New-York tribune., 1869-01-16

of danger 1t has got beyond preaching already
The priestly hand was busy last week in the cleo
hons. When his voice was not strong enough TO
create disturbance, he did not scuple at vio-
lence. An hour and half from Barcelona is Car
list community. 1t numbers by chance four or FIVE
Republicans, bold enough to vote. The priest cried
TO the people that Republican vote was an outrage
against their religion, and while they hesitated to
respond to his counsel he seized musket and shot
the voter dead In the melee which followed three or
four other lives taken Such instances of out
rage are the sure sign that the Church knows both
her danger and her weakness. For once the Span
iards have begun to think outside of the traditional
limits. Former revolutions were only Spanish way
of accomplishing Ministerial change. At last they
have Overthrown dynasty and exiled Queen; they
may follow it by the destruction of the State Church
and the banishment of the priests. If that is not
necessary programme of the Republic tits possible
result of the growing appetite for free institutions.
There is a third measure Of Republican policy
which consideration of prudence cOnstrains them
to conceal and that is the Abolition of Slavery. For
that the party is a unit It's leaders adopted it as
rallying cry when there was danger it might alien
ate some of their supporters it seems TO have swollen
their ranks with men who find a new pleasure in the
sentiment of freedom to Others as well as to them
selves. When the agitation for Abolition began four
years ago in Spain its pioneer could find but seven
men in Madrid to join him. One of the seven was
CASTELAR,, then political leader rather than
n phianthropist. Il believe it will hurt u.s." he
said, will keep converts out of the Republican
ranks but no matter. 1t shall not be said refused
20 demand for others the liberty l seek for myself"
year later there were 1000 hearers for an Abolition
orator IN one of the theaters of Madrid. Then fol-
lowed meeting TO which the ladies went in crowds,
and the stories of oppression in Cuba moved that
audience to tears. "Then 1 knew" exclaimed the
old Abolitonist who told the story, that our
cause was gained Now that the Republicans have
adopted il the triumph will not be long delayed
They have sought to persuade the PROVISIONAL
Government TO Quel the insurrection IN CUBA
by procaiming Emancipation, but the ma
jority of the Council has neither virtue enough
TO adopt it for the sake of free institutions nor
craftsmanship enough TO accept Abolition as policy
Of prudence. There are men in office who are wiser,
but whose sagacity has TO yield to obstinate ma
jority ITO send soldiers to Cuba" said ono of them
TO me yesterday is suicidal folly. If they want
10 save the island to Span let them send Liberty"
j meet no one who believes that Cuba can be kept
Vigorous measures either of repression OF of emanci
patton might reunite it to Spain-either 10000 sold
iers proclamation of freedom. But the Provision
nj Council sends soldiers in driblets-a small force
that is worse than none-and it has neither the cour-
age for crushing the rebellion the generous sym
pathies that might conciliate Cuban good will. Half
measures are everywhere the rule of the hour 1t is
crisis when boldneSs is the only prudence, but the
bold men still struggling to mold the nation INTO
Republic and are shut out of a Government which,
before it can be superseded, is lkelyt fling away its
richest colony The appeal of the United States Con-
gress for Abolition has had almost as much influence
on the Spanish mind as the insurrectiOn itself No
name is so often on Spanish lips, in these days as
America. 1t is always So Wherever in Europe strug-
Iii L bao phonpa N heard
first appeal is for sympathy from the American
Republic Mr. Johnson with his usual talent for
mischief, seems to have done what he could to turn
this new friendship into suspicion and dislike. II it
be true that he has sent Mr. Caleb Cushing to Madrid
10 negotiate for the purchase of Cuba he has chosen
the most inOppoTtune moment for success. The ru-
NOR of such mission has called out protest from
all sorts of papers and parties They may not care
to keep Cuba but Spanish pride revolts at the idea
of selling the island under appearance of compu-
sion or despair. 1 do not know what Prim or Scr
rano maythink, but the people of Spain will scarce
lv admit The competency of a Provisional Govern
ment to barter away portion OF the hlngdom-Or
Republic whichever it Is to be- They quite under
stand moreover that Mr.. johnson has even less au-
thory 10 bind the United States than the authori-
ties here have to bind Spain The readiness to aban-
don Cuba for the sake of giving ithe island freedom
was every day becoming more general but II any
thing could make Spain tighten her hold on her
splendid possession it would be a pressure from
America applied at such moment. new paper,
the Spash AboltiOnist has just appeared in Madrid,
announcing a policy of immediate emancipation.
with gradual or graduated indemnity to the slaye-
owners. The Republican policy would not vary
from that-indeed, the Republicans were ready
enough to let Cuba go altogether. Their plans will
be confused and the party brought into odium if it
can be charged with acquiescence in Mr.. Cushing's
demands. No result could be more deplorable and
hope Mr.. johnson is the only American who desires
or if he does not DESIRE is stupid enough-to en-
barrass the Republican cause in Spain just it has
a hope of success
Beside these three articles Of Republican faith
hostility to the army to the church, and to slavery
there another which reaches part Of their creed
but which the monarchists are freely charging upon
it, and that is socialism. The party of reaction is
playing its old game, denouncng all Liberals as the
enemies of order. of society, and above all, of prop
erty. There may be Republicans who make sweep
ing remarks on such subjecs-just enough to give
tsolor TO the accusation. SO there may be men who
cOnfound liberty with license, and who stimua-
ted by the emsaries of reaction into committing ex-
cesses such as the monarchists desire as basis for
accusation against the whole party that strives for
Republic. But the whole party no moro be
charged with extreme doctrines in respect to prop
erty than the Liberal party in England. 1t will be
safe to diSbeeve the reports which are beginning TO
lie scattered through the continental press.
Although it is still believed that the Republicans
have carried a majority of the municipal elections,
details and figures wanting 1t is not easy to get
the exact vote even in the large towns extreme is
the aversion of the Spanish mind to figures. The
fact of Republican victory is obscured as much as
nv he (,oV