The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-01

The Spanish Press On tho Local situssies.
In our day and generation the public press
has become the eyes and the voice of the
people; and whore any liberty is left to it, to
carefully scan its tendency towards this or
that opinion is to obtain pretty fair know
ledge Of what is really at work in the bosom
OF at least the intelligent mass Of any nation
atty. We may therefore, not unreasonably,
turn to this great exponent of fact for soma
clue to guide US out of the bewildering laby-
rinth OF Spanish politics as they are al
present.
By processes social as well as political
Madrid has become to Spain very much what
Paris is to France-the centre and the index
of the nations activity Of mind. The provinces
do not always move with it at once, and both
Cadiz and Barcelona have repeatedly declared
their mental independence, but they, sooner
or later, follow its lead and sustain its initia-
tive. Paris frequently changes its mind and
supports on the morrow what it yesterday
opposed. So does Madrid. But whatever
may be the expression for the moment, If ii
be persisted in for length Of time tho
departments finally come round to It, In
this point Of view 1t Is quite curious
to note the political complexion Of the Journals
that daily appeal to the mind of the Spanish
capital They are forty in number, Of which
nine, classified as follows, earnestly advocate
the election Of the Duke Of Montpensier to the
royal dignity, to wit Lac Noosd0des
(progressist), La Correspondence dc Esp0ii0,
La Opinione Nacional Oentinssa del
Pueblo and Impsrtinente, all independent,
the Puente de Alcolea, democratic; the Dia,5o
Espanol the PoIitica and the Pals, all liberal.
Two others have contended by turns, for the
Duke Of Aosta, for King Ferdinand of Portu-
gal, and for the Duke of Genoa. They now
favor the election of Espartero, and are the
Eco del Progreso and Independence EspG-
ao1a. They are both progressist. Two Of
the moderado stripe sustain Don Alfonso,
viz;-Lq Epoco and E ISempo One is
still faithful to Queen Isabella and all her
claims and protests, and is, otherwise, q
moderado. It is the Eco de Espana. The
Pueblo the Discussion and the SuJTagso Uni-
uersal are for a unitary or consolidated
| republic, with one central power. The
| Republica Federal and the Igualidad are for
federal republic, similar to Switzer-
land. One-E Lmparcial-is, seemingly,
democratic, but really moderado, end
makes it's special aim and employ
ment the defeat of Montpensier. The
IBERIA is regarded by everybody as the special
organ of the Minister of State, and sits COM
fortably on the fence, ready to go with the
majority.
La Esperansa, La Regeneration, El Penso-
miento Esp0fos and ES Legitinsista are all
for Don Carlos, and are edited with consider
able force and ability. The remainder of tho
forty have but very limited issue and are
purely speculative concerns, leading an ephe-
| moment.
From the above statement, which, 10 pro-
portion of number and style, quite fairly rep
resents the tone of the whole kingdom, it
will be seen that Montpensier stands better
than any other single candidate, but is not
strong enough against them ALL The voices
of the whole group of journals in the Babel Of
argument that they have raised, and the poll
teal confusion of tongues that has fallen upon
them, begin to converge toward a compromise,
and that compromise vi! bs hstched out insS TO-.
chick, most likely, of the Napoleonic feather,
if not Of Napoleonic race, beneath the French
imperial wing. Let us hope that the young
bird may prove to be an eagle Of the nobleE
| sort