The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-01-25
sketch of the spanish Cores.

| r.
The Madrid correspondent of the Boston Journal
thus sketches the Spanish Oortes:
What droll session this last of the Cortes has
beenl Assembled with the anticipation of adjourn.
ment In at least three days, and with its ministerial
head chuckling over the agitation that Europe
would be in when it learned that the Duke of Genoa
was already on the throne, and that the September
revolution Of 1868, and the battle of Acolea were
undone it now finds ITSELF this strange body of de-
baters Invested of its sparkle and glory by the de.
parture of the Republican leaders, and condemned
to labor on, in inglorious dispute issues which
arise every hour. Prim, Sagasta, and Topete have
| been much excited within the past few weeks; the
first recognizing the army, above all, the military
terror, making gigantic efforts to anticipate revolts
in large cities and petty provinces by changing the
municipal boards and directing his subordinates to
doctor public opinion; and Topete, gallant and
grave and bald d-headed Admiral, scrubbing up the
| navy and massing considerable armament for the
seas at Carthagena. Prim has kept the Seville
foundry working upon cannon, and Topete has
taken them TO arm his ships. The volunteering lor
Cuba has been brisk, too, and Prim has had some
care of that upon his shoulders that the trio are
quite overworked and getting queruous over petty
matters, when the storm breaks over their heads.
So it is no wonder when go to the Cortes see
them quiescent, and apparently idle. Perhaps it is
because they have no one TO combat The kepuo-
lican benches are empty. There are no more oil
Castelars wary gestures, echoes of his sonorous
Gladstonelike voice-no more of his sublime tropes
and metaphysical theories Plenads White head
and impressive face, and his Orphc speech are non
est Orense, like him, langushes in jail, put there
by Prim; and SO the Ministers turn 10 quarrel
among themselves 1t is the old story of the Titan
tearing his own wounds, when the gods VIII no
longer fight with him.
The "Congress de las Deputados," the seat of the
Cortes, is plain building, with noble front, few
of the architectural features being stolen bodily,
however, from the Palace of Industry, at Parls 1t
is not far from the Prado in the Gale de San Geron-
imo. Opposite is range of noble buildings, and
above them on little park stands Senor Cervantes,
in bronze disdainfully looking down upon such
serious writers as CASTELAR,, and such scoffers as
Capdevita, of the present; Entering the Cortes
than the House of Commons at London, or the
French Senate Itis ample, rich in decoration, and
perfect in acoustics. The coors are mostly dark
red, relieved by purple, but nowhere positive or
glaring Galleries, ample in extent are always filled
with intelligent-looking audiences, and diplomats
and fashion have fine representation.
All around the hail. which is semi-circular in
FORM are ranged the coats of arms of the ancient
Kingdoms of Spain sublime memorials : always
alluded to with pride by new members in their
maiden speeches The Presidents dais or platform
superb in fashion, and behind 1t stand the guards
clad in antique pikemen's dress, and bearing maces
These are relieved by Others every few minutes, and
the maces always seen supported in an attitude
most painful to the muscles.
The Government bench, with the Ministers ranged
upon it. is full of noticeable faces. First, John
Prim-litte, 1.-the, black-whiskered, peak nosed,
as the Yankees say, intense all over, rising like
down curled up, awkward as Grant, and apparently
as unconscious that he is the cynosure of all eyes
Next, is Ruiz Loulia, Minister of Justice-young
and elegant in appearance. BE was formerly an
avowed Republican, but he is now only one at heart.
Silvefa-tall and handsome-who manages the affairs
of State is next in order then comes Topetes COM
ical bald Uranium and incisive face. Echegaray,
the Minister of Commerce, is not remarkable man
in appearance; but Becena Minister of the Pearl
of Ultrama, he who manages the destinies of the
Pearl of the Antilles" and who, by the way, Is
renegade Republicans noble and intellectual
looking He is powerful, too, and to his influence
NAV be attributed much of the Spanish resentment
shown when our Government proposed to mix in
Cuban affairs sagasta, malicious, almost demoniac
in his appearance, and none the less SO in bis pot
ical course is the Government orator in the Cham
ber and has an immense power Of oratory. Full of
sophistry he makes the most tyrannical measures |
ppear in the guise of liberal concession. He is
and fond of saying in his speeches, IL !
sagasta, aege thus and so;'' a fashion which has
won him some satirical comments FROM his oppo- |
nents And now, in my next, propose to give |
you some pen portraits of prominent Republicans |
and anecdotes concerning the Ministry Meantime, |
go your ways, with Cod" as the Valencian |
peasants say, for Gu Tevoir.