The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-04
REeICIDE IN SPAIN.
The Attempt on the Life of
King Amadeus.
ASSASSINATION IN SPANISH POLITICS.
The Cause and Effect of Gen.
eral Prim's Death.
TIE KING WARNED OF HIS DANGER.
He Visits the Garden Buen Retro and
StrOlls Around Alone.
THE MIDNIGHT ASSAULT.
Three Volleys Discharged Into
the Royal Carriage.
HOW THE QUEENS LIFE WAS SAVED.
Surprising Valor and Presence of
Mind of Amadeus.
the FIGHT WITH the ASSASSlMS.
Madrid i'm IL Ferment of
Enthusiasm.
n y
HOW THE QUEENS LIFE WAS SAVED
Surprising Valor and Presence OF
Mind of Amadeus.
the FIGHT WITH the AssAssIMs.
Madrid in IL Torment of
Enth uSiaSm.
THE KINGS MIDNIGHT LEvEE

MADRID, July 10, 1872.
The slow and dismal quietude OF these summer
days has been interrupted by circumstance that
falling upon Spain like bolt from the blue, makes
Madrid, for the day, q scene of passion and wonder
At midnight an attempt was made to kill the King
and Queen, and all Madrid in the streets talking
It over. The telegraph Will anticipate the mere de-
tails of the attempt The story, however, has
historical and dramatic aspect which the telegraph
avoids and this give you now.
ASSASSINATION AS A POLITICAL ExPEDIENT.
When Mr.. Buckle discussed the aspects of nature
IN their bearing upon human character and destiny
he should have told why it is that In these warm
countries nothing is more Indifferent than human
life. Macaulay, in detailing an account Of the at
tempt to kin King william III. fecitates the Eng
lish people upon the fact that assassination, as a
political cxpedent, had never been welcomed by
the English nation. America cannot say as much
although the murderer of Mr.. Lincoln had in his
veins the warm oriental blood which courses
through these strange, sober people OF the
Pennsua-which makes blood in any form
welcome sight. j never could under
stand the lnquistion until l hull fight,
and the bull fight is as much type and reflection
OF the Spanish character the Derby is OF England
or an election day OF America. The Spanish have
always welcomed bloody methods OF solving reli-
giOus political problems. When a man
becomes troublesome it was easy TO kill
him. And as he couldn't live for ever
why not IL was SO with the MoOrs. II
was so In their treatment OF the Jews In the
magnificent cathedral OF Toledo, where stupendous
grace and majesty recall all the medieval glory OF
lAith and make you Inadvertently offer homage TO
that Saviour, where worship develops such beauty,
you will see picture OF chubby cheeked, blue
eyed infant child nailed on cross the agonies OF
death, while Jew is standing on the rungs OF
ladder and digging out Its heart with knife. The
painting is a marvel OF force and color, and one,
even In our cold and patient and skeptical age can
not look upon 1t without SILVER. You will learn
that this pictured fable was an article OF faith in the
earlier times. and that faithful Spanards reconced
II TO their conscience TO rob the sons OF Abraham and
then torture them, because Jew had upon
occasion crucifed a child and torn Its heart
out. Why speak Of the Inquisition and the auto
da-fe9 You know how during the French occupa-
ton under Murat the Spaniards made assassination
principle Of military and political law and when
ever they found Frenchman they killed him. And
the people Of this generation have their feast days.
when the heroes OF this principle have apotheoss
and all Spain honors their memory as delIverers
And we ourselves, and those who write about
these events in English volumes, gladly honor that
stern patriotism OF spain, which would never yield
70 the foreigner which really meant that when the
foreigner could not be conquered by the sword the
stiletto and the cup were natural and necessary
weapons. Death solves so many problems that the
Spanish mind finds ii a sure and prompt ally.
THE ASSASSINATION ANTICIPATED
Therefore everybody has been expecting some
thing OF this nature In the present crisis. MATTERS
are becoming very dull here" said a friend who has
rloar md cynical ypwe about Guain tive have had
neither duel nor an assassination since the crisis
began. Old Serrano is mad enough to shoot some
body, and wonder that Alamines or COrdova have
not challenged him. Montpenser probably feels
his investment in Prints death failed so badly that
he will not spend any more money on his party
This cofeehouse chat was only type OF what was
being sand in every coffee house. Strange above all
is the cool manner in which the assassination Of
Prim is discussed here and accepted universally as
one OF Montpensier's political eXpcdieDts, which
failed badly. have heard no one censure Mont
pensier, especially for his presumed connection
with the event. "Old Montpenser" said my critical
friend, as we talked over the Prim matter, 'has
not done very well. The illuck OF the family has
come to Spain. What a fine grocer was spoiled
when he was made prince You know he sells
oranges for living rom his Seville gardens al
though he IL one OF the richest men in Spain Ever
SINCE the first 6gaiite voted for the Kings death
Orleansm has had an evil odor. The French stood
Louis Philippe and his umbrella for eighteen years
He wouldn't have remained here eighteen months
You sec we have botUoeoisie to speak Of. In
Spain we are all beggars or Mdaigos, and you can
not sometimes tell which Is which. We have no
room for Montpensier. This Amadeus would make
good beggar and a good htda'go-a beggar be-
cause he can ride well and Hdogo because he
has courage; and so spain keeps HIM in preference
90 the market gardener, Montpensier. But mari
It, this duness cannot continue. 10 is not Iberian
We must have a duel or an assassination or the
crisis will go TO the devilr
THE ASSASSINATION OF PRIM
That matter OF Don Juan Prim, II you remember
well was clearly closely planned political ex
pedient sort OF liberal republican movement, as
was seen al Cincinnati. What the enemies OF Grant
did with a convention the enemies OF Prm did with
pistol. You may suspect me OF cynicsm In de.
scrbing the murder OF Prim and the attempted
murder OF the King, as political expedients bu,
this is their real meaning. The shooting OF a man
IN narrow street Is easily told but the American
people, as readers OF the HERALD, would lily com
prebend the situation here n they saw thes,
events as they saw the assassination OF Lin
coin or mere street ARRAY. Prim wal
the foremost man IN Spain. He held the crown II