New-York tribune., 1867-02-21
7uE RrlcrloMIRY MorEMEyr ~ SPIN

TffR REiCTION1RY MODEMENT ~ SPIN
OF the many thrones which in the last cen
tury were occupied by the powerful family Of
the Bourbons only one Is now left that oi
Spain. All tho others were overturned by the
strength of public indignation at the vices and
the despotsm of their occupants. The Bour-
bons generally had the misfortune to bc not
only fanatical but also very unshillful op-
ponents of political progress; and thus they
were swept away by revolutions which other
princes, equally anti-libcral, were able to with
stand.
IL ia A curious fact that the sad history
of the Bourbon family should have upon its
only present representative among the soyer-
.igns of Europe the Queen of Spain, no other
influence than to cause her to try the same
game for which her family has had to pay
80 dearly. Being elevated TO the throne
10y the opponents ot absOlutism, IN viO-
lation Of the then existing constitution, she
has long irresoutcly wavered between the
Molerados Conservatives and the Liberal
Union" "A kind OF Moderate Liberals, under the
leadership of ODonnell. Both parties were
equally opposed 10 tho friends OF thorough
progress, which is at present divided into two
parties, the "Progressistas' and the Demo
Gratis" In the new election of n Chamber of
Deputies, which took place in November. 1865,
both Democrats and Progrcssstas decided to
take no part The election, at that time re-
suited i'm an overwhelming victory of the Lib
eral Union,n To which about 300 members of
the new Chamber belonged, against only 30
Moderados. Shortly before, both houses had
adopted the draft of new electoral law which
had been proposed by the Government, and
which increased the number of voters. for
a population of over 100000 to 100000 in
stead of about 100000 under the former
law The measure failed to have the least in
fluence upon the Progressive party, which, in
January, 1865, either supported or sympathized
with the insurrectionary attempt OF Gen Pnm
From that time the Queen seems TO have been
bent upon eradicating every vcStige of Liberal
constitution. In July, 1866, the Ministry of
O'DOnnel was dismissed, and the Conservative
Marshal Naryaez placed at the head of a new
Ministry. The despotic deeds of the new
administration will still be fresh III the
memory Of our readers. The Constitution was
avowedly tramplod under foot. The liberty of
the press was abolished. A wholesale arrest
attempted to sign Il petition to the Queen
against the violation of the Constitution
Other measures of the kind are contemplated
The Senate, which in its present composition rep
resents the aristocracy of wealth and intellect
as well as that Of birth, is henceforth to be
solely composed of the hereditary representa-
tives of the first families of the kingdom.
The laws against all the dssenters from the
Roman Catholic Church will again be enforced
with the utmost rgor. Public instruction il
once more to be debased into an unprncipled
tool of dcSp5tisiI. ---a.,..
1t is difficult TO form definite opinion rs
to how long such condition of things can
last. The priesthood are pleased with the
latest turn of Spanish politics, and their inilu-
cncc upon the country people is said to be still
very great. But in all the towns an over
whemng majority is against the Government,
and ready for an insurreution at the first
opportune moment Ii is commonly expected
that the next revolution, if successful, viii not
stop at the throne Of the Queen. The Govern
ment knows that it must expect the worst
and, therefore, pays its chici attention TO the
Strengthening OF tho army. Bat even the