Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-03-14
PIGUERAs.
Career and Character of the Head
OF ths spanish Government.

Career and Character OF the Head
OF the spanish Government.
deorgo NJ. Towlo. In the independently
Figueras assumes the chief seat in the
I Spanish executive at aixty.three, in the
very prime OF his mental powers aud
physical vigor. Bat, although far from
being an old man, his career hus been
long in thrilling events. At eighteen he
had become an ardent politician, had
enrolled himself among the radicals Of
his native Barcelona, aud had been
marked as dangerous parsonage by the
agents OF the Government. When be was
twenty-one he became an ayowed Re.
publican, and began 10 perform the
perilous role Of conspirator against
the Bourbon throne. Ever aud anon
from that time he reappears OF
intervals upon the stormy stage Of
Spanish politics, always pr0pagatiug re-
publican ideas, stirring up discomfort
aud resistance against the corrupt aud
despotic powers at Madrid, organizing
insurrections, hurrying from Barcelona
to Madrid, from Madrid to Tarragona,
with messages Of disloyalty, and pros.
poets Of revolution. In 1916. when
Spain, like Italy aud Germany, caught
the revolutionary infection from France.
Figueras was in the thick Of the conflict,
couDseling, commanding, and acting
with all the ardor Of intense conviction.
At thirty-two he found himself deputy
in the Csrtes, sent thither by Barcelona,
and forming with Orensi, Lozano and
Jaen little, but stout souled phalanx
OF four. Three years later the phalanx
was swelled to twenty.one, who thought
themselves strong enough to openly pro-
pose and vote for republic, and after
the revolution Of 1868 the party in
creased TO seventy, who have Just |
achieved the long hoped for victory. |
Throughout the period between 1851 and |
1872 Figueras continued the foremost |
champion of the Republicans--some-
times as Deputy in the Cortes, some
times as courageous but cautious con-
spirator, masking his operations behind
his advocates gown. He has been a
prisoner, an exile, and always a suspect;
and through it all has never once re-
canted or even concealed his opinions.
An open enemy from the first to the
throne of Isabella, and 10 all thrones
whatsoever, he has extorted; the respect
while continually exciting the fears of
the monarchial statesmen.
Meanwhile Figueras, engaging thus
actively in the most continuously turbu.
lent political drama which Europe has
witnessed since Napoleon landed at st.
Helena, has not neglected the studies
begun with zeal in early youth. His
knowledge of the law, is inferior to that
of no advocate at the Madrid bar; his
powers as lawyer long ago ranked him
among its leading members. His
speeches in the Cortes betray famili-
arity with history, especially that of |
Spain, which should be, but seldom is,
among the cardinal qualifications of |
craftsmanship. In this department Of
learning he is excelled perhaps only by |
CASTELAR,, whose knowledge of English \
and American political annals is, for a
Spaniard, wonderful Unlike most rad
ical leaders in Europe, Senior Figueras
is devout believer in Christianity. On |
one OCCASION he made so impressive a |
declaration of his faith in the Cortes
that, CASTELAR, says, he for the moment
converted the Assembly into temple.