The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-18
THE PRESIDENT OF SPAIN.
CAREER OF .ssrAN1sLAo FIGUERAs.
Interesting Sketch of the Spanish Pres
tdent by Don Emilio CASTELAR,, the
New Foreign Minister.

tdent by Don Emilio Castelar,, the
New Foreign Minister.
The brilliant orator and infexlble Republl-
can, Senor CASTELAR,, secretary for foreign af-
fairs in the new Spanish administration, has
contributed to the British Fortnightly Review
the following interesting sketch of the career
of Senor Don Estanislao Flgueras, President
of the Council, and, as such, acting President
of the new Spanish Republic:
Among the principal artists OF language,
among The most distinguished orators who do
honor to our country and our Parliament, all
consider Don Estanislao FigueEas an inspira-
ton OF his native land, the glory OF the Repuo-
lican party, which is Indebted to him ior the
direction of its campaign in the Constituent
Cortes-a man uneXamped for prudence and
energy in our august chamber Before ana
lying the distinctive characteristics OF the
speeches of FIgueras and OF his political
genius, let US give some biographical datG IN
support of the reputation which the Re-
publican orator enjoys as model Of
consistency and dignity In his glorious career.
Figueras was born In beautiful and enlight-
ened Barcelona, on the 18th Of November,
1919. After having studied the humanities In
the Escuela Pia OF that city, In which he re-
NAMED five years, he applied himself to phil
osophy at Cervera. and soon atterWard at Tar
ragona. He entered as law student in the
| Universities OF Barcelona and Valencia. ter
| mnating his education In the month OF June,
| 1872 Even while thus engaged, he made
| some figure In politics, showing an extraor-
diuury arGlor in the defence of liberal prlncl-
pies; In 1887 he was enrolled In the ranks OF the
Progressist party, which then represented the
most radical aspirations OF the youth OF his
time. But his active temperament, and his
ardent devotion 10 all that Is just and noble,
bod hIFSa frnn r,nlif al mi
which was as yet unable to satisfy the natural
exigencles Of revolutionary epoch. In ls40
he loined the Republican party, being among
the first who embraced their Idea In Spain.
After the events of lS42, which eliminated in
the bombardment of Barcelona, he differed
from the Republicans in their appreciation OF
that incident. About this period he joined
the editorial staff of the Constitutional, In
connection with Mata and Ribot.
When the famous coalition occurred which
threw the reigns OF power 10 General Espar-
tero In The names OF the most distinguished
Liberals he opposed that rising with all his
energy, and forelold It's fatal consequences.
After the fall Of the Regent, anc the acqulsi-
lion of power by the Moderate party, he re-
tired to The town in which his mother re-
sided (Tivisa, In the Province of Tarragona,l
continuing his relations with the Republicans,
who, in lS48. appointed him their commits
sioner In Madrid, 10 organize the movements
then attempted by the Liberals. The revoln-
tion, twice commenced and twice over
thrown, being crushed, Figueras withdrew to
Tarragona, where he established himself as
an advocate In l849. He was elected deputy
In 1851 for the First District OF Barcelona. In
that Cortes he formed q Republican nucleus
with Orense, Lozano and Jaen.
HIS SHARE IN RECENT EVENTS.
In 1854, he became memoer OF the Revolu-
tionary Junta OF Tarragona and deputy in
the Cortes for the same province. He was oil
those one-and-twenly who, on the 30th OF
November, 1854, voted against the monarchy.
Since that period Madrid has been his fixed
place of residence, and there he exercises the
profession of an advocate in which he has ac-
auired enviable notorlety, being one of the
most lannon's lawyers In that city. In 1852 he
was again elected deputy for the First District
of Barcelona, and disputed with his friend
Don Nicholas Maria Rvero the administration
of the Liberal Union then in power. The re-
treat OF the Two parties, Progresslst and Re-
publican, being decided, aud the movement OF
the 81 OF January, 1866, beng overthrown,
Flgueras withdrew for time from active and
militant politics, notwithstanding that he
maintained his relations with the most
Important men Of his party, and labored
INCREASINGLY, although indirectly, with his
revolutionary attempt which occurred 10
June of the same year. Alter tnat
abortive revolution. the consequences OF which
were 80 fatal for the Liberal party, he threw
himself resolutely into the work of conspiracy,
which, in correspondence with The leaders In
exile, was carried on In Madrid. In conse-
guence OF these labors, he was arrested on The
18th of May, 1867, by order OF Narvarz, and
imprisoned In The Saladero, together with his
friend, Don Nicolas Rivero. There he re-
mained Two days, when commissary of po-
lice and two civil guards conducted him 10
Pampeluna. In short time the government
ordered him to 6x his residence al Aosls. lie
was pardoned In October OF that Gear, when
the revolution Of Aragon aud Cateluna being
over, tho government had nothing to oppre-
hend. Subsequently, he was appointed
member of the revolutionary jnnta elected
justice of the peace for the congressional dis
trict, and, In the municipal elections, member
OF the council for the district of the Hospital.
Ia the elections for the Constituent Cortes he
was presented as candidate IN Barcelona.
Tortosa, Vich and Madrid. In the two hrst
named places he was elected.
GREATNESS OF HIS MORAL CHARACTER.
Being now acquainted with the biography
of Don Estanislao Figueras, let us proceed to
regard the intellectual qualities which 30
greatly eXalt him. One OF The two great pecu-
liaritles of our friend-pertaps the most re-
markable-is bis moral character. Nobody,
not even his greatest enemy, can DOUBT the
rectilude OF his motives, the nobility OF his
soul, the integrity of his life. Beneath an ex-
terror expressing the sweetness and docillly
common TO benevolent natures, he cenceals
an iudemitable energy which has enabled him
TO stand erect, with a front calm and serene,
here in this land where We see 80 much de-
billty, 80 much inconsistency, only 10 be ex-
planned by the lack of qualities which shine
so brightly In Fgueras-want or energy in
the character or want ot faith 10 Ideas Moth
ing is 30 difflcnlt as 10 eradicate prtjndices.
habits take root strongly and remain with
the people, even after Institutions have ex.
plred under whose ipflueuce they developed
into existence. IL Ia 4 common error In Spain
10 believe that magligDily and talsehood are
necessary elements iu Il political character.
This riay be true in the palaces OF kings,
g.i.re all manner Of Intrigue h1ds Its natural
habilalion and p,ltlcal imm Irality its familiar
seat; but the proceedings Of liberty, the polltl-
col acts of the people, the characters of trl-
bunes, should be frank, loyal-ln word,
most nobly moral.
The tribune oil the people, like the Greciln
athlete, goes forth naked 10 the combat. He
can conceal nothlng-not even those Dealings
of the heart that are hidden and suppressed
by the levels, the veivets and embroidery
with which courliers are bedizened The frat
quality OF the popular orator should be frank
ness, and fidelity The prominent virtue in his
character. But II TO frankness In expression,
If to fidelity In the character, he unites the
Skill which Is part Of Tho tactics OF his ene-
niles. and can pursue tlem with their own
arms, gathered In the same field OF battle, the
tribune Of the people elevates himself i'm
mepselv and ia formidable even under the