The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-12
SPAIN.
The State Of Affairs In Spain-The Condition
Of the People.

The State OF Affairs In Spain-The Condition
Of the People.
Madrid (N0v. ~ correspondence London Times.]
To introduce a truly provident and liberal govern
ment may be very difficult task IN Spain, but there
Is no doubt that even the mere attempt at change
must have advantageous results and that the penin
sua must thrive, II not by its government then in
spite OF its government. more especially as, after
ALL political ycissltudes only affect few thousand
persons, and the great mass OF the people, utterly
apathec and neutral in all quarrels, attend to their
own business, which, fortunately, happens also to
be the States real business. Perhaps no coun-
try in the word,n 1t has been Justly Observed lis
SO little affected by the extraordinary transitions
Of the government and the constantly recurring
pronunciamientos as Spain. Whether constant
be difficult to tell, but Is fact that these extraor
binary changes and these ceaseess revolutions pro-
the country at large, and any one who would en-
deavor to follow the progress OF the country by its
political leaders would most certainly be grievously
led astray.n The truth Ii that no power of mlsgov
eminent can altogether withstand the progressive
force OF general civilization Spain has been dragged
by the rest OF Europe IN spite or her government
and in spite OF her antiquated commercial and eco
was only 1904 22I souls mad risen to IL, $50 e4i
In 1885, and In 1860, according to the last census
1t had further advanced to 10 S1sSSe" l. Is now
gress OF trade has kept pace with the increase OF
the population, inasmuch as In 1850 the imports
were Go 1885, and the exports 900; while in
1860 the imports and exports were respectively
Ella S33 I3A and f10 982 034-b0th more than double
was sli 5Ss in 1855 was estimated IN the Budget
of 1861 at era 1876 278. The development OF the
prosperity Of the Peninsula IL. therefore, as my friend
SAID, only question Of time. Under a system OF
rational commercial and industrial policy its results
would be seen immediately. Should the ideas OF
be slower, but still perceptible. 1t must not be for
gotten that Spain, like Italy, must he, above all
aIthesg AZ If msy be- aded by GOOD aoyernment
exhibits great powers OF endurance against the nnu
ence Of q bad one.
vat0r Is aboring under the greatest calamity with
which 1t is possible for husDandry to be afcted-
the consequences Of bad past harvest blighting the
prospects or what would otherwise promise to be q
good future harvestthe want OF seed to be thrown
on fields which all the ., elements nave avoraDy
OF the condition OF the rural population ore truly
/ should ascribe this melancholy tale TO exageer-
alton, prompted by hostility to the present political
state Of things. had not the evidence of my
peasanfry in the province OF Guadalaara,
another fertile district OF CASTLE, might be the
theme OF no less eloquent lamentations The gov
crnment's help Is tardy and ine1lcacious, and as
winter closes In In December and January the dis
tress cannot fail to reach terrible Climax In the
provided with what is called WORK No less than
10000 meh are now doing in Madrid what might be
the rate OF seven reals zone shilling five and half
pencel day, under little or no Inspection unpro-
vdcd with proper implements, these poor wretches
are mere beggars under the nimsy disguise OF
aborers. They work as little as they can man.
age and they even ''strike" TO be free from
rainy days when no work is practicable, on
the good ground that bad weather does not interfere
with their good appetite They Will hear OF no DIFF
erent rates or remuneration they contend that the
wages should pc the same for good or bad workmen,
and admit difference In behalf OF assiduous indus
try or skilled labor What Is done In Madrid becomes
the rule for other large centres OF population Star
Walton I'm the country breeds communism In the
towns. Dire necessity 0verrules all economical con-
sideratons. IL Is impossible TO reason with sarv-
ing people, impossible To leave to perish 50 long as
the community can minister to It's wants. The thing
might be contrived with greater wisdom, II might be
obtained on more reasonable terms but the govern
ment has neither leisure nor perhaps, capacity for
any better course The calamity comes down upon
II at the outset Il finds 1t involved In endless other
difilculties graphing with other hostile agencies.
The government simply docs what II can" Whether
Its means will ultimately be adequate TO the want;
whether any Treasury operation win carry II through
the severe season; whether In short the rural popu
lation must live or die. are problems which time
alone will solve, and no one can say to what extent
the sufyerings OF the people and the violent acts
which famine Is apt to suggest may complicate POI
litica difficulties or aggravate financial emDarrass
ments. should tho government come on successful
from the struggle Its claims upon the gratitude Of
the country viii be unbounded.
Ambitions Designs Of General Prim.
The London Spectator says:-We wish to record .
distinct impression which we have long resisted,
that General Prm v playing either for
. Dictatorship or an imperial crown. lie " accu-
the army he is making himself popular by every va
riety Of military concession and military sternness.
and he does not Ok O date for the meeting OF the
Cortes We are also greatly mistaken II he 10 not
authorizing what the Bonapartista call tentatives,
placards articles and letters IN foreign Journals
personal rule may for Q time be wanted In spain;
but N Prm feeh this and feels himself competent to
exercise It, and yet loves liberty, we trust he viii