The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-07-18

The Spanish Minister communicated to
our Government on Friday n despatch re-
ceived from Madrid, in which the Spanish
Regency declares that as Prince LEOPOLD
of Hohcn2ollcrn has been withdrawn as
candidate for the throne, there is no longer
my reason for continuing the measures that
had been agreed upon for the election. This
declaration is based upon the note Of the
Princes father, in which he withdraws his
IONS acceptance Of the nomination. This
communication has been considered in some
quarters rs a proof that Spain will remain
neutral in the impending European war
but, in our judgment, this view of it is
mistaken.
There is no reason to believe that the pro
jcct of making Prince LEOPOLD King of
Spain was devised without the cooperation
of Count BISMARCK. The fact is notorious
that the revolution which drove ISABELLA
from Spain aud raised PRIM and his associ-
htcs to power was favored by Prussian inAu-
pnce and assisted by Prussian money BIS
MARCK was at the bottom Of it, and formed
then an alliance with PRIM which does not
appear to have been broken since. Is it to
be supposed, then that PRIM would select
Prussian Prince for the crown which had so
long gone begging without consulting his
friend and ally, the great man in Berlin |?
The very suggestion reluies itself; and how.
ever decided the language of Prussia may
have been in dcHy.ng all responsibility for
the nomination of LEOPOLD no pcrspcacious
mind can be deceived by it, The scheme
was concoctcd hy BISMARCK it was n part
of his ambitious and prudent policy for
Strengthening the power Of Prussia and her
influence in the world 1t was also a inca
sure of defence prepared in view Of the con-
Aict with France which he saw would be, in
the nature of things, liable to break out at
one moment or another.
The relations between the rulers at Madrid
and the rulers at Berlin being OF so intimate
n character, and the match which has cx
ploded the great mine OF European politics
having been deliberately fired by tAoil
common action, is it probable that the one
will abandon the other in the contest that
has been brought On? Their ntrigues and
combinations could not be q secret to NAro
LEON; neither can they be ignorant that al
essential part Of the design he intends to &C
complish by tho war is to place the Prince o
Asturias On the throne of Spain.
Any idea, then, of Spanish neutrality IN
the war must prove nugNtory. Even i
PRM were to think it prudent to gain
little time by a prctoncc of the kind thr
nstute manager at the Tuileries could not b.
deceived by him. Nor on the other hand, i
it possible that BISMARCK should consent T.
lose for any length of time the advantage O
such a diversion as the Spanish army woul
be- able to make in favor of the PRUSSIA
forces on the Rhine Besides, such a wn
holds out TO PuH the prospect of advantage
for himself as decided as those that inlluenc
.hG imagination Of NAPOLEON. All th
Spaniards viii be ready 10 fight ngains
France upon the question whether Spai
shall be allowed to choose her own monarc
Or not and when they fight, PRIN will con
mand them, Who knows to what height {
power he may ascend by such means?
There is another circumstance which shed
considerable light upon this subject. W
learn from Havana that all the large vcsse
Of the Spanish navy were some time siDc