The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-03

government was constituted Of the three antag-
onistic elements which it comprises. The
monarchical party claimed and obtained the
first place in the person of General Serrano.
The advocates of radical change, which
might become republican or monarchical, as
circumstances should warrant, received the
command of the army for General Prim, and
the judiciary was assigned to the advocates of
a still more liberal class of ideas. The gov
eminent is constituted of nine members,
equally divided between the foregoing men
toned theorists. Outside of government,
which has not majority for any policy, lie
the advanced republicans, weak in organiza
ton but strong in propagandism, and the re-
dictionary or Church party, always well organ
lied for action, but unpopular in its political
tendencies and proclivities. To these conflict
ing elements in Spanish politics of to-day
must be added others, which are the personal
interest of the astute ruler Of France, the rem
nant of the elder party of the house of Bour-
bon, and the new partisans of the younger or
Montpensier branch. Under the new law of
free press in the peninsula each of these
has its journals and is at this moment actively
engaged in the PRONUNCIATION of its ideas.
Surrounded by this state of intrigue and
effervescence the Cortes is called to meet
during the present month to determine the
new constitution of government and to nomi-
nate its head. From time to time it is stated,
with an air of official sanction, that the pro-
visional government is unit on the question
of monarchy, and even onthat of the candidate
for the throne, though the name of this per-
sonage is kept sedulously in the dark. But it
is well known that new combinations are con-
tinually showing themselves within the several
parties represented in the provisional Cabin ct,
and new intrigues are put in play. In this
condition of affairs, and in view Of the sturdy
temper of the people, harassed as they have
long been by misgovernment, and pressed to-
day by restitution and hunger, it is scarcely
probable that any party which may obtain con-
troll Of the proposed new organization of govern
ment can be anything more than fractional
part of the nation at large. 1t will be sur
rounded by hostile elements, all interested in
its early overthrow, and the history of the
Spanish nation shows that it has never been
slow to listen to an appeal to arms.
With this prospect in the early future. our
government need be in no haste to make ne
gotiations in reference to Cuba, nor need the
partisans of independence within the island
fear that the opportunity win slip from their
grasp. Spain will soon have her hands too
full Of her own affairs to be able to devote
much blood or treasure to the defence of the
''ever faithful isle;" and, like ripe pear, it
will fall of its own weight, through the natu-
raj line Of independence, into the system of the
Union. If Europe escapes unscathed from the
dangers which general confagration of ideas
in Spain will bring to her, her monarchs and her
Cabinets win be too happy in their own safety
to care much which way Cuba falls or what be-
comes of it.