The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-29
Alabama, and the Alabama claims still unset


tied?
The truth is that nothing is impossible in
these days, except the defeat of General Grant
We live in the genuine age of miracles, and
we have ceased to be surprised at anything.
The individual is now living who will make the
first trip to Europe from this country in bal
loon. We throw out this prophecy at a ven
ture. Meantime a London correspondent OF
this journal says that the following hints are
fitting about there in favor of Prince Alfred
for the Spanish throne His elevation would
crafty the English people; it would provide
handsomely for prince who is great favorite
among them; it would open new field to
English trade; it would settle the question Of
Gibraltar TO the satisfaction of both countries;
and our correspondent might have added it
would enable Spain very easily to get rid of
her heavy English debt. Secondly, Disrael is
reported as liking the project. He thinks,
doubtless, that Prince Alfred as King of Spain
would be a splendid coup dStas, better than
Abyssinia, or the no Popery cry against
Gladstone and John Bright; and it would be.
The Queen, too, ia said to be pleased with the
idea, and carries with her the Prince and
Princess OF Wales Alfred, on the other hand,
it appears, looks upon the scheme as a sort of
South Sea bubble or Mexican adventure.
But what Of that? Did not Macmillan at first
look upon the crown of Mexico as q piece of
moonshine? But did he not wear that crown,
and die for it and fight for 1t to the last with
the pluck Of regular Montezuma He did.
The modesty of Prince Alfred in this matter,
then, need not be taken into the calculation.
He will go at the call Of England, for is he not
genuine English Jack Tar2 But what Of
Napoleon? There's the rub" it may be con-
tended. But why should the rub be there?
Has not Napoleon ever since the Crimean war
regarded his entente coreli0le with England as
the very best of all his Napoleonic ideas7
And are not Victoria and Eugene on the best
of terms, and will not Isabella herself be in
''the ring" very soon il she settles in England,
after the fashion of other royal and republican
exiles, including Louis Philippe and Kossuth
Let Isabella drop in at Windsor, let Eugene
be called in, and over cup Of tea among the
ladies at the castle this thing in behalf Of the
sailor Prince can be all arranged, and 80 Dis
raeli, the Israelite, may supplant the Pope
himself in the reconstruction of Spain. A
glorious victory, too--yea, glorious miracle
would this be over sect and creed and caste
and the sanguinary prejudices Of thousand
years.
Here, however, we may be met again with
the objection that Prince Alfred, representa-
tive of the royal head Of the Protestant Church,
will never do for the people Of Spain--al
Catholics of the deepest color and dyed in the
wool. Why not? Is not religious liberty pro-
claimed in Spain, and free speech, free press
md free suffragep Yes. And by the voice Of
he Spanish peoplef Yes, yes. Are the Jesuits
,oneP They are. DO not these things, then,
'ignify that the door is open to Prince Alfred
n Spain If France and England soy the word ?
They do. What, then, will France and Eng
and say2 That is the question.