The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-09

Whatever may be the confidence which
what is or is not to be the final result of the
Spanish revolution, it is not to be denied that
to the mass of ordinary observers the situation
is muddled, the complications are numerous and
the result extremely doubtful. Now we have
it flashed along the cable that the elections
we are told that this was q mistake, that
Spain has gone in stoutly for monarchy and
that the democratic royalists are masters of
the situation; then comes the question of
candidates; and on this question the news
is different on each successive day. Some
days ago we were led to believe that the
Duke Of Aosta was the candidate of Napoleon,
and that the candidate of Napoleon must win.
Now we have it that Prince Ferdinand Of
Portugal has consented to allow himself to be
nominated as a rival; and from what we
know Of the character Of the Prince such
consent, in our opinion, implies that there are
fair prospects of his candidature proving
success. Meanwhile we are told that the
Carlists are active and not without hope,
and that Queen Isabella, from her Partisan
retreat, has issued another manifesto, de-
nouncing the revolution and afresh asserting
her rights to the throne. As matters now
stand who will say that Isabella's sun is set
forever? The Holy Father is evidently on her
side. Witness his refusal to allow the prelates
to take seats in the Cortes.
= r. 81, Sc oil
but inexplicable, unless we admit that the
skilfnl hand of Napoleon directs the machinery
which gives motion to the puppets who appear
on the STAGE As he permits or as he directs
SO will be the settlement of this Spanish revo-
luton. It is quite possible thing that the
Spaniards, even the members of the provi-
sional government, are to large extent un-
conscious Of this secret agency. 1t is also
possible thing that Napoleon has not quite
made up his mind as to how he will finally
decide. He is not so much forcing events as
watching them and keeping them within con-
trollable limits. It is easy to see that the
Duke of Aosta is in many respects the most
desirable candidate for the Spanish throne, so
far as the ultimate aims Of Napoleonism are
concerned. By becoming King of Spain the
Duke would sacrifice his rights and those of
his heirs to the throne of Italy. Prince Hum
bert and bis heirs would alone stand in the way
of the heirs Of Prince Napoleon and the Italian
succession. Failing the Prince Imperial the
claims of all the Bonapartes would centre in
Prince Napoleon and his family. When the
future is thus looked at the union of the Latin
races under Prince of the House of Bona
parte no longer appears an impossibility.
To the Spaniards themselves Dom Ferdinand
ought to appear the more desirable candidate.
The Prince has many merits. Experience has
proved him wise and skilful ruler. Great as
are the personal merits of the Prince there is an
other and stronger reason why he should be pre-
ferred. Dom Ferdinand on the Spanish throne,
the union Of the peninsula would be virtually
settled. His son and heir is the King Of Por-
tugal At the death Of Ferdinand there would
happen in the peninsula what happened in the
British Isles at the death of Elizabeth. The
lesser kingdom would share its sovereign with
the greater and both would benefit by the re-
suit.