New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-18
THE .BOURBONS IN SPAIN.


Continued Il FIRST Page.
Of these statements and they will no doubt produce
a great effect abroad as they have already done at
home But in what a humiliatiug position has hlm
placed himself ny his declaration that his opinion
viii be that OF the majority OF his colleagues. Here is
disclosure few could have been prepared for though
1t confirms the view taken long bv your core
spondcut that Prim held no very decided opinions as
To the future whatever his predictions might be.
consequently could have no positive plan of action.
He Is after all, however. the ouly positive known
quantity in the Government equation. Standing as
one the support of any section Of the majority will
augment MS power 10y ITS own value. Parties must
reckon with him. under any circumstances and he
cannot do without them, The truce which just now
brings the ProgresSstas and the UniOuists into proN
unity. without binding them, cannot endure; and
the next crisis will most probably force them INTO
open collision rs has been the on so many pre-
vious occasions I'm the history Of this factOn-torn
country In the meanwhile, they are fighting the
battle Of the Republicans who are gaming
ground every day. In the elections they have
again carried the three seats previously occupied by
men OF their own party, and have won-by large
maioritics-lour others from their opponents. New
erthclc,s. the party is numerically weak in the
House though powerful a representative, perma-
mems principle of radical opposition. Some fifteen of
cline to attend the Cortes. They allege that the
moral prestige of the Chamber is gone and that II is
usclc>, 10 take their seats there where every ques
tion is already prrjudged. and there Is no possibility
of tle minority assuming an initiative. Their col
leagues iu the House have accepted Their position.
Ia fact; were both sides to muster their full compile
meut, tie practical result on a vote would not be
altered. as the numbers each side would remain
relatively the same The Government might
~ vote of the CoTtes, make it
imperative on all abSentees TO attend
or declare their seats vacant But this would
involve new elections and the results Of the last
not encouraging TO the Government. wherefore TINS
alternative viii not readily he resoTted to, lest the
republican minority should be strengthened Inc
Duke de MOutpcuSer has made two simultaneous
efforts 20 be elected 70 the COrtcS, and has falled
most shamcfullv Al OviedO he was beaten 10y 800
votes at A'iieS by 4'tj' BON tDese PAGES alI III
AsturIa-the former being the capital OF that
proNiuce-aud his family influence there Is almost
paramount, through the QueCn-Npthor CluStmC $
connection with the largest landed pTOprietOrS. She
favorcd-aS is well ku0wn-the marriage of Mont
pcnsler with the lnfnta, in league with LOuls
PHILIPPE. for their own dark purposes. ana has done
her hest 10 promote the preteusons OF the husband
Of her pet daughter by Ferdinand VII. The
Dukes defeat is the more humilatinC because ms
opponents IN each constituency are absolutely nslg
nIHcaHt unknown men. one Carllst the
other "A MOudrchiC-DcmOCTat. The issue OF
these elections seems To be pretty conclusive
against hIs chances Of success, were ms
randrature 10 the throne put 70 the popular vote
Last Tuesday the Minister for the Colonies, Becerla
presented the report of the Commission in favor OF
reforms m Porto Rico against which one of the dele
gate, from tla. island las submitted his individual
protest alleging that IL was WcmatuTe-untll the
aIrrv val Of the deputies from Cuba-to lecisato for
P0ILO Rico. because the social and other reforms
proposed for the latter island would constitute the
basis of similar changes in Cuba OF course the ahO-
Hou of Slavery is involved in this question, and the
deputy from Porto Rico is probably right in ms sur
misc. : am. however, crediby Informed that the
Ministry is resolved To push the measure forward,
and that the Government plan embraces the emancl-
patton OF the slaves within period of three years.
II is quite certain that the abolition Of slavery IN
Porto Rico will compel it IN Cuhl, where the insur-
TectIon has il is reported, already freed quar-
ter of the slave population. The United States
and the ueW British Ministers here may not be able
10 move officially in this matter but their friendly
offices with the Spanish Government may help the
cause forward Both are extremely popular here.