The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-23
FRIDAY, APRIL s3, 1859.
SPANISH PERPLEKTTIES.


neot of affairs In Spain appear to increase In
stead of diminish as time advances; and sue
cession of delays, uncertainties and quarrels
between tho Monarchists and Republicans has
served TO complicate matters, and to make the
present situation anything but satisfactory to
those who hoped for good results from the revo-
luton. The whole matter, however, of the eX-
pulsion Of Isabella III and the government of the
country or perhaps the want of government,
under the Provisional Junta or the Con-
etitutiona Cortes has been so anomalous
and so extraordinary that it is not possible to
form an opinion with regard to what the future
of Spain win be, or whether the results of the
revolution will be anarchy, to be followed by
return to despotism, or firm, moderate, and
liberal Government, capable of sustaining itself
against all assaults and of affording protection
to all its citizens without infringing on their
liberties. In any other country than Spain
there would by this time have been either set
Element of affairs by the establishment of some
permanent form of government, or violent and
ambitious men would have taken advantage of
the occasion to bring in q reign of anarchy and
bioodshed.
Spain, however, has so long been the strong
hold of conservatism that even so extraordinary
an occurrence as political revolution and the
not more than half aroused the people from their
lethargy and, in view of subsequent events, the
wonder is that they even succeeded in accom-
plishing what they did Isabella, however, was
driven out of the country, probably as much TO
the surprise of her enemies to herself but the
Spaniards have not yet succeeded in selecting
successor, or even in deciding upon what form
of government shall be adopted.
The Provisional Junta dallied and dallicd
without doing anything, and the leaders of the
revolution appeared to be in no hurry to take
advantage of the situation for their own aggran
dzement, or to transfer their power to other
hands. After months of delay the Constituent
Cortes was assembled, and since then the time
has been passed in dlatory discussions and
fruitless quarrels, which have produced no re-
suits whatever thus far 1t is true that draft
of a constitution has been reported, and from
the deIberation with which it is being discussed.
it ought to be eminently satisfactory to all par
ties and if it is not satisfactory, 1t cannot
tainJy be charged that it was adopted In indis-
Greet haste.
The great difficulty, however, appears to be in
the choice of suitable successor for the de-
throned Queen. A number of candidates have
been proposed, but none of them are sufficiently
unobjectionable to secure an election. Germany
equal to the present emergency; and from all
her stock of young gentlemen waiting for
something in the way of vacant thrones to turn
UP, not one has been offered to fill the first-cass
position that is now going begging The choice
of the Spaniards therefore, finally narrowed
down to the King of Portugal and the Duke de
Montpensier. OF these the first named ap-
peared to be the most suitable in every way.
He is man of ability, liberal in his views,
popular with his people, and appa-
rently well suited to raise Spain to n better
position among the nations of Europe
than she has held for centuries By occupying
the throne of Spain, too, he might reunite that
country with Portugal, and create a grand
Iberian monarchy out of the peninsula. Dom
Luis, however, has not made any advances; and
although there is party favorable to him, it has
not pressed his claim with any vigor. Ferdi-
nand the father of Dom Luis who is also man
of excellent abilities, declined positively to be II
candidate, so that now the only person who has
q strong body Of advocates, is the Duke de Mont
peAsies. The very strong objection against this
prince, however, is that he is member of the
obnoxious Bourbon family, and the Spaniards
are opposed to having Bourbon among
them under any circumstances In
the Constituent Cortes yesterday there
was an animated debate, and it was
strongly urged by Senor Figueras, one of the
Republican leaders, that the only alternative left
to the Cortes was to restore the Bourbons to the
throne-referring to the Duke de Montpensier
probably-or to inaugurate republic. A ma
joritV Of the Cortes, however, is opposed TO a
republics and one of the leaders ON that side of
the question contended that while the restora-
ton of the Bourbons was an absolute mpossi-
bility, republic would be national calamity
and king would yet be chosen. A somewhat
similar debate took place some days ago, and it
was inferred from General Prim's conduct that
he would not decline being candidate for the
presidency OF II republic.
The Republican party is certainly gaining in
strength; and while the friends of free institu-
tions would not like to see such an experiment
attempted in Spain and fall, yet as matters now
stand, and as it appears to be equally difficult to
effect settlement in any shape, it would per-
haps be better to organize a republican govern
ment, that would have the confidence and sup
port of the best men in the nation, than to have
a make-shifr monarchy with king who
pleased nobody. While 1t is impossible to even
guess what the morrow will bring forth in Spain.
we can only hope that whatever course may be
decided upon the cause of liberty will be ad.
vanced, and that new impetus win be given
TO the advance of liberal ideas which will have
an influence in all the other countries OF
Europe.
WaArEvER MAY be the merits or demorits o
Sprague's diatribes in the Senate the time ha
Oooe NV for the snnnreasion OF free speech In