The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-20


ton.
Tho Attempted Assassination OF tho
King and Queen OF spain.
Spain is again forced upon our attention in
all her chronic misery and wickedness About
midnight on Thursday as will be seen from
our cable dispatches, most dastardly, but at
the same time most determined attempt was
made on the lives OF King Amadeus and his
young Queen. 1t appears that at midnight the
| King and Queen were returning from ride
through the gardens of the Escurial, and were
approaching the palace when they wero sud
denly fired upon by party of assassns The
King and Queen were the only persons in the
carriage. The assassns, numbering, it is sup
posed, five persons, were most conveniently
posted in one of the streets through which the
cort6go passed. II is gratifying to know that
the attempt on the lives of the King and Queen
proved q complete failure, both of them escap-
ing uninjurcd. One of the would-be murder
ers was immediately killed by an attendant of
the royal party, and two others were captured.
II is of ell things the most natural that the
Widest kind of excitement should now prevail
in Madrid. During the course of tho
carly morning hours the news had spread
over the whole city, and by four o'clock
almost the entire population were fastening
through the streets. The murderous attack,
according to the despatch, was universally de-
nounced; and during great portion Of yes
terday Their Majesties, who remained ct the
palace received the congratulations of all
ranks and classes of the people.
1t is impossible to write Of this affair in
other than terms of the highest indignation.
II is difficult to resist the conviction that this
party of assassins who have failed so miserably
in their attempt on the lives of the royal
couple. are the same party WHO 20 cruelty made
an end of the life OF poor General Prim. 1t is,
if possible, moro difficult still TO refuse to be-
lievo that this wretched band of men is in the
confidence and in the pay of some one or other
of the political factions into which the Spanish
people are now divided. Until the facts are
brought out we have no right TO blame any
one Of the factions more than any other; but
as matters now stand We are justified in say
ing that by this latest outrage Spain stands
world. II is for the Spanish people to purge
themselves of this disgrace by discovering
the roots and notifications of this conspiracy
and by bringing the criminals to justice.
Great names, it may yet be found, are impli-
Gated in this shameful affair and Spain will
not do herself justice if any attempt is made to
conceal the criminal or to palliate the offence
II is notorious that by q considerable section
of the Spanish people Amadeus is disliked on
the ground that he is q foreigner. 1t is unde-
niable that it has been frequently and publicly
said in Spain that unless he left in good time
he was certain to meet the fate of Prim or the
fate Of Macmillan. One wonders sometimes
ing among such people. We remember,
however, in spite Of what his enemies have
said, and still do say, to the contrary, that
Amadeus came to Spain only after he was
elected King by the constitutional vote of the
Spanish people. We all remember how, after
the election, he was urged by the representa-
tive mon of the country to cast in his lot with
people who had given him their hearts and
asked him to come and rule over them. He
did not seek the position, it was forced on
him. If he is o foreigner the fault surely is
not his. The Spanish people knew who and
what he was when they elected him.
1t might be wise for Amadeus to
leave his adopted country in disgust
AS King he has done his best, but he has
firing and shaking the dust of Spain from his
feet but he has o right to be his own Judge.
He has put his hand to the plough. If he
thinks it dishonorable to look back no one can
blame him. His position certainly is most
delicate, and, as this attempted assassination
proves, it is beset with the greatest danger.
It is not our opinion that the enemies
of Amadeus will gain anything by this most
dastardly business. It is almost certain to
improve the position of the young Savoyard.
Many of his opponents, feeling ashamed Of
what has been done in their nnme will relax
their opposition Friends will gather around
him in greater strength and in larger num-
bers. What was intended to prove his ruin
may tarn out to be his salvation. Assassina-
ton, even when not an immediate failure as
in this case, is as worthless as it is wicked.
AS has been well said by an imperial author,
''Brutus, by staying Caesar, plunged Rome
into the horrors Of civil var He did not pre-
vent the reign of Augustus, but he rendered
possible those of Nero and Caigula." So is it
always. What has Spain gained by the muir
der of Primp What did the South gain by
the assassination of Lincoln? The First and
the Third Napoleons both knew how TO make
capital out Of vain attempts on their lives. As
we have said already, this attempted assassina-
ton of King Amadeus may prove the happy
turning point in his career.
ENGLISH HONOR TO SCIENCE AND PLUCK