The New York herald., 1871-11-21

Tho Ministerial Crisis in Spain.
The latest news from Spain leaves us in no
doubt as to the fact that the Ministerial crisis
continues, and that it is quite as serious as at
first we were led to regard it. Great agta-
tion prevails in Madrid and generally through
out the provinces. What adds to the gravity
of the situation Is that the labor strikes have
not yet been concluded. The demonstrations
Of the strikers have In some instances been so
threatening-in Valencia particularly re-
Inducements have bsen sent to the garrison.
The republican deputies, 1t seems, are con-
Quoting themselves with much caution. They
refuse to take any undue advantage Of the
present troubles, and, with this end in view,
they have issued circular advising their
supporters throughout the country to keep
quiet and to do their best to maintain public
order.
The debate Ia the Cortes on Friday last
seems to have been more than usually keen,
and turbulent to an extent which Is common
only in Spain. The Cortes have been engaged
for some time past In the discussion OF gov
ernment proposition for the maintenance Of
the clergy. The Church has been somewhat
severely dealt with since 1868. The treas
ures Of her shrines have been seized and
taken in charge by the civil authorities. Civil
marriages have been made legal. The pay
ment Of the clergy has been stopped. The
nsy measure Of the government provides
only for the payment Of one-third OF the
whole due to the Church, leaving the other
two-thirds to be raised by the Provincial
Assemblies and the Town Councils. The
Ultramontanes, of course, are furious; but SO
are many others, who are neither Ultramon-
tanes nor Carlists, and the new measure
of the government is freely denounced
as breach Of faith. A breach
Of faith it no doubt is, if govern
ments can be spoken of at any time az
breaking faith, for it is violation Of pledges
made after the revolution of 1868, which sent
Isabella into exile. On Friday evening the
discussion arose on proposition to ceusure
the government. This was strangely met
with a counter motion to grant entire liberty
to religious societies throughout Spain, and to
suppress the DEGREES relative to the Church
made by the provisional government, Of which
Gorilla, the present leader Of the opposition,
was q member. Another motion from the
opposition benches was offered-to declare the
sittings Of the Cortes permanent. This the
government resisted; and when It was
carried against it by vote of lib to llS,
4alcampo, the present Premier, at once
mounted the tribune and read royal decree
the Cortes sine die. So for the
present matters stand.
Rightly or wrongly, the government has
Icted with vigor and decision. Whether the
government can afford to take so bold stand
.gainst the will Of the popular assembly 10 the
question which, for the present, is important
bove all others, but which it must be left to
ime to answer. vigor and decision on tho
'art Of the government are what Spain above
Ill things needs; and 1t is not to be denied that
Amadeo, as . constitutional sovereign, has,
In proroguing the Assembly, acted within the
limits Of tho royal prerogative. 1t would be
Mr.. Gladstones privilege. were tho Houses In
session, under an adverse vote, to advise Her
Majesty to prorogue Parliament until the
Cabinet was reconstructed; and, In the event
,f its being found impossible to organize
,ew Cabinet, 1t would be the privilege Of Her
Majesty to dissolve Parliament and send the
members OF tho House of Commons
back to their constituents. It is quite
possible that something serious may grow out
Of this bold and decisive action of King ANA
ieo and his present Ministers; but In acting
a. they have done they have not violated the
new Spanish constitution. II is pitiful to sec
Spain at this day, with all her fine opportuni-
ties, 50 completely prey to the irreconcilable
hatreds Of party politicians In addition to
Carlists and Alfonsists and republicans and
progresistas, who have gathered around and
been the main support Of the Prince of Savoy,
Spain now beholds the progresistas divided,
the one section following the lead Of Sagasta
and the other the lead Of Gorilla. The condi
tion OF Spain and Of Mexico at the present
to make mention Of France or
Italy--is not encouraging as to the future pros
poets Of the Latin races. They are, one and
all, In state Of chronic revolution.
Abuse.
It has been the misfortune Of the reform
rno In thin oitv 4hof ~ ho