Litchfield enquirer., 1868-11-19
SPAIN.
MADRID. SUNDAY. Oct. %. 1868.

| PuDACaHiSH is making faplu progress mere.
Men who few weeks ago secuted the idea
of republican institutions for Spain, are
now half converts to it. This change OF
feeling has been brought about by calm
review of the situation. A close exami
nation of the merits of the various pre-.
tenders to the throne, brings people to the
conclusion that there are elements of dan.
ger and insecurity connected with all OF
them. They ask themselves, in this condi-
ton of things, why the Spanish people
should not-make the experiment of trying
to govern themselves. The moderation
and good sense exhibited by the Democrat
ic Party, and the order and tranquility
which prevail throughout the kingdom nn-
der Government which is merely provis-
ional. and which employs only argument
and persuasion as its means of control, en-
courage this idea. The longer the convo-
cation of the Cortes is delayed, the more
progress it will make. The foolish letters
addressed by Prim to the Paris journals, an
incredible indiscretion in man in his po-
sition, have helped the cause of Repnbli-
canism immensely. They evince desire
to forestall the national will, and to furnish
arguments against one of the forms of gov
eminent which has the strongest claims to
their sympathy. The effect of this has
been to weaken the popularity of the wri-
ter, and to excite against him the suspicion
of selfish and ambitious motives.
The Democracy are in the meanwhile i'm
proving the chances which the mistakes of
/ the partisans of the monarchical system
are opening to them. The dissolution of
the Junta, measure to which they could
not consistently object, having deprived
them Of powerful auxiliaries throughout
! the country, they have already supplied
their place with an organization the infiu-
ence of which will make itself felt before
the elections. Two secret meetings of this
party were convoked lin this week. At the
first, held on Thursday, a resolution was
adopted directing the nomination by the
Democrats in the various electoral districts
throughout the kingdom of local commit
tees, each of which is to send delegate to
the directing body in Madrid. Other ar
rangements were made for perfecting the
organization, and it was unanimously re-
solved that the attitude assumed by the
party should be one of expectancy, that it
would do nothing to embarrass the Proyis-
lonal Government, but that it should bring
to bear all legitimate influence on the cleo
ton to the Cortes of candidates protesting
Republican opinions. Another meeting of
the party is to be held to-day, so that you
see 1t Is preparing to enter upon an active
electloneering campaign after the Ameri-
can fashion. As no Government influence
can be exercised in the elections, and the
Progressionists and Union Liberals have
no programme, the chances will be in IA
vor' OF the Democrats, though their num-
bers at present are numerically smaller
than those of the two other parties COM
bined. In the papers of this morning APP
pears programme from Senior Orense, one
of the most advanced of the Spanish De-
mocrats. He demands as the form of Gov
eminent best suited to the country, Fed
eral Republic, with single Assembly elect
ed annually by universal suffrage, and a
President elected for an unlimited term,
but subject to be dismissed from Office at
the will of the people.-Cor. N. Y. Times.
The following is the programme above
alluded to. 1t is dated Valentia,IOct. 90:
/ l. Form of Government--Democr
Federal Republic
2. Legislative Power-A single Chamber
elected annually by universal suffrage.
3. Executive Power-a President nomi-
mated by the Chamber without limitation
of time, but removable at the pleasure of
the Chamber.
4. Judicial Power-Appointment of
Judges, to be wholly independent of the
Legislative and executive powers.
5. The Central or National Government
to manage the army and navy, the code ex-
ternal and diplomatic affairs; statistics; the
Custom-house, while it lasts; post Office
and telegraphs; disputes between provin-
ces; unity of money, weights and meas
ures; extinction of the public debt (the
money to be provided from the sale of the
royal patrimony, national property and
mlnes); railways on large scale.
Principal objects of the Government:
6. The security to every citizen of his
individual and primordial rights, which are
as follows: Personal liberty, property,
freedom of worship, freedom of the Press,
right of meeting.
Z. The penalty of death, slavery, impris-
onment, monopolies of the sale of salt and
tobacco, taxes on consumption, &C., are to
be abolished.
s. Customs, prisons and judicial process
es to be Immediately referred.
9. Domicl and private correspondence
to be inviolabIe.
10. Education, choice of professions and
employments, banks and credit institu.
tions, to be free.
4 IL. The provincial populations, alcaides,
municipal councils and magistrates, to be
cleCt6O Dy universal SuHfaSe; Gnolf meet
ings to be open, and report of thei- pro.
ceedings be published. These bodies to
decide upon all questions which do not
come under the control of the Central Gov.
eminent.
IL. Revenue to be raised by one tax, di
rect and general
8 Ii. The Spanish possessions abroad te
enjoy the same rights as the mother coun
try. Is aal
IA. The Post Office, Geographic and 9th
er services to be paid for out of the profits
, they produce, and taxation to be reduced
In proportion as these profits increase.
y 10. The Civil Guard alone shall act as 9
police. The army to be for the nationa
defence, and volunteer force to be pro
posed for the preservation of internal or
der, Spain renonnces wars of conquest
and will make war only when its indepen
dence is menaced.
LETTER FROM VICTOR HUGO.
Victor Hugo has written letter to The
people of Spain through the medium O
his friend Emile de Girardln, in which b.
| says:
There is nation which, for a thou
sand years, from the sixth to the sixteenth
!: century, was the first in Europe. the coma