The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-11-12
DAILY PRESS,
Thursday Morning, November l9, 1859,
CORTLAND

VICTOR HUGO ON THE SPANISH Ours
TroN.-It excites implacable wrath in the
minds OF European Liberals to see revolu-
tion thrown away" as they conceive the re-
Gently accomplished one in Spain to be. The
leaders OF that revolution, including the stout
old Democrat, Gen. Prim, incline to the es-
taolishment of constitutional monarchy on
the ruins OF the Bourbon despotism rather
than Republic. They want the Republic
but they declare that they have not the ma
terial OF which to make government of that
kind. The Spanards are not vet ready for
1t. Red Republicans like Girardin and Hugo
looking on from a distance, cannot see this
tact, and reasoning upon the case, as il would
seem, in purely speculative way, thev are
lmportunate for democratic institutions. Hu-
go-the greatest and most sincere of all that
grand race of European Liberals, bursts into
his periodical letter, thus
A Republic in Spain would be a warpiro
cry to Europe, and the warning cry TO l,inos
IS peace; 1t would imply the naturalization OF
France and Prussia; t. e imDossibity of wars
between military moHarchies, the muzzlino
OF SadoWa as OF Austerlitz; the prospect OF
massacres displaced by the prospect of labor
Nnd fecundity: Chassepot dismissed uice JAG
quart; it would secure the sudden eouilibria-
tion OF Europe effected at the expense OF fic-
tion, by the weight of truth in the scale: If
would re5enerate. Spain by means of that
youthful power, the people; it would tftom
marine and commercial stand point give life
to the double coast that reigned over the
Mediterranean before Venice and over the
Er,.sl -
Try as substitute tor misery; it would rem
der Cadiz equal to Southampto Barcelona
equal to Liverpool, Madrid equal to Paris.
IL would bring about the return of Portu-
gal to Spain by the sole attractiveness of
light and prosperity; liberty is the magnet of
annexations. A republic in Spain would be
the pure and simple affirmation of mans SOW
ereignty over himself, sovereignty that is
not to be balloted for; it would establish pro-
ducuon without tariff, consumption without
duties, circulation without bonds, wo. kshops
without poverty, wealth without parasteism,
conscientiousness without prejudices, the
right OF speech without gag, laws without
falsehoods, might secure work for all, instruc-
ton for all, justice for all, the scaffold for no
one; it would make the ideal palpable, and
even as there is swallow that shows the
way, there world be nation to give the ex-
ample.
Danger there is none. Citizen Spain is
strength; democratic Spain is a citadel. A
republic in Spain would be honesty admins
tering, truth ruling, liberty reigning, it would
be an uncomfortable and sovereign reality !;
liberty is calm because invincible, and invinc-
ible because contagious. Whosoever attacks
it becomes inoculated with it. The army
sent against it flies back upon the despot.-
And, therefore it is left in peace. A repub7
lie in Spain would bring the beams of truth
on the horizon, with promises for all threats
tor the evil only; it would be giant, Right
towering in Europe behind barricade, the
Pyrenees.
II Spain is born anew as monarchy, she
is little.
If she is born anew as republic, she is
great.
Let her choose {