The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-22

new Constitution, as finally adopted was pro- |
mulgsted with great pomp on the 9th of June, |
1869, and Spain entered for the first time upon
career in which the rights Of her people we're
fully guaranteed.
The ReEency.N
When the constitutional question was once
settled. the next vital measure was the election
of King; but 1t was so evident that this could
not be accomplished without great delay, that
on June 15 1869, Marshal Serrano was raised
to the dignity of Regent, by a vote of 1913
against AS, aud on the 18th of the same month
he was formally inducted into this responsible
position, clothed nominally with the temporary
functions of King, but in reality with those of
a President republican chief magistrate.
Serrano's elevation to the Regency resulted In
the promotion of General Prim to that of the
Presidency of the Council of Ministers, in
which position he has continued, as from the
first, to be the most important and influential
parsonage in Spain, and the practical ruler of
the country. To the pacifcation of the country
and the filling of the vacant throne he has de-
voted all his time aud energies, and by his
willy, intriguing disposition has contrived to
keep himself uppermost in the distracted coun-
sells of the nation.
The -Cortes, having invested Marshal Serrano
with the powers of Regent, on the 18th of July
suspended their sessions until October, by
unanimous vote, permanent commission of
eight members, in which all the different politi-
cal factions were represented, being established
to look after the general welfare of the country.
The people generally acquiesced in the new
order of things inaugurated by the Constitution
with the exception of two classes-the Republi-
cans and the priests. At Cordova, on June 10.
there was a monster demonstration against the
monarchy clause, in which over fifty thousand
persons participated. On the 18th of June
there also stormy scene in the Cortes be-
tween General Prim aud the leading Republi-
cans. The opposition to the perpetuation of
monarchical rule thus inaugurated has been
| kept up to the present time, and
| has found frequent vent both in
| and out of the Cortes, aud serious disturbances
occurred in Tarragona, Barcelona and else
| where. At one time the Republican risings
spread all over Spain, aud in October, 1859, the
Government was obliged to resort to extreme
| and formidable measures, especially against a
| number of deputies who had joined the iasur
| gents. The frmness exhibited by he Govern
ment, however, triumphed eventually. The Re-
publican deputies abstaiued from attending the
sessions of the Cortes, for which they were cen
sured, and number who participated in the
insurrection were prosecuted by the Govern
ment The attempt to place the Duke of Aosta
| on the throne will doubtless incite the Repub-
| licans to fresh demonstrations, and seriously
endanger the peace of the couutry.
| The course of the priesthood has also given
| the Government great deal of trouble, numbers
of the clergy refusing to take the oath to sup
| port the constitution, for which they were sus-
| pended from their functions. But their only
opportunity for making mischief has been found
in the ranks of the small Carlist bands which
have repeatedly raised disturb 1ces throughout
the country.
The Carists, who had not ceased to advocate
their claims during the whole of Isabella's
reign, became active soon after the revolution
was completed, and on May S. 1869, a formida-
BILE conspiracy under their auspices was dis
| covered at Barcelona. Its discovery led to the
arrest of thirty-six persons, among whom were
several superior officers. A few months later,
the Carlists engaged in conspiracy for the
assassination of Serrano and Prim, and Don
| Carlos himself, the representative of the male
lire Of the Bourbons which had been set aside
Ferdinand VII, left Paris for tn e Spanish
frontier. A large number of arrests were made;
and on the 9th of July the Government troops
encountered and routed near Ciudad Real band
of five or six hundred of the agitators. Don
Carlos then ordered q cessation for the time of
the movements in his behalf. His adherents,
however, did not comply, aud soon another
while other armed bands showed themselves in
Valencia and the mountains of Toledo. Early
in 1870 the Carlos agitation was renewed, Don
Carlos leaving France for Switzerland, where
he made preparations for another demonstra-
tion. By his wife, the daughter of the ex-
Duke of Parma, he received an immense for
tune which he has not hesitated to draw upon
in prosecuting his mad enterprises. In July
last he was expelled from France to prevent
complications between the Governments of that
country and Spain, and then took up his
residence in Geneva. In August the demon.
stration in his favor assumed alarming proper
tions: large bands were recruited In France, and
the northern provinces of Spain were thrown
into great excitement. The Government, how
ever, brought an overwhelming force agaips
the insurgents, and by the end Of the month the
country was again fairly rid of the troublesome
partisans.
The Vacant Throne.
fsalella was scarcely out of Spain before Prin
ard lis coadjutors began their difficult task o
hunting up successor. The Duke of MoAtpen
sier, grandson OF Louis Philippe of France, ant
husband of Isabella's sister was at fret the mos
formidable candidate, and he spared nsithe
time nor trouble in pressing his claims upon tn,
attention of the people and their leaders. III,
complied, however, with the wish of the ProVi
sional Government and remained at first out
side of Spain, returning, for few days only
after the Republican demonstration at Cadiz II
December, 1868. On the 10th of this month h,
published letter dated at Lisbon, in which b,
set forth his vie VS. aud claims at the same tim,