The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-30
BRIBERY, TREAcHERY AND FALSEHOOD.
Ballot Box Stuling and Repeating Not
Strictly American Virtues.
BE SUCCESSFUL, NO MATTER HOW
Tammany Outcome in the Land
Of the Cid.

are putting upon the electors OF Spain to insure q
triumph In the urns is very great, If we may be-
lieve the papers OF the opposition You cannot
take up number Of the radical Impartial, 7ertatld
and N0peSddeS, the Carlist Esperanza, Regenerd-
cton or Pensdnaiento, or the republican Discussion,
Igudldad or Jt,udo without finding exposures Of q
rightful nature. Some of these may be true others
may be false, but that there Is foundation for
them cannot be denied. In the very nature Of
things 1t Is SO In all Latin countries With gov
ernments controlling the Post ONCE and
the telegraph, manipulating and monopoliz-
ing the latter at their will, having func
tonares as powerful the projects in France and
the civil Governors in Span with an army and navy
who vote, and with an immense horde Of public en-
ployes OF every grade, from the Cabinet Minister
down to the porter who sweeps out his office, the
governmental influence" is indeed very potent,
and, no matter who constitutes the government, 1t
is OF such nature as to make the suffrage mere
sham an empty farce. Added to this there is the
apathy and indifference OF the great bulk Of the
electors. The lower you go in society the less do
the people of such countries Spain for their
newborn privileges. But at this moment the proba-
bilty OF pressure is greater than ever
from the fact that the men in power know that the
winning the election is matter OF life and death.
AMADEUS sHoRTsIdHTEDNEss.
Separated from his own party, the progressists,
Scnor Sagasta has made sort of alliance with the
unionists, the old conservatives. On the faith Of
this alliance being genuine he has been confirmed
In power by the King-the greatest political mis-
take any crowned head ever made. Lord Palmer
ston once speaking OF mistake made by mon
arch, said, ut was worse than crime-it was
blunder." For monarchs to blunder the astute old
English politician considered worse than for them
to commit an actual crime. Amadeus, in so blindy
believing In Sagasta, has committed q blunder
which has cost him his popularity, and which may
cost him his crown. To convince Amadeus that 1t
is blunder but that it is all right, Sagasta must
needs have returned to the Cortes large majority
OF supporters. II he fails in this the King will
how he has erred. Hence his determination to use
every MEANS lawful or otherwise, to win.
THE ELECTORAL STRUGGLE.
So certain were the oppositlons of this that for
some time they inclined not to go into the electoral
struggle at ALL but to leave Sagasta the whole Par
lament to himself as the best means Of running
him to earth. They did this with Gonzalez Brabo
and the result was not only his downfall, but that OF
Queen Isabella Also "Retiuiaient0" as 1t is called
in Spanish, means retiring from the legal struggle
to the Illegal from the open Congress to the secret
conspiracy, from the Parliament to the barricade.
Finally they decided to abandon the idea Of retire.
ment, and to form general coalition, as the best
Of securing the defeat OF Sagastas satellites
They cared little for after consequences; all they
aimed at was first to get rid Of the they called
traitor to his party and deceiver to his King,
and whose idea OF good government they alleged to
be tyranny and oppression, gagged press and a
perverted constitution. The moment they succeed
and have to put to each other the important qucs-
ton, "What nexts" will be the moment OF difficulty
for the throne and for the people.
HOW THE ELECTIONS WERE MANAGED IN THE PROV
INCES.
That the liberties proclaimed by the revolution OF
1868 are III understood by the rulers, and hypocrtl-
cally practised, is proved by most curious docu-
ment just dragged to light by Madrid paper. 1t Is
a series OF instructions said to have been sent from
the Ministry of the Gobernacion In Madrid to the
civil Governors Of the Provinces, on the eve OF the
elections OF 1871, for the first Cortes Of the new
reign. At that time General Serrano was President
OF the Council of Minister'S Gorilla and Martos were
in the Cabinet, and Sagasta was Minister OF the Co.
bernacion, under which department the elections
were made. 1t Is said that, following a custom
completely Spanish, his companions left Sagasta
tlrely to himself In the management Of the cleo
tonsthat is, that he was allowed to keep his plans
and proceedings under complete reserve and with
out their knowledge or interference. This is the
and responsibility in the disgraceful circular
to which l allude. 1t is In the shape
OF series OF instructions from the Min
lister of the Gobernacon in Madrid to the
civil Governors OF the provinces. The paper which
now exposes 1t il La 7ert,ata, fierce radical organ
deadly antagonistic to sagasta and serrano Its
editor is Don Juan Manuel Martinez, who declares
he received the circular In question direct from the
Minister Of the INTERIOR he being at the time civil
Governor Of Tarragona. He says 1t was not sent
him by post, but brought by a special government
messenger, with instructions to copy 1t and send
the messenger on with the original to another pro-
vince. He declares he refused to act upon the
shameful orders given In II. but resolved to keep
his copy in reserve In case he should ever "split'
with Sagasta The split having taken place by
what he calls Sagastas treason to the progresista
party he believes all motive for secrecy at end.
With view OF showing the King and the country
what the pressure might be likely to be
in the present elections he publishes these instruc
lions given for the last Ones Senior Segasta, being
now as then the Minister OF the Gobernacion, and
ScRor Romero Robledo. the present Minister Of
Public Works and Instruction, being his chief
secretary. II the document be genuine 1t viii
startle the world, and show what farce is univer
sal suffrage In Spain.
ERNORS OF SPAIN, 1871.
!. without narrowness OF views seek and prefer
candidates who are natives OF the district, and who
have most influence In the electoral body, be they
unonists progressists, or anything else 30 long
as they accept the legality created by the Cortes
CONSTITUENCIES.
2. Make known to all the employees that the gov.
eminent will not be satisfied with their apathy or
Indifference or even their personal support, but
that 1t Is necessary they should labor zealously in
favor OF the candidates accepted by the Ministry.
lie who Is wanting to this duty will be Immediately
declared cesd,lfe (dismissed).
3. Prosecute with activity all cases OF coercion
consigned In chapter 2, article 8, OF the Electoral
law. When you are certain that any one seeks to
gain the elections by money, although you have no
material proofs, no Jealous Governor ought to be
destitute OF the means OF procuring proof suicent
to deliver Immediately to the tribunals those who
adopt that punishable resource. lie can always
find some who, by accord with the authority, will
accept the Dribe and afterwards dcnounee 1t II you
oner them mpunity and recompense.
4 The projected judicial redivIsion and the estab-