New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-11

mentaTy telegram which was sent To Espartero,
wherein the guests expressed their preference for
him at the head of the State, whatever the decision
of the COrtes may be relative to the future form OF
the Government.
THE STRUGGLE FOR A REPUBLIC.
IRON OUR owS CORRESPONDENTS
Madrid. Dec 22-What / shall say in this letter
will he mainly a report of conversations. Ii will
contradict more or less of the correspondence to be
found in English and French papers. and trust may
also give little information points on which
we were ompletely in the dark in England. There
is n very grave question at issue i'll Spain, on both
sides of which / shall say something. On the Gov
eminent side my information is from very high
official who knows as much rs any man about the
revolution, the present position Of the Provisional
Administration, the struggles of parties the wishes
of the people, and the immediate PROSPECTS, OF all
four.
When left London, three days ago, IT was believed
by some men who make study of Spanish politics,
that the Revolution had reached crisis This opin-
ion did not rest merely or mainly on the Cadz ont
break for that is not a cause but symptom. Ii was
believed that what with the Republicans one side
and the Teactionsts the other. the Provisional
Government was so besct 10 be IN real peril Prim,
il was thought despaired of bridging over the inter
val between to-day and the election for the C0rtes
on the 18th O January There was fear lest the Gov
eminent shoud break mp. the work of the Rcvolu-
the struggles of factions. powerlcsS without unisn
yet refusing to combine. In word. II was believed
that Prim meditated comp dddt lie was to declare
himself Dictator till the COrtcs should be chosen,
and retain power till they had decided on form OF
government As Dictator, hc would he able 10 con
trol that decision and shape the future government
of Spain as he chose. Those who dislike Prim in
sisted that lie meant his power TO he supreme aud
permanent. 80
The whole of tins fine story is n fable. lt isa good
illustration of the necessity Of reading Spanish news
backward. What seems true III London Is the reverse
of trutlin Madrid. There is no crisis. There VIII
be no cOHp dfidf. The Provisional bOlcrnmenl rs
stronger To-day than il was Yesterday Ii has steadily
consolidated lis power IT administers the great de-
paTtments OF government WIN regularity It's
authority is recognized in every province. ITS cOher
ence is more perfect ana the harmony among ITS
leading more sincere than IN the first months 81
it's organization. The men who disputed the ascend
ency of PIim now recognize HIM "A their necessary
leader ScrranO is not rival but an ally, and Ser
rano is the representative man OF that tnon Lbtrde
which Joined IN the revolution 10 Dalk " OF its pnr
pose. Prim need not declare himself Dictator he
has nearly all the power OF ono without the Odium OF
the name. lie and his colleagues, and also the
leading Republicans expect the Government 10
90 on as 10 is until the COrtes agree on
Constitution. There are Disturbances no doubt,
great political CONFUSION Is not followed by an abso
lutte calm any more than great storm ~ level
ocean Ii will not subside without a ground swell
But the disturbances are manly iomented by the
CaTists not by the Republicans. If the latter are
DISCONTINUED with the attitude OF the Government,
the elections viii afford them an opportunity to
develop their strength They rose AT Cadz, solely III
the part of tho COmmandant That IL was no part Of
general movement is proved by the passive attitude
of the Republicans everywhere else. Had there been
anything Ike conspiracy, Oh even tIe materials ior
"a conspiracy among the Republicans, the CadIz
instruction lasted long enough To have set the
Peninsula IN hame, from Andalusia 10 Navarro.
As all Americans wish well 10 the revolution, |
heard this statement with great pleasure but it was
followed by another much less agreeable. There IS
to be TO RepublIc--nOnc by the AID OF Irlm or ms
colleagues. none If they carry through the policy on
which they are bent ! am sorry 10 say this but say
il must, for neither the knowledge nor the SINGER
Ity OF my informant - 10 he questioned. Prn lelt
England pledged 10 Republic, he is still Repub-
lican, yet ho is beyond doubt going TO establish
Monarchy-f he can. His friends and advisers,
some of whom were more Republican than he, coin
eide with. or perhaps suggest, his anti Republican
policy. They all treat the question rs one of neces-
for Republic, but declare it impossible. They in
sst on Prims cpipam. % You cannot have Republic
without Republicans, as u sober statement oil an
uncomfortable fact But there are Republicans,
replied. You had to put them down at Cadz. In
many of the municipal elections last week they
have beaten you 1t Is doubtful whether they
have not an actual majority OF the I'M
pOrtant towns. Yes, is the rciOinder, but
Republic implies intelligence. These men
have voted from sentiment, from instinct,
from horror of what they have suffered under mon
archy, from the dictatiOn of leaders " ho put into
their hands ballot they could not read. When we
say there are no Republicans, we mean no intelligent
ones. Not ten In 70 hundred Spaniards read,
They know nothing Of government or politics. They
must. above all things. be educated; GIVE them
republic today, the votes are likely 10 upset IL
tomorrow, when tho first unpopular but necessary
measure is passed. We mean To pass law chat after
fixed time, three five years, no man over 30 OF ~
who cannot read shall retain the franchise. We
mean to BET up schools which shall make a republic
possible. for we do not admit that III pOstponng the
republic we are unfaithful 20 the democratic idea.
Most Americans will have their own answer to
this naturally said. II we can trust our negroes,
Just ont of Slavery cannot You trust your Spanialds1
Reading is not the only evidence of lntsllI
gcnce. Pressed little on this point he bet0Ok him
sell 10 the other, which is much graycr difficulty
Europe will not tolerate Spanish Repnbllc-there
is what Prim and his associates really believe and
they not ready To throw down Their glove IN tile
face Of the confessed m0narchs north ot the Pyrcn-
The French Rcpublic, dare not allow a Republic IN
Spain. Would he send 1000 men 10 cat ITS throat
rceuac ian Spain the tragedy of the B0uleNaitls ON
IL L l. d |. r. L.. III 4 /.