The New York herald., 1869-02-13
SPAIN.


The cruel and cowardly assassination Of Senior
Don Gutierrez Castro. Civil Governor at Burgos,
day before yesterday continues TO be the sole event
discussed all SPAIN 1t Is safe to say that the
nation has never been more thoroughly shocked
than at this intelligence, and feeling OF the Deep
est Indignation has arisen everywhere that cannot
be easily appeased. The horrible crime was marked
by SO many features OF cowardy brutality and
savage barbarity that one might well think
that the American Indians had Piled their
favorte weapons in the coisters OF the grand old
cathedral OF Burgess instead Of band ofpriests and
countrymen, who did their work with the cross In
hand and to the cries Of "Viva la religion p The
atrocities committed the remains after death
again recall the treatment OF their dead enemies by
the Sioux or the Pawnees. The inanimate BODY must
afford revenge that life itself was not deemed suf
ncient to satisfy. So with the savages OF Burgos.
The foul deed was not unprecedented and not the
work OF moments passion. 1t had been arranged
beforehand and it was carried out with GOODNESS
and completeness that proves the thorough under
standing Of the instruments.
Senor de Castro had been informed weeks before
that the neo-Catholic party had sworn to put him
out Of the way and he had taken extraordinary pre-
cautions to guard against any attempt He
slept in different places and never remained
In the same house two nights in succession.
During the day he always had sufficient force
about him to protect himself against sudden at
tack. Thus he had escaped the Vaccinations or his
enemies and the enemies of the government until he
undertook to obey the Of superior authorities
to make inventory of the artistic, literary and
scientific riches OF the cathedral, which are to be
placed in the government museums. From Sunday
the priests had been exceedingly busy in circulating
the ialse reports that the government intended to
seize and sequestrate the holy jewels and
OF the cathedral, and on Monday, early In the
ing, groups OF men assembled in the Plaza del Arzo-
bispo, displaying great excitement. At noon the
Governor accompanied by the Secretary OF the gov
ernment anu The Chief OF Public Order, proceeded to
the cathedral, when he met the dean and three
other officers OF the church, who accompa-
the e 0l Of ne the o. when wns ond n
In the cathedral the doors were closed and few
Guardia Cyile were placed before them. The
authorities then began their task; but meanwhile
the crowd had increased IN numbers in the plaza Of
the Archbishop, and the excitement grew more in
tense.
The Ayuntamiento Immediately assembled and the
volunteers OF liberty rallied at headquarters, and
cathedral, but nothing could be seen OF the Gov
.ernor, who was In the clolsters wholly unconscious
cathedral, for the mob had followed the deputaton
In and portion OF 1t rushed at once to the closters
set up shouts OF viva Carlos yII viva la religion
and precipitated themselves ON the Governor stab
esSape but the Gne % OF pnbc ace rsr
was wounded.
One Of the party carried 1 ,s,s and urged the
the body out into the Archbishop's square and
wreaked their vengeance upon 1t. The head was
open with hatchet, the eyes were torn out, the
cut or the heart torn out and the body covered
with cuts and blows. 1t was mangled beyond all
description by these fanatic fends, and when the
soldiers had cleared the square ana found the corpse
Il could not be recognized except from the clothing,
or that small portion II had on. The Church dlgnl-
tares escaped HARM or course, and 1t does not APP
pear that they made the slightest effort TO the
it was not in their power to DO anything The stua-
ton was So alarming that the city was placed
nalv 10 m
An investigation was at once Instituted and large
number OF arrests have been made. More than
seventy persons were taken into custody up TO last
night, among them several priests and other ecclesl
astcs Tne Archbishop himself was brought up and
known. The examination OF witnesses VIII be
promptly carried on and the trial OF the guilty par
be pressed through and punishment inflicted that
win IN It's celebrity and completeness prove that the
taking ollie Is not TO he tolerated even IN Spain
The eject OF this murder has been tremendous
do not know thar have seen the people more ex
cited and indignant In Madrid than since the ntelli
known. The Journals Rave devoted to the subject
leading articles breathing Indignation and
"a the others aud attack the govern
ment for It's weakness and want OF vigor
declaring liberty Of worship The blood Of the Gov
laid at the door OF the neoCatholic party,
which Is plotting for the restoration OF the cxQucen
ana scheining TO defeat every measure looking to
religious tolcration or freedom. They are declared
70 be enemies OF liberty and progress implacable op-
ponenls OF the government and traitors TO the coun-
try And general cry goes up TO the government
to at once crush out THESE scnendng v aa traitors and
The government must act promptly and with re-
entless ngor and decision against these reaconlsts
the revolution are not lost. The Papal Nuncio
must be sent away. his salary Of $1,000
III all this Is not done the people win
carry on the work begun last September, and which
has been checked by the tirnidity and mdeclsion
Of the provisional government. This and much
" the effect Is said by the journals OF
70 back up ner demands The r1aa may
feel itself strong enough to pursue its old course,
but think 4 endangcrs i,s position: Certainly Il
populace, and II must be confessed, viewed IA the
light Of the revolution, decidedly reasonable de-
mnuds. 1hc government has lost time IN carrying
out the demands " the times, and now encounters
the neo-CaholIc power in fu force. II might have
months ago without the slightest trouble. II was
then master OF the situation. Now the small,
feeble men Of the government are on the defensive
and are crying out to the prlestly party, that
would hang the whole worthless lot II IL could, that
II does not mean 90 attack the Church; that tue
Cortcs mns decide the question OF religious liberty
and all that anu that they doubt the feasibility of
granting an extension Of the rights enjoyed by Pro-
There can be no true liberty IN state where rell-
gious freedom docs not exist. That is the corner
stone of the edince and anything c0nstructeu
Other foundations Will bc q cheat and fraud. The
apprentice statesmen IN power In spain either have
want the courage TO apply u. Perhaps we may lind
IN the Cortcs men enough TO put tins problem In q
state. Ia thus union nor there is Weakness and division
only strength.
Petition of spanish Ladies' To General Ser
rnno. Praying for Protection TOR Religion
md Its Institutions.
the following is the uli text Of the petition signed
by $4,000 ladies' ana presented recently 10 General
serrapo by the Marquesas OF Santiago. Zugasti aud
Porttngalote. three Spanish ladies OF tiile.-
To rBr PRraiDrrr PROVISIONAL GovrRs.
nrnT..-
yoUn ExcritvSuy--we DO not ask grace or implors
ccency; demand justice We claim respect and pre-
tecthn rirhis Catholics Spanarda women
n we had tho public assemblies seat IN The
tories there would nock def risk Of
our ives ,tc pcrsecuei religion, ,e meacei OF
families " derides faith rnd honor of Spain But
have only tear sth winch weep and voices with which
10 mourn For tts send 20 your krcellcncy
tafa AMI sshs askins what have the right max
ftcecncy as the 70 respect and protect
e lus mothers learned the holy truths
whirh ll.h the way to hsavn The only morality which
tsaebep he tod mothers, good dsv2hrrs aud GOOD