New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-24
SPAIN,


Split oF THE COAIITION-THE LIBERAL UNION
AT BAY-RELATIvE STRENGTH AND POSI-
TON OF PARTIES IN THE CORTES AND OUT
ANALYSIS OF THE MoNARCHIC VOTE OF loO9
THE ACTUAL SITUATION.
IPRoM OUR own CORRESPONDENCE
MADRID Feb. 5--We have q party crisis which
promises to lead to some decisive resut-not that
such an event was unexpected or is uncommon. You
have always been forewarncd Of the certainty OF
defnitiye rupture of tho coalition sooner or later.
and are aware it has been held together, in tho
loosest fashion, only by a system of hollow compro-
misses To thoroughly comprehend the gravity OF
the present situation ii is absolutely necessary to
know the relative strength of parties in the Cortes
and out. Because the Government commands In tho
| Chamber what is called majority it must not be
supposed this term implies the Specification absolute
which it conveys to us. 1t is not COM
pact parliamentary pbalanx, constituted OF men
| holding one opinion, and undivided In principle
therefore good against all odds-but is an agglom-
Grafton of partsans belonging to the three classes OF
politicians who have so long misrued the country
and are held together-wthout union-by the lust
| of Office authority. and lucre. When the Cortes
were constituted all that asked of the parties to
the coalition-caled tho coalition Of Cancellation"
was that they should agree to accept monarchic
principle with the object and purpose of crushing out
the republican element. Each faction retained its
pecullar opinions the assertion of which was left to
| time and opportunity. The Chamber then nomi-
| mated all sorts of commissions committees, TO
whom was handed over the initiative of every
measure thus reducing the Republicans to mere
nonentty so far the practical business OF legisa
| ton was concerned.
| Navy times during the debates upon the new con-
stitution did the volcanic-fre. smoldering in the
heart of the coalition. burst into flame and menace
the edfce with destruction; event as often de-
ferred by new concessions and compromises for the
| sake of Cancellation" In this uncomfortable
fashion the great work of last year completed.
The constitution was concocted, voted, and sworn TO-
The next great work is to frame and pass the organic
laws. and upon this business tho Cortes have now
entered In the interval however. the question of
the candidature TO tho throne cameup most inoppor-
timely with the result which has already been com
| municated to you, namely: new compromise once
more bringing back tho unionist element but with
out really copciliating it. This position was I'M
tenable, and the recalctrant Union Is once
more, but this time in open, opposition. 1t must DO
understood that long the question OF the candl-
dature remained in allegiance. so long as the
Progressistas wero known either to hold candidate
in the hollow of their hand or TO have one in view.
and the Unionists persisted in Montpensier, tho
Progressist eaders-Prim and his colleaguges-were
they should throw their strength into the Repub
can ranks for mere party mischief Tho late Minis
teral explanations however, cleared the ground by
disposing of Montpensier absolutely. by asserting
the absence Of any new candidate by announcing
the allegiance of the candidature question. and the
prolOngaton Of the sdfa quo.
This new combination necessitated complete har-
mony in tho ranks of the coalition. In order 20 In
sure the passing OF the organic laws Radically. in
veteratey opposed however to truly liberal nstitu-
tons. and impressed with the conviction OF the
inability of the Government to carry its proposed
measures without tho help Of the Union this party
resolved 10 take its stand upon anti-revoutionary
ground. 1t will not advance. 1t accepts the revo-
lution of September and what has been done up to
the present time. but refuses 10 help forward the
measures indispensable TO make the revolution o
reality and in fact raises the flag OF reaction. Now
this is simply indication Of the craziness which
precedes destruction. Without these projected or
ganic laws the new Constitution becomes a Dullity.
The individual rights it guarantees cannot
be legally asserted. Universal suffrage.
freedom OF the press. Of public meetings,
liberty Of conscience. freedom Of industry.
Of trades and callings; the nvolability Of domice
and Of correspondence; the right OF habeds corpus
all these and many other rights arc guaranteed by
the new Constitution but liable 10 DO at any
hour violated and legally denied, because organic
laws confirming them have not yet been presented.
and are therefore. TO all ntentsand purposes not in
existence though virtually in operation. No Gov
eminent could accept such position on tho part Of
the Unionists and the question was either TO como
10 a new compromise, TO preserve the coalition"
or to defy the Union and proceed with tho necessary
reforms. IL is 80 far fortunate that Government.
though unable to rally the Republican section to ts
standard. rely upon its cooperation for the
ryng out Of those laws which independent OF the
principle of loyalty.
One OF the reforms promised was the extension to
Cuba and Porto Rico Of the new Spanish Constitu-
ton. In November last the Colonial Minister pre-
scented bill 10 this effect and the 2ih tho report
OF the commission upon IL. The discussion Of the
project was fixed for the 3lst but the Unonists-in
league with the slaveholdng nterest-presented pc
ttons and protests urging the postponement Of the
question until the delegates from Cuba could come,
urging the injustice in their absence. Of adopting
for Porto Rico reforms which would DO made pro-
cedent for Cuba. II is known that these reforms
embrace the question Of emancipation; and. al
though the slavehOlding advocates arc aware they
cannot save Slavery. they seek TO defer the day
Of emancipation. and TO insure q long term OF ap-
premiership. The Government, pledged To proceed
with this particular measure nevertheless hesitated
seeing what determined attitude the Union had
sumed, but 1t finally concluded that the question
should come before the Cortes on Monday next, the
9TH instant In consequence Of this decision the
Union held q conference last Wednesday afternoon,
which lasted three hours adjourned until the
evening. and did not then break up till late. Some
Of the Ministers attended and tho discussion was Of
the stormest kind The final issue was q declara-
ton on the part Of the Unionists that they would
leave the majority" il the Government persisted |
to which menace the reply was "Then leave it" |
and thus the quarrel stands.