The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-25
The Troubles Or rae spanish Repub.
lic-A Crisis ut Madrid.

The situation at Madrid is critical. Our spe-
cial cable despatch from that city published
in to-days HzRALD represents a elimination
Of the public sentiment against the Perma-
nent Committee created by the Legislature,
the forcible dissolution of that body by a Minis
terial decree and street demonstration by the
'reds, who seem to have been prompt to avail
themselves of the difficulty to advance their
own objects. It will be remembered that the
Permanent Committee Of the Assembly, which
claimed the right TO exercise certain admins
trative powers, protested against the appoint
ment of Senior ri y Margall to the temporary
Presidency by the government in place of
Sefior Fgueras, who had been suddenly called
away from the capital by the death of his
wife. The Committee insisted that in making
this appointment tho government had exceeded
its powers, and on this issue the people
were not slow to take Sides The Committee
felt confidence in its strength from the belief
that the army was on its side, and hence
resolved to resist the demand of the Ministry
for its voluntary dissolution. Marshal Ser
rano who maintained the cause of the Com
mittee as against the Ministry, with Seiior Pi
y Margall as its temporary head, resolved to
bring the quarrel to an issue, and for that
purpose attempted 9 cooT Getat on the
Esd, by the PRONUNCIATION of mill
tary pronunciamento declaring in favor
of the maintenance of law and order
and against the proposed dissolution
of the Permanent Committee. The sue
cess of this movement would, no doubt,
have been the prelude to the proclama-
ton of military dictatorship with Serrano
at its head and the Committee Of the Assembly
as his counsellors. But it was doomed to
failure from an unexpected cause. When the
critical moment for action arrived, and when
the existence of the government appeared to
tremble in the balance, the soldiers suddenly
proved unmanageable and went over to the
side of the administration. Volunteers APP
pear to have been raised by the Committee
and Marshal Serrano to back up the army;
but on the detection of the soldiers becoming
known these volunteers lost heart and showed
no disposition to carry the contest to ex-
tremes.
Notwithstanding this encouragement, how
ever, it appears that party of volunteers
holder than the rest, took up position in the
bull ring in the Plaza Toros, with the inten-
ton of making fight. Their first act was an
attempt at assassination. General -Contreras
recently Captain General OF Catalonia, who
was passing near the spot. was fred at, but it
seems without effect. At nine o'clock of the
evening of Wednesday six batteries with
i nit hrOu mn froi
on the bull ring occupied by the
belligerent volunteers, who were summoned
to surrender. After three hours elaboration
and parley discretion overcame valor, and the
volunteers at midnight laid down their arms
and surrendered. The Ministry meantime
had assembled in council, and, encouraged no
doubt by their success in the streets, decreed
the forcible dissolution of the Permanent Com
mittee and the disarming Of its defenders
This was effected by the aid of the army.
but another difficulty appears to nave
arisen upon the heels of the suppression
Of the first demonstration in the appearance of
the 'Reds' in force in the public streets of the
city. These violent politicians it is said,
forced their way into the presence of the Com
mittee, it would seem with hostile intentions
towards some Of the members of that body,
since our report represents that the Min
istry personally protected the obnoxious
individuals. The radical "Reds' nevertheless
posted themselves at the street corners, virtu-
ally holding possession Of the city, and it was
rumored that Marshal Serrano had either been
arrested and thrown into prison or had fed
from the city.
While the government has triumphed in this
brief but perilous struggle for ascendancy,
and while the immediate proclamation of q
military dictatorship, which seemed imminent,
has been, for the time, OF least averted, the
situation must be one not very encouraging to
the Republic 1t is impossible to foretell
what course the "Reds" may pursue, and,
Judging from our dispatches, they appear
at present to be in tho ascendancy.
If the government should turn upon them in
the cause of law and order it is by no means
certain which side the army would espouse.
and if the government should resolve to frater-
nize with the radicals it would probably find
itself compelled to yield more than it would
desire to their demands. 1t is singular that
the words Of Don Carlos in his inter-
view with the HERALD correspondent
should so soon receive what promises to
be o practical confirmation. The Bourbon
Prince predicted that republic in Spain must
speedily fail or take character of the widest
socialism, and now We see the government at
Madrid saved from overthrow by the unex-
pected aid Of the army, only to find the streets
Of the city in possession Of the 'Reds." The
events Of the 23d cannot fail to shake still
more the general faith in the stability of
the Republic. The fatal difficulty in
i tho uro,r 81 oil ri