New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-09
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
SPAIN.

OIA'S PLAN OF TAXATION.
IFRoM orr own CORRESPONDENCE
MADRID. Feb 19.-The gocdfolks were somewhat
sstonisbcd last Sunday. 10 learn that the Duke Of
Nontpensier had made his appearance i'll this city.
n seems that this visit was the result of sudden
determination, taken the evening before and COM
municatcd in cipher TO Sagasta. whose visit to
Seville was thereby stopped. What has been going
ON during Serrano's stay his hunting tour no one
knows but no doubt exists of the Dukes VISIT being
intimately connected with the meetings known 10
have been held in Andalusa, between tho Duke ana
his adhercnts. 1t is quite certain they have not iost
hope Notwithstanding they have not gained strength
The DIXIE bctoOk himself TO the Hotel des frthces
went muiied-up to Mass, called on Prim, had inter
views with other members Of the government anu
early on Monday morning started OH LOT tue D"'nS
at Albania. TO repair TO which special Incense WIS
extendcd 70 him two months ago. 1t is, however, an
odd circumstance that he should not have
nized at Albania by visitors who have returned TO
Madrid and not less singular that no one should
have seen him here The general indifference. how
ever TO his actual whereabouts proves how little i'm
portance is attached to his presence or his absence
notwithstanding that his arrival was made the sub
ect of special kilograms to the foreign papers. This
indifference may also be accepted as an indication
of the contempt in which the Duke is held, and
augurs more unfsvoTably for his pretensiOns than
auy other circumstance. He has acquired the nick
name of Cain the lId in consequence of his treason
toward his brother-in-law
While. however, Montpensiers partisans. tho
Uuionists, may be plotting in their way. real dan
Ger is imminent on the side Of the Carlsts, whose
agents are active daring and-as it seems-proyided
With present abundant means. Their ultimate sue
IS is unlikely, as the party has real hold upon
,lic sentiment although in the Basque provinces
,iways the stronghold Of Carlism-and in parts OF
Arragon it has no incOnsderable number of adhe-
rents and the clergy, body would probably sus-
tain the side more likely than any other to restore
the privileges now so rapidly escaping from their
grasp 1t must not be forgotten, in taking the esti-
mate of parties in Spain. that Carlism has at any
rate a reason of existence IN the TACT tnaJ IL Is
founded upon n firm belief in the Divine Right
Thus the party has principle to stand upon, what
It may he worth and IS therefore 10 certain
extent strong. Tho opposing prlnclpie IS that OF
HeDublicanisn which rests upon the or PopHH, to1
Icj: another species of Divine Right more In
accordance with truth with history, with the ten
jcncies of the age. Between these two antagonisms
there can be no truce until one IS conquered, and
needs spirit of prophecy looking abroad upon the
movements of the peoples of the wOTld-tO determine
upon which side the victory will remain. The
Carlists have weak point i'll their case when they
urge the more legitimate descent OF carlo l!etlmO
upon the plea of the repeal of the Salique law by
Ferdinand This monarch urged by the clever ana
ambitious Christine, did nothing more IN reYOkng
that law than restore the succession according 10
the ancient custom in Span-thc Saqne law eX-
cIndimg females from the throne having been intro
duced by the BOurbons in l'OO when Louis NV IN
grandson was elected King. Resting upon the
Salique law, Don Carlos, FeTdinands brother. OF
whom the present Carllst candidate Is ihe eiahuSon
had acOign of vantage so long as the nation re-
manned ignorant of the nature OF the claim. IL
il, now unite exploded, but the Carliss may do great
mischief by keeping the country IN commotlOn'
Meanwhile the political position becomes more
complicated and the coalition is no longer one Last
Thursday the Ministry received check, when. IN
any other country, would have involved immediate
resignation of office. Among the changes lOpete has
sought 10 introduce into the department under ms
rnDtrnl IS the creation of n Court of Admiralty.
n,tensiby to take cOgnizance of cases which former
IN were disposed of by the Minister alone suing III
Judgment. This tribunal was provided Tor IN the
,.,tmatcs of last year, but the charges are heaVy'
and there has been 10 work for the money. While
p the one hand there is certain show oil reason III
treating court presided over 10y me DhisleI WIN
A view 10 throw the responsibility OF Judgments
upon q number rather than upon one, that reason
tails the ground IN presence OF the TACT that the
Court is constituted OF the nominees OF inc Minister
removable at his pleasure therefore not independent
u fact created 10 provide places Tor me mem
beers of the IniOnst party, and It's Institution was
wkcd AT by the PrOgressStas. IN return for similar
Iudulgences extended 10 them by the Jnl0llsts, In
spain place Is everything. IL brings influence, OF
.Gurse and salary but it also brings a retiring
allowance which does not depend upon length OF
service. A minister who has been IN Office only
few days gets his pension just as though he mad
served his country for long term OF years Hence
the origin of that curse of Spain called eBPe0mGHd,
and hence the scrambllng after ONCE when mas bur
dcned the national eXchequer 10 TIE amount OF
100000 annually, TO support 1.-THE OO,n0 ceSdnteS
'r nensioners This system has engendered--a sum
equivalent TO the cost OF the state Church ana TO
half that of the army and the navy. Some idea may
Le formed of the shameful extent to which tins
vicious practice is carried when 1t is known that'
since the constitution of tue present COrtes and IN
.pite OF a law prohibiting deputies to this assem-
Div from holding public appointments. liO out OF the
50 have been nominated to official posts, and, either
IN salaries PENSIONS draw S}4OOOOO from the pub
tic Golfers. Besides these very considerable mum
her Of deputies hold honorary Offices but which
furnish them-and are VIGOROUSLY known to do so
abundant opportunities of filling their pockets Dy IN
direct means.
When the estimates for the navy came before the
Gortcs Topetes item of charges for the Court of
Admiralty was objected TO, and member OF the
ndv0yiG-that is one of the supporters OF the Gov,
ernment-submitted an amendment agMnstlt small
merit his for this opposition, III was party move
another blow aimed at the Union, IN the person OF
Tupete and at the time against section OF the
FrOTcSsistas The debate proved more than usually
Ivel, and the speakers, for and against were more
than usually numerous. The amendment met with
more supporters than the Ministerial proposition,
and the moment drew near ior recording tno votes
the anxiety of the chief OF the Naval Department
became intense A defeat seemed lne' ltable. tllm
,nr,uc 10 the rescue He called out the members oil
the YIagCyid by twOs and threes INTO the LOBBY
vberdlcd some bnlhed others TO Others appealed 10
prevent a ministerial crisis and TOpete from resign
ING Office as he threatened to do II the amendment
should he carried and finally so wrought upon them
that 10y majOrltyOf eight, the Minister MOTION was
ADOPTED. In all upwards OF % deputies asotalne1
lrOin voting in consequence OF tins naheuyer ol
Prini's. including niue members OIL the commission
ON the budget who had spoken against the. lnl1lste-
rial propositions and recorded their vote IN commit
lee. Such result is very properly Se-
feat and has caused 10 little commotion. The sec
ton of PrOgressists who voted Tor the alheidlnehl'
and who fully expected to carry their point, pro-
tested m strong terms against the arbitrary lhtcr-
ference of PriIn. whom they charge with dIagOonmg
the mdyorid as though u were regiment Oh solde or
and made an appeal to the members oil tAe Cores IRE
SpeciiSc Of party to constitute immediately an inde-
,,rudont center with view to defeat all further
f..o mo