Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-01-19


escorted by Populations from all parts.
together with the troops. sailors and civic
bodies. The crowds 10 the streets were
immense, and it took upwards of four
hours for the procession to pass throug b
the streets. Gen. Prim made speech
from the balcony of the Office of the Min
istry and laid stress upon the intimate
unity existing between bin and Serranno,
and urged the necessity of union and tran
guilty. At the conclusion of the speech
Gen. Prim embraced Serrano, exclaiming
aloud down with the Bourbons y
This was received by all the people with
applause. In the evening Madrid was
magnifcently illuminated.
Immediately after the success of the
revolution Central Junta was elected,
which called npon Marshal Serrano to
organize a Ministry. Gen. Prim was
made Minister of War, and was the
leading character in the negotiations for
recognition abroad, and the arduous -dn-
ties attending the establishment of order
at home. Every important occurrence in
the political history of Spain since the
triumph of the revolution might be re
cited as part of Gen. Prim's career. His
authority was virtually absolute in all the
important affairs which devolved upon the
new Govcrnment-Revolts took place in
December, in 1868, in Cadiz and Malaga,
and we're speedily suppressed by the Gov
ernment troops. On the 18th of that
month Spain elected members of the Cor
ties by universal suffrage. and soon all
claimants to the Spanish Grown were earn
esty assuring the Spaniards of their read
mess to accept it. The revolt of Cuba,
which Immediately followed the triumph
of the revolution, proved also source OF
| embarrassment 70 the Minister OF War
and his associates.
The restoration of order at home, how
ever, proceeded SUCCESSFULLY, and on Feb
ruary 10. 1862 the Constituent Cortcs
assembled. 1t adopted the Constitution
now in force, by which Prim's earnest
acquescence, and hereditary monarchy
was declared to be the permanent form of
government. This was followed by Re
publican demonstrations and a plot for the
assassination of Prim and Serrano. The
suppress ion of the domestic disturbances
and negotiations for King occupied the
Council of Ministers the greater part OF
1869. In September Gen. Prim had an
interview with Napoleon III. The claims
of various candidates for the throne con-
tinued to be the leading subject of inter
est at the commencement of the past
year General Prim, who was regarded
as dictator in the matter, at length gave
encouragement to the candidature OF
Prince Leopold of Hohensol.ern. This
step. which precipitated the present war
in Europe, failed by the withdrawal of
the Prince, and Spain became tranquil
and passive in presence of the remarkable
events occurring around her. Pr i'm con-
tinued to display great energy in sending
reinforcements to the army Of Cuba. and
steadily opposed all propositions invo "
ing the surrender Of that island. He re-
Gently succeeded in securing the accept
ance by the Duke of Aosto Of the crown
of Spain, and procured the approval of
the Cortes for that measure There
we're indications that he was about to re-
tire to private life GU the accession of the
King. On Thursday last, however, the
good fortune which attended him through
so many dangers failed him. While pro-
ceding from the Cortes to his residence
some individuals in the Gale A cala fred
into his carriage, wounding both the
General and his Adjutant. Seven of
the eight balls Embedded in his shoulder
were extracted, and he suffered the loss of
two fingers. But his nervous system
proved unequal to the shock, and his
death speedily ensued.
A writer in The atlantic Monthly for
January gives the following account of
General PRINTS participation in the great
debate of the 18th of March, which re-
suited in the complete victory of the Gov
eminent against coalition Of the entire
opposition. Gen. Prim is thus describ-
ed:
The Ministerial Bench is so full to-
night that you can not see the blue velvet.
At its head sits slight, dark man, with
grave whiskered face and serious
black clothes, looking, as an OBJ
serving friend of mine once said, "like
pious and sympathizing undertaken. p
He holds in his dark~ gloved hands lit
tie black-and- silver cane with which he
thougbtfully taps his neat and glossy
boot The whole manner and air of the
man is sober and clerical. Bien fol est
qui s'y fe. This is the President of the
Council, Minister of the War. Captain
General of the Armies of Spain, the
Count of Reus, the Marquis of Castillo
jos, Dor Janun Prim, in short. A SOL
der, conspirator, diplomatist, and born
ruler Cromwell without convictions;
dictator who hides his power; War
rick who mars Kings better than he
makes them. x x x x 1t was now after
l o'clock. Every one wanted to hear
Pfim, and vote.
The Marquis of Perales. Vice-Presi-
dent, seil, as Silvela took his seat: "The
President of the Council of Ministers has
the word Prim slowly rose, holding bis
eyeglasses 10 his gloved hands. His face
was as colorless and impassive as that of
mummy. There was rustic of move
ment as the house, now wide awake. bent
forward to catch his first words. They
were full of soldierly bluntness; I am
not going to discuss this law I know
nothing about these matters, and never
talk about things I do not understand. |
have full confidence in the Minister of
Hacienda, and so believe this law is
good one. This opinion is shared by
my companions in the Government.
Nothing could be more simple and
frank than these words; yet they were