The New York herald., 1872-07-23

vainly attempted the Life Of Amadeus win be
found to be one and the same. The murder
of Prim was doubtless intended to give the
Savoyard warning. The warning failed, and
hence the attempted assassination.
Looked at in the light of this fresh crime. it
is impossible not to deplore the wretched con-
dition of unhappy Spain. Is there to be no
national resurrection in her case? Is every
attempt on her part to rise to result in failure
end to add to her misery and helplessness?
How bright was the promise of the closing
months Of 1868 In 1912, in 1920, in 1886
attempts were made by vigorous spirits to put
life into the nation, and 1t did seem as if
Spain was about to awake at last from the
deep sleep Of ages. 1t was felt then, as it is
felt now that the Church WAS the grand OBJ
struction which lay in the pathway of prog
ress, and after repeated and vigorous assaults
the obstruction was overcome. 1t is more
easy, however, to strike down an institution
than to weaken its influence The Church
property was secularized, but the Church re-
manned, and the priest, In what seemed mis-
fortune, was more potent with the people
than when rioting in the wealth of ecclesias-
tical endowments. The reaction set in, and
soon the reaction was complete, the Church
swiftly repossessing herself of all her former
property and Spain falling back into her
former lethargy. With the revolution of
1868 and the flight OF Isabella came hope
once more for Spain; and, as we have said
already the prospect for season seemed
bright and full of promise. How completely
the experience Of these three years has clouded
all the bright promise Of the early months Of
the revolution The failure of the republican
cause, the intestine feuds, the disobedience Of
the colonies, the vain search for king, the
regency Of Serrano, the murder of Prim, the
monarchy restored, republican risings, Car
list rebellions attempted assassinations such,
coupled with chronic anarchy, make up the
history of Spain for the last three years In
spite of the bright promise of the revolution,
who will deny that that country is in more
wretched and hopeless condition to-day than
when Isabella fled from her kingdom and her
crown? What is to be the end no one can
tell What Spain needs above all things is
diffusion of the blessings Of education among
all ranks and classes of the people. Until
priestly power is diminished and the
masses of the people are educated it will
be unfair to say that all has been done
that can be done for the elevation nnd i'm
provement Of that unhappy country. When
these things are done for Spain and done in
vain, then, but not till then, will we admit that
the Spanish race is hopelessly exhausted.
Meanwhile we wait to learn whether Spain
can accomplish her own regeneration or
whether she must he taken in hands by others.
The Geneva Conference -Opening OF
tors.
Having disposed of the troublesome ques-
ton of the indirect claims or consequential
damages of the United States against England,
in connection with the depredations of all
such Anglo-rebel cruisers as the Alabama DUR
ing the war of our late Southern rebellion, the
Geneva Conference in secret session has pro-
ceeded to the real business before it, which is
the consideration and settlement of our direct
claims against England, arising from the de-
predations on our commerce Of the Alabama,
and her Anglo-rebel confederate cruisers. 1t
is reported that the case taken up by the Tri-
bunal of Arbitration and under consideration
yesterday, was the case of the Florida, which
nearly resembles the case Of the Alabama, DIFF
fering mainly in the length Of her list of ships
destroyed, the list of the Alabama being far
superior to that of any two others combined Of
her piratical confedeates.
The rules agreed upon in the Treaty of
Washington for the government Of the arbitra-
tors may here be briefly restated: They relate
to the so-called neutrality of Great Britain
during our civil war, and are-First, that
neutral government is bound to use due dill
gence to prevent the fitting out, arming or
equipping within its jurisdiction of any vessel
which it has reasonable ground to believe is
intended to cruise or to carry on war against
power with which it is at peace, and is bound
to the same diligence in preventing the
departure of such vessel from it's iuris-
diction. Secondly, That neutral power is
bound not to permit its ports to be used in
any way for the warlike purposes of either
belligerent. Thirdly, to exercise due diligence
in its own ports and waters, and as to all per-
sons within its jurisdiction, to prevent any
violation of the foregoing obligations and
duties II is upon these rules that England,
before the arbitrators, will have to put in her
defence against our claims, one by one, for
damages in reference to the depredations of
the Alabama and Of each of her Confederate
Anglo-rebel cruisers upon our commerce DUR
ing our late civil war.
The question then first suggested is what
length of time will probably be consumed in