New-York tribune., 1869-01-21


dispatches remained almost uncontradcted but yes
terday the Republicans found to assure their
friends abroad of tho victory they had really won
The Government knew the truth early as any
body it might deceive outsiders but 1t did not I'M
pose on itself Hence the restless columns of Ca
balero dc Rodas in Andalusia. few rob
berries on the estates of the great mobiles were as
good anything else, but what really set
In motion the forces of De Rodas was the series of
Ruepblican victories that extended from Cadiz to
Catalonia, from Gallicia back to CarthaGena, and
was summed up in an overwhelming majority Of the
capitals of the forty provinces of Spain.
Still the Government is not without fair words for
the men whom it distrusts and disarms They are
invited to give up their musl1ets in order that the
citizen militia may be reorganized and made more
efficient. The brutality Of the Cadiz order, which
ytung tho pride of the people. is avoided Whatever
the ultimate purpose of Prim and Serrano may
be they talk of Cancellation. The Republicans
are not deceived by it, but they credit
theGovernment with prudence enough not to provoke
the people too far and they propose for the present
submit. A fortnight since, when Cadiz was stream
ing with blood Republicans of Madrid spoke brave
words, which awed the Council into compromise.
will not question the courage of men who have
once shown courage of high order, nor do pretend
to Judge their policy criticise a prudence which
may seem excessive. They understand Spain and
the situation which foreigner can but then they
must pardon the foreigner little surprise at the
sudden change of tone. For the Madrid Republicans,
however it is to be said that the decision was pracl-
cay taken out of their hands by the Seville Commit
tee which has issued its manifesto advising the
citizens to surrender their arms peacefully. They
give variety of reasons. The force of Rodas is too
strong to be resisted attempt at resistance would
doom them TO the rigors of martial law and under
martial law they would wholly lose the chance OF
contributing to the Republican strength in the
Cortes Best reason of ALL perhaps, the arms they
have are good for nothing, being old-fashloned
smooth-bores, which would do little execution
against the Enfield rifles of the regular troops. They
argue that the Government will not dare to execute
general disarmament; its policy, they hope will
be confined to Andalusia. Should it proceed, they
believe it will only intensity the Republican feel
ing, and increase its vote at the coming election.
They insist that FREQ election must be allowed,
that an attempt to interfere with it will instantly be
followed by rising all over SPAIN l hope it would;
but can hardly forget that fortnight ago the same
men said that to persist in the disarming policy
would produce the same result, which it does not.
But there can hardly be doubt that if the Govern
ment goes no further-if it disarms but permits
free electiont viii have driven into the Republican
"A ranks good many of its own supporters. They
VI would have been content with really liberal mon
archy bat not with monarchy forced Oh the people
by bayonets. hear from Barcelona, as am just
closing this letter. that it is almost impossible to
keep the Republicans of that city quiet and that an
attempt to execute in that center of uncompromisng
radicals such policy as Seville submits to, would be
followed by an immedste explosion. Perhaps it
would, but have been twice promised an insured
tion in Madrid, have v .ited ten days for it, and
still wait.
Thus far one side. Tho other statement is more
eonsoling. reorganization of the militia already
disarmed in Andausa, at least in Xeres. is really
effected. In Xeres zoo Republicans were disarmed-
private as well public arms had to be given up.
Gen. ROdas has organized in place of this old force
new one numbering 2OOO instead of 700. and to this
new militia arms have been distributed The theory
seems 20 hA that the JOargeoisie the middle classes
who bef0ke had arms, shall now be mustered IN
with the Republicans, who had all the arms and
that a National Guard, of which a majority IS anti
Republican may be better than no.guard at all.
II On Sunday the 9th Dec, the Madrid Republicans
held great meeting in Prices Circus. The build
ing is said to hold 60OO people, does in fact hold per-
haps 4OOO being not quite so large the EmpressS
Circus in the Champs Elys6es at Paris. This was
the first public meeting had seen in Spain. though
all parties hold kind of general caucus every after
noon at O'clock in the great plaza called the Puerta
del SOl-an open air Exchange. the Madrid Wall-st.
of business. politics, and every sort of mis-
cellaneous gossip in which people
that has not rnSch else to do can busy itself AT
noon of Sunday the circus was filed with Repub
lcans, and with Republicans only, if one may judge
from the unanimity of applause for the most radical
sentiments Quite unlike any other ever saw was
this audience The Spanish face looks well in groups,
with its strong mes and contrasts of color, and eyes
sRashing like ST lettoes. Every man wore hat and
clAak, and the silk hat of Paris the ruling
f.sh,son The Monarchists tell you that the Repub-
cans are the rabble of Madrid, but the rabble does
,ot wear silk hats while the middle and upper
classes do and a clear majority of the
meeting belonged to the hat-wearng classes
Cigar or cigarette was in every mouth. believe the
snaniards smoke everywhere except in church.
Some hundreds Of gentlemen sat on the stage they
lnol,ed as well as the rest. The Chairman smoked.
Tho orators lai6 aside their cigars as they rose to
sneaks and lighted fresh ones the moment their
harano,cs were done In all the circus the only non
lers saw we're three ladies who saton the stage.
am assured that Spanish ladies, as rule, do not
noota Nor do they often go to political meetings.
vi their prssence here seemed to excite remark.
s1,Svo of 4hean knew; of them woman!of great
ooI,,,sts IN Spain, of whom more hereafter. There
- hoy@.yer, no womans rights party in Spain, and
mn tnat Isabella is gone nowoman mingles public
iy In political affairs Mrs. Stanton might transfer
her activity to Spain, secure Of the field to herself,
, though the number of her converts would certainly
be small.
This was one Of series of what we should call
campaign meetings. In Madrid especially the Re-
publican party needs drilling-needs to be stimu-
lated iuto 9 moro purely political activity and
educated into understanding the value of election
,v;otor;ea Althonoh many of the Repubcans were