New-York tribune., 1869-01-21
THE SPANISH REVOLUTION
THE SITUATION, PERSONAL, POLITICAL AMI
MILITARY.
FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT


details Of the negotiation am not permitted yet to
publish, nor viii they ever be known unless they
prove successful which is good deal to hope If
Prm can be credited with entire sincerity there il
really no known reason why such coalition may
not be effected. 1t is plainly for the interest of both
parties. Neither is strong enough to control the
elections, or the Cores the national policy slone
Together they might not only oatnumber
each single opposing faction, but vote
them down all together, and enter tho
Cortes with working majority The union between
Prim and Serrano is a union of circumstance. and
not of principle and not likely to be permanent II
nothing else should devide them the question Of q
candidate is one which they cannot agree and vet
which is vital. It becomes every day clearer how
much more difficult it will be to choose king than
to found Republic. The leaders say no Spaniard can
ascend the throne. The people say that to offer it to
foreigner is an insult they will not endure. The par
tisans of Montpensier may not expect to secare
his success, but they refuse to abandon
him openly, and are strong enough to
defeat any other pretender There lies the hope Of
the Republicans. If they have ANYTHING like the
strength they expect in the :Cortes they win be
able to defeat every kngy candidate in succession.
by uniting successvely with opponents. That
complished, what remains but Republics The
bulk of their party probably would prefer Epartero
to any other man, either for King President, but
Espartero shows more than ever those qualities of
ndecsion and timiditY, which unfit him for
leader Adispatch was sent him two days ago by
some of the Republican, Committee Of Madrid,
asking him to say whether lhe would accept the
Republican nomination for President. He answered
with his old formula of 1894 Let the national viii
be accomplished" and that is all they could get ous
of him. Prim is man of quito another stamp He
has stood aloof from the Republicans hitherto, be-
eving that he was personally dsliked by them, and
that they too weak to have any hope Of success
The elections have shown him that the latter was o
mistake. The negotiations now going on may con.
vince him that the former was equally so or at any
rate, that no personal feelings. and even no
resentment at what they think his recent
unfaithfulness will be permitted to interfere with
hearty union between them, provided the terms
can be agreed on. need not explain the immense
Importance of such an accession to the Republican
cause. Down to this hour they remain without
single representative in the Government, and with
out single leader Of national reputation or accus-
toned to public affairs There are very able and
very bold men in their committees, men who need
only the freedom of public career TO preye their
capacity for administration, but individually they
are either unknown to the nation or known for
special talents only Orense for his lifelong radi
calism in tho midst of an aristocratio
class, and CASTELAR,. for his splendid ora
torical power None Of them is
political force like Prim. am more and more in-
clined to think Prim very much aber mar than
any of his colleagues and who does more think.
ing for himself than has always been supposed. In
selfreliance and sodty of character, he Is greatly
their superior and because of those qualities would
give to the Republican movement that weight with
the middle classes which it cannot have while it has
no great name at its head. The Republicans know
well enough that if they take Prim they have good
deal to forgive and forget. While this Negotiations
pending he is an accomphce in the plot Of the Mont
penser monarchists for dsarming the people-an ac-
compce notwithstanding it must work to the
advantage of men whoses aims are very different
from his. An alliance with the Republicans would
rescue him from false position and from insincerc
associates, surrounding him with resolute party,
opening career to his ambition, and making him
the benefactor of Spain instead of its possible op-
pressor. But this is yet mere speculation, and muss
write of the events of the day without reference to
any hope may have Of seeing Prim and the Repub-
licans Join hands.
Men say we are on the eye Of another crisis, pro-
voked by the faithlessness of the Provisional
Government to its agreement with the Republican
Committee before Cadiz surrendered. viii give
you both sides of the story; you can choose between
them. In the memorable interview between the
Committee and the Council which have before
described Serrano aud Prim bound themselves to
abandon that attempt at disarming the militia which
had caused the Cadiz outbreak. the Republicans
agreeing in turn to respect the just authority OF the
Provisional Government. The latter kept its
promise for O week or two, and the Republican
leaders believed there would bs no further disturb
ance before the elections 1t was greatly 10 their
interest to be quiet, for they wanted
all their energy to perfect the organization
of the party and bring out its fun strergth for thu
possession Of the Cortea But last week the rumof
came to Madrid that disarmament was again being
attempted in Andalusia. The forces sent against
Cadiz had been not less than 1900 of all arms
under command Of Gen. Caballero do Rodas one Of
the bfavest and ablest generals on the Governments
sde Like an the Spanish generals he is soldier and
nothing else, His IDEAS his notions Of government
and his methods are all military. His dispatches to
Madrid in respect to the condition of the Province Of
Andalusia seem to have suggested to the Provisional
Government the possibility of breaking their promises
to the Republican Committee on a plausible pre-
text. They first circulated the report--theif
talent for nventing reports is undeniable-that the
peasants of Andalusia were committing outraees on
property The Socialist doctrines imputed to the Re-
publcans were being put in practice, cried the Gov
ernment organs. Property was not safe; system Of
plunder enforced by bands of men evidently act
ing under leadershp-and under what leadership IL
not Republican, This cry did not believe attract
much attention; bat one morning there came ru.
NOR that the army Of Gen. Caballero do Rodas was
In motion. Next we heard that it was accomplishing
a military promenade through Andaluna-had di-
vided into separate columns and was moving
from city to CITY, in each city and town, IS
it came. requiring the people to give mp
their arms. There was no force in any