The New York herald., 1870-06-14
spnin-Prim ON the situation-The nea'
DlHculties in the Way.

siOn6 relative to the future occupaucy vi 'o
throne. 1t does not appear that the discus
sions have resulted in any satisfactory settle-
ment The statement of Prlm, made in the
Cortes on Saturday, that the government had
sought candidate fer the throne, but thus far
in vain, clearly shows that the throne question
is as much perplexity to-day as it has been
any time these last nineteen months. It is
poor consolation to Spain, afflicted and ex-
hausted as she is, to be told after all this
weary waiting that there was reason to feel
confident that candidate would be found
within the next three months. Prim assured
them that he did not mean Alphonso, Prince
of the Asturias, son and heir of Isabella; nor
did he expect that the anxiety which notori-
ously existed throughout the country would
ripen into disorder.
Than the condition in which Spain now finds
herself we can conceive of nothing more
humiliating. In September Of 1868 Spain, 80
long 80 backward, so long dying by inches,
startled the world by the suddenness and
vigor Of her action, and seemed by one bold
effort, by one daring leap, to recover her
the times of Ferdinand and Isabella, when
Spanish arms were invincbe wherever they
were put to the test the times of Charles V.
and of Philip H., when the Spanish flag
| swept the seas and when the Spanish dominion
encircled the globe; and they naturally enough
leaped to the conclusion that the pride Of Old
CASTLE and the chivalry of Aragon, though
long dormant, were not yet dead. The de-
thronement of Isabella was new triumph of
the popular cause. fresh hope, resurrec-
tion and on this Continent, as in Europe, the
people and the friends of progress re-
joiced. In the course of time the Cortes
met, and the new constitution which
they framed, although in some respects
disappointing, was an advance in the right
direction. The throne was not demolished,
as, perhaps, it should have been, but good
hope was given that the successor of Isabella
would be man Of the peoples choice, and
that it would be difficult for him to govern
contrary to their wishes. There was to be no
delay in filling the throne. Yet here we are
to-day, some twenty months since the revolu-
ton, and the Spanish throne is. still begging
an occupant. Europe is crowded with princes,
with idle scions of royalty in eager quest of
such toys as crowns and thrones; Spain has
gone upon her knees to many of them; yet no
prince but one, so far as we know, has been
found willing to be a royal fgurehead, and
that one is obnoxious to the Spanish nation.
This, however, is not all. The Spanish people
are worn out with uncertainty and baffed
hopes. The Spanish treasury is empty.
Spanish bills will nowhere be discounted.
Spanish trade is all but dead. Spanish colo
MES are sick of their connection with the mo-
ther country. Spanish mobiles who have been
filling the posts of duty seek TO be relieved, and
the only Spaniard who has been deemed wor-
thy Of royal honors politely but firmly declines
them In these circumstances it is that Prim
tells the Spanish people that a king may be
found in three months. Buckle did say hard
things of Spain. but the worst things that
Buckle ever said have been established by
facts since Buckles death. Was ever nation
in such wretched plight? Was ever revolution
80 fruitless? Was ever people so disappoint-
ed and disappointing? Twenty months of
killing uncertainty and no hope of deliverance!
Search the whole field of history and find such
an example We seek in vain.
What is the cause Of this failure? We have
answered the question often before. We an
swer it again. We might put our answer in
two words, and say" Spanish impotence"
This is the true answer. 1t is necessary, how
ever, to be more particular The resurrec-
| .s,~ k,o u,1 i,v,pn all Ia ho
cause the people are held down by the Church
and by the army, and because men are
wanting to head the people in at
tempting to break those bands asunder
and to cast away those cords. The Church
will not accept the new constitution, and
| Church. The army of Spain is blind
machine but il is strong enough to make
peasants and unarmed citizens tremble. And
during all those months no man has come to
the surface prominently but one, and Prim
seems to be without that force Of character,
revolutions lastingy triumphant. A Caesar, a
Cromwell, q Napoleon would lead Spain into
new paths, would arouse her ancient spirit
and give her new lease of life. But no
Caesar no Cromwell, no Napoleon comes to
the rescue. Prim is the only man who has
had the opportunity, but his courage has not
mounted with the OCCASION Until the Spanish
Church is broken down and The people enjoy
intellectual and spiritual liberty, and until the
Spanish army changes its character and
ceases to be blind, unreasoning machine, we
have little hope of Spanish resurrection. II
there is any hope at all it lies in the posi-
bility Of the appearance Of some patriot and
genius to lead. If some such man does not