The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-17
spain and tho Empero- Napoleo..

which has been effected in the history OF any
nation. Never was q revolution more COM
plete. Never was revolution at all approach
ing it in completeness accomplished with 30
much ease and in so brief space Of time.
Events have marched with such rapidly that
the Spain of to-day at FIRST sight seems to be
removed by many generations from the Spain
of some weeks ago. Politically, it appears, as
well as religiously, nations may be born in
day. Spain, but yesterday one Of the most
downtrodden of nations, is now in the very
front ranks of freedom-that is to say, If the
edicts Of provisional junta have anything
to do with freedom. No provisional govern
ment, certainly, has ever done more in the
same brief space of time. Freedom of the
press the right Of public meeting, the aboli-
ton of the Order of the Jesuits, the threatened
confiscation of all ecclesiastical property, the
proclamation Of the sovereignty of the people,
and, Of course, universal suffrage, the con-
demnation of slavery in the colonies, all taken
together, reveal spirit of iberality up to
the highest requirements of the age, and an
amount of activity and daring which has been
seldom, if ever, surpassed. Our latest &C
counts show no abatement of the liberal spirit
nor any falling away from the vigor and &C
from the commencement. With wonderful
unanimity of sentiment all the centres OF
population and power have pronounced in
favor of the revolution and declared them
selves in harmony with the provisional govern
ment.
In spite, however, of all that has been done
the immediate future Of Spain is subject OF
great anxiety to many. To republicans it
is naturally cause of regret that the Junta
should not have seen their way to recommend
the experiment Of republic. There
is no good reason, 30 far as Spain
herself is concerned, why republic
should not have been tried. There are many
good reasons why it should. 1t is becoming
more manifest every day that in settling her
own affairs Spain is under the necessity OF
consulting the feelings and interests of her
neighbors. The hand of the Emperor Napo-
leon is now distinctly seen. Few who know
anything of the matter have doubted his subtle
interference from the outset but the hand OF
the great schemer has been dexterously con-
cealed. The truth is, this Spanish revolution
has been very godsend to the Emperor. II
has already delivered him from the agony of
war panic without any sacrifice of dignity or
the slightest loss of prestige. This, however,
is not all, It Is furnishing him with an oppor-
trinity Of giving shape to his favorite idea OF
the unity of the Latin races.
We have had no such Reconstruction as the
Emperor Napoleon for many generations. He
has not always been successful in exact pro-
portion to his wishes, but his ideas have al
ways had about them an air of magnifcence
and grandeur, and from some cause or other
they have recommended themselves to
the world beyond what was at one time
deemed possible. If not the originator Of tn q
doctrine Of nationalities he has at least been
it's most powerful apostle. On the basis Ct
this truth he undertook the reconstruction Of
Italy. Italy di1; pot, perhaps, take the pre-
else shape which he wished !. =: &c take, but tho
establishment of the italian kingdom and the
all but complete unifcation Of Italy gave
powerful impulse to another and grander unfit
cation-the unihcation Of all the Latin race
With similar object in view he undertook the
reconstruction Of Mexico. His Mexican at
tempt, which was the result of gross miscalcula.
ton, proved disastrous failure; and it is not to
be doubted that it will be remembered by him
to his dying day with shame and sorrow.
Ere yet the final results of the Mexican
blunder had become fully manifest the doc
trine which he had 80 persistently promul-
gated and so effectively encouraged set
Germany on fire. Under the able guidance of
his disciple, Bismarck, the movement became
too mighty for Napoleon to control, and the
Germany Of to-day is not precisely the Ger
many which, some few years ago, he desired
and hoped it should become. Although,
however, there has been failure in Italy,
failure in Mexico, failure in Germany, it has
not been all failure. There has, perhaps,
been more success than the present generation
is able to see there has, certainly, been
sufficient success to encourage him to perse-
we're. The unity of the Latin races is not less
a favorite idea with the Emperor that the
Latins on the American Continent must
henceforward be left out of his plans This
Spanish revolution has furnished him with
an opportunity which he is not the
man to let slip. He is, we now
know, in active correspondence with the pro-
visional government. Between them it is
arranged that Spain Is not to be republic.
II is we are told, to be monarchy; but
from the steps already taken it must be a
monarchy in harmony with the sovereignty
of the people and based on universal suffrage,
and such a monarchy means an empire after
the model of that Of France. Who is to be
the first Emperor of Spain is a question which
time will soon answer. For the present it is
oo,cno rafivalv uniuportant IL Ia raora inn