The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-07
1Ew HERALD WEDNESDAY ls7S-QUADRUPLE SHEET

number OF grand crosses far beyond the number
intended by the ilustrious founder. Thus the num-
Der arose from sixty to 100. This was done to
satisfy and ad0rn the courJers OF the Prime Minis
ter, Godoz, even as had been the custom with the
courtIers OF the monarch. This system increased
until, at the death OF Ferdinand VII, period OF
sixty-tw0 years, 4S0 grand crosses had been Gre
ated. From the death OF Ferdinand until
our day, space OF forty years, the
number increased to $780, The year most
fruitful In this crop OF hOnors was 1S46, IN
which thirty seven were bestowed, or more than
half OF the number to which the founder had
limited 1t. The same may he said OF other
orders Seventy decorations were originally de-
creed for the Order OF Maria Louisa, and In the
reign OF Isabella they reached the number OF 2S9.
In 1916 the American order of Isabella the Catholic
founded to reward the defenders OF the Spanish
dominions in the New World. But very soon the
insignia OF this order adorned the uniforms Of the
very men who had fought against that dominion.
In 1919 the King, Ferdinand VII, permitted the
monks of st. AtOcha to sell at auction grand
crosses OF the Order OF Isabella the Catholic, and
with the sums thus realized they repaired their
monastery. So that under the monarchs crosses OF
honor became articles OF merchandise. Under the
Republic and in honor of the historical dignity and
selirespect OF the Spanish character, 1t is deemed
proper to abolish a system that has led to such
abuses Those who held these decorations may
bear them. But let 1t be known that the orders
they represent and which are specified in the
decree no longer exist, but pass away, as before
have passed away the orders of La Banda 1.-THE
Ribbon), La Eactna the Oak Los Ldrios 1.-THE Iris)
La MERGED (Grace) Ell Ptchon (the Pigeon, La
EspaHa SPAIN. For in Republic dignity should
come not from the ruling power, but from the re-
nactA mr. % NJ IN
THE DECREE.
The letter OF this singular decree, the preamble
OF which have just summed up, is as follows:-
ARTICLE 1.-The orders OF Charles Ill, OF Isabella
the Catholic; Of The Noble Ladies OF Spain, and OF
Maria Louisa are declared extinct
ART. 1.-THE cOnvOcati0ns OF these orders Will re-
main dissolved.
ART. s.-The officers OF these orders Will return
their archives to the Ministry OF STATE.
ART. 4.-The Minister shall collect, in order that
they may be preserved, the insignia belonging to
Which are the property Of the State and shall dis
tribute them for preservation among the different
archaeological museums OF the nation.
SHADOWS OF THE COMMUNE.
Whether this decree will make any impression
upon Spain cannot say. But with these grave
questions on all sides fancy that the decorated
Spaniard will not have time to mourn, even for his
ribbon and his cross. Great as Is the danger threat
ened by the Carsts still greater danger is feared
or, to use their own expressive Spanish phrase,
"LaS Atinlds cdpas s0cialeS" or the last geological
layer in the social strata. Parties claiming to re-
present the extreme party on last Sunday pub
lished newspaper, SO much curiosity in it's way
that you Will surely find 1t worthy Of notice. This
journal Is called Los DescanaisadOs. 1t is a small
fourpage Sheet in large type three columns to the
page, each column about One-fourth wider than the
columns OF the HERALD The head line Is a sketch
Of two faces, thin, pinched, haggard, Wild matted
over chin and brow with thick, bushy hair, mouths
open, staring, furiously-rudely personating hun
ger, ignorance, misery and crime. On either side
of the two heads are the following notices.
mine hundred thousand heads.n
ssWar upon God I'VE shall war upon God until
the heavens crumble up like sheet OF paper.u
property Is robbery PTOudtOn.
Social equaty-eomp,lete and absolute"
An ideal decree-"Article nrst-This is nothing.
Nobody is charged with the execution OF this
Decree -COnl1a,tne or Paris.
"Free Love.n-The bitterness Wtlhelnaina.
BLESSED are they who are prosecuted Tor justice
sake"-Jes,ts' Sermon on the Mount
This Journal, as said. is called Los Descanafsndos
or the Shirtless, and is Spanish imitation Of the
Sans Cul0ttes or the withoutbreeches of the French
Revolution Let me give you an idea ofits spirit =
"The shrtless are distinguished for the love they
bear the red. They will drink with enthusiasm
OF the fire, the blood and the wine."
ideas Is the iollowing:-The night OF st. Bartholo-
new. plus the incendlaries or the Paris Com
mnne, are equal to the grand revolution that will
Gomez
The sensation produced by its publication was
amusing 1t was sold for copper coin, and in the
evening copies were commanding q dollar. All
Madrid was wondering about "Tlie Shirtiess," and
when they would begin the week or massacre and
the taking OF 100000 heads. Many Spaniards be-
lieved the journal was real, sincere propaganda,
and that it foreshadowed the reign OF terror. 1t
was remembered, however, that a similar sheet
had made its appearance in the revolution oflS6S-
called think Father James, in imitation OF Pere
Duchesne and the wild sheets OF the French Revo-
luton. And it was generally accepted as q CATCH
penny effort to trade on the extraordinary cre-
dulity and excitement OF the hour.
THE REVOLUTIONARY PARTY.
But there is a Desca,nisddOs party in Madrid,
and have been at some pains to study it. 1t would
not on the first blush appear probable for many
reasons. Madrid is not a manufacturing town. 1t
has no industries. There is no large working
class, simply because there is nothing to work
with-nether timber, nor coal, nor water, nor
earths, nor minerals. In this respect 1t is unlike
Barcelona, which has a laboring population and
supports various employments. In Madrid most
OF the inhabitants are directly or indirectly con-
nected with the government. BY vicious system
OF Spanish politics, which explained in a former
letter, whenever government retires from
power its supporters go with it, SO there Is always
O class awaiting crisis to return to ONCE, living
as best they can until the chance rpens-cOnspir-
ing begging, talking politics. This element intro
duces shiftlessness and want OF economy into So
cety. There is no strenuous, selErcspecting, opu-
lent, conservative middle class Independent OF
ONCE. Indifferent to politics, but capable of angry
interference in public AFFAIRS when the emergency
arises. One OF the most serious diff
culties besetting this republican government
comes from the absence Of this class. It
has many genuine, patient supporters, who were
republicans when the skies were dark, and care
nothing for cmolument or honor. But there is
greater number who have the Spanish idea about
party success, and demand once. Many OF them
have made little investments upon the success of