to which no
man could have better responded than Mr..
Seward; but in consequence Of his unavoid-
able absence it was omitted.
We refer to another part of our columns for
the full comprehension of the many interest
ing views expressed by our Spanish visitors At
this meeting, indicating an entirely new policy
on the part Of Old Spain towards the republics
of the New World. This dinner party, taking
the guests and speeches into consideration, has
a significance Of no little Importance.