The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-19
The Eniure of Snnin.


II has been commented upon as a singular
fact, tina. the idea of republican government
for Spain has received far less encouragement
from the American press than from the Blg-
lieh al continental journals. The reason Of
this it is not difficult to understand, for we
have at our very doors, in Mexioo an ex ample
of the failure of republican institutions TO
secure the happiness and welfare Of a peo pie
who are unprepared by education Tor the
exercise Of all the responsibilities which de-
volve upon citizens. We doubt whether the
Spaniards are much better pre- sared for such
radical change than we're the Mexicaps when
they overthrow imperialism, and we dread to
have republican institutions brought into
discredit and the name of re-
public disgraOed by relapse into
despotism or anarchy. When the slaveholiers
of the Southern States were in rebellion against
the Union, the monsrchists and imperialists of
Europe exulted, and eagerly declared that re-
publicaDism was failure on the Western Col-
tiDent. The friends of liberty almost lost
hope, and the toilpg millions of Europe
watched with breathless interest the result of
tho BiBoh'iO OOhtCos was DcluB WdSou
between the forces Of liberty and dsspotism in
the New World. When Sherman reached the
sea after his grand march through Georgia
which cut the Confederacy in twain, aud in
spiIed the people of Europe with hope, aud
when Lee surrendered at Appomatox Court
House, the expressions of Joy on the other
side Of the Atlantic were scarcely
came from the men who had fought the good
fight and won the victory for liberty, equality,
and the heaven bestowed rights OF humanity.
Grants parole of the entire Rebel army on
that April day was declaration of the success
of republican principles, and their sufliciency
for the purposes of strong and stable govern
ment. The enemies of freedom were slenced,
and those who believed that the rights of man
kind are superior to the rights of kings took
heart and hoped for better days, which, though
long in coming, seemed now to be near at
hand.
1t is but natural that there should be
strong party in favor of the Spaniards COM
pleting and confirming their really glorious
revolution by burying out of sight the pain
tul and degrading past, and making one huge
stride towards the largest liberty. Will such
an experiment be success? This is the ques-
tion that commends itself to all thoughtful
men; and it is not to be wondered at that the
most ardent advocates of republcanism in the
United States should dread to have the sys-
tenn brought into discredit, and the
tyrants of the world afforded a
fresh opportunity for exultation by the
Mexicanization of Spain. If there is great
and increasing disposition on the part of the
Spaniards to establish republic, let the
American people aid them by their counte-
nance and encouragement; and it the expert
ment should be fully inaugurated, even if not
under what we consider the most favorable
auspices, we owe it to ourselves and to the
cause of liberty not to allow our fears to over
come our hopes, but to do what We can to
make the Spanish republic complete and
decided success by extending to it our
heartiest well wishes. And this We think will
be the course of the American people and the
American press, for if any have hesitated as to
the expediency Of a republican government in
Spain at the present time, it has been because
they felt that the cause of freedom ought not
to be endangered at this important crisis, and
not because they entertained doubts of the
stability of republican institutions, or that
under them the safety, honor, and welfare of
the people of any nation could best be main
tanned if they could only understand and sp-
preciate what republicanism really is.
ART SALE-A valuable private collection OF
pictures, French bropzes, clocks, rare photo