New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-07-26
ASSASSINl TTON IN SPAIN.

Inc GIegrapn does not as yet 1nlOrm uB
what Developments have been made in refer
ence to he political affiliations of the con-
spirators who lately attempted the life of the
King of spain. In the case of Gen. Prim, rs
the murd,rers were never known, each party
took the asy and expedient course of accusing
the others Of the crime But this would seem
impossible in the present circumstances, as the
would-be lssaSsins have been caught in their
crime, ant will be tried for treason and
attempted murder by due process OF law. 1t
is somewhat remarkable that the political
complexion of these criminals should not be
at once kn,wn. Some of the dispatches give
the Whimsical statement that the crime is des-
titute of political significance, because large
sum of mOpy was found on the person of one
OF the assaBns; the inference being that no
man in Span who has money enough to pay
for his diner has any decided political con-
victions.
Whatever may be the result of the trial of
the prisoners, the immediate effect of the at
tempt has ben, as we predicted, most favor
able to the King and the Government. In
every county there Is q natural reaction IN
favor of tn, object of violent and malig-
nant attack, and this is always very marked
among the demonstrative populations of
Southern Europe. The personal qualities of
King Amadeus also favor this revulsion of
popular feeling. AS princes go, he is one of
the best of hem. Even those who recognize
the fact that he has no business in Spain, that
he committed mistake in coming, and that
sooner or laer he must expiate this error by
death or fight, do not deny his estimable
traits of courage and simplicity, his loyalty
and gentemfnlike honor. Even his faults have
been honest ones. He has been led into them
by his trusting confidence in bad adj
visers, and also, it is said, by his
devoted affection for his intensely religious
and scheming wife, Such conjugal fidelity on
Spanish throne, and in the family of Victor
Emmanuel of Savoy, is certainly thing wor-
thy of certain indulgence, if not admiration.
All these causes combined have mingled
singular species of personal popularity with
the national ill-wll which is felt toward him
rs an interloper and q foreigner; and this
popularity will be greatly increased, at least
temporarily, by this brutal attempt at murder.
1t is matter for cOngratulatiOn that the
republicans have not been charged with this
CINE, as they were with the death of Marshal
PIN. There was never any proof of that
charge, and there would be still less reason in
sa,dling this attempt upon the political party
which is after all the best representative of
PROFESS and civilization in the Peninsula.
Thre are great many rude and lawless
chaacters in the Republican party, but they
haze never bad controlling voice in its
concils. No leading men in any party
hap so strong an influence among their
associates as the Republican Directory of
Marid exert over the masses OF
ther organization. CASTELAR,, Figueras,
andPi Margall are not only incapable of
any terminal or dishonorable plan, but their
hol upon the confidence and discipline of
the. party is so unquestioned that it would
be FRY hard for any extensive conspiracy to
be ct on foot and organized without their
knoledge. AS long as they live and hold
thei present position, it is unlikely that any
secrt measures of violence will ever be en-
ployd in the interest of the Republic. They
are Iyally opposed to the King and to the
montchy, but the resource of assassination is
Irucl moro likely TO suggest itself to Carlist
fanaes, to Alfonsist intriguants, or to the
veteIn plotters and oi6ce-holders of the Lib
eral Union, than to these enlightened and
honolble men, who feel that the future is
theirs and that in Spain, as in France, the
Republic is the form of government which
will last divide the nation.