New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-09-14
An Interview with Espartcro.

An Interview with Espartcro.
| A correspondent of the Manchester Guar
dian has had an interview with Espartero
| The letter describing it is dated Logrono
! August 4, and it runs thus:
AS for Espartero, both the republicans
and Aitonsinos are fighting for him. The
republicans, sure of his liberal opinions, We
| hemently asseverate that he is on the point
OF proceeding to Madrid, while the .junta OF
public safety in Logrono have elected him
honorary president OF their august corpora
ton, and have pompously put forth his
name in their manifesto" The Alfonsinos,
determined not to be behindhand, couple
| his name with SerranO, and vow that the
two together will conjure up an army, place
| Don Alfonso-the Prince of Asturias-On
the throne, and restore peace and happi
| ness to "disemboweled Spain which is
now the fashionable phrase. Hence, to
ascertain che truth of these reports-for
| all parties in Spain tell so many lies that,
to use Hibernicism, it is impossible to
! say which may be true. / came to Logrono
! with a letter of introduction to the Duke,
and duly presented myself at his residence
in the Gale San Agostln, a massive build
| ing, with an immense coat of arms over the
gateway heavily sculptured in stone and
reaching nearly to the roof. Walking up
stairs, l found the Duke and the Duchess
tohAbS inch pOSl pl duuidl SchCO Al o. AOA =
| saloon, in the centre of which stood bill
| lard table of colossal dimensions. Both
welcomed me very cordially, the Duchess,
| with the last number of the illustrated
| London NewS in her hand. at once opening
| the conversation in English. She is tall
| stout las are all Spanish ladies from the age
OF twenty-five years upward), and seems to
carry all the honors OF the house upon her
shoulders. Espartero himself-el Rey De
JaUrOnn ha 10 nal1ad-js nf vnaGjIJYp
| height, and does not appear more than
sixty-hve years of aye. although he is now
in his eighty-third. l asked him for his
opinion on the present state of affairs.
That is a wide subject" he remarked,
smiling, Suppose you ask me some detin
lite question:"
"Well," replied. ''let us begin with the
actual republic. What chances has it of
life! Is a Spanish republic possible?'
Yes replied the Duke, under two con-
ditions. FIRST of all, if all the nobility and
wealthy classes become absentee landlords
and choose to live in perpetual exile; and,
secondly, if all the Intransigentes are
drowned in their own blood. Then a re-
public might be possible, in SO far that all
Spain would split up into little municipali-
ties, who would either eat each other up or
be devoured by the first adventurer who
could command a homogeneous army. You
see, therefore, what likelihood there is of
an enduring republic in Spain. The great
est charac terlsrlc Of a Spaniard is his de-
sire for personal independence. No one
trusts .he other. Each province is diff
ferent in character to the other, and
voluntary unity Of action is i'm
possible. This independence generates
a vast amount of egotism and mis-
trust Of others, and hence the dissensions
and secessions on all sides. Who is there
to defend the republic! Troops there are
none worthy Of the name. You have the
volunteers. yeu will say. The volunteers
are divided into two classes, the respecta-
Bile citizens and the cataiHe. The former
have enrolled themselves only to obtain
possession OF the arms and the power of de-
tending their houses, property and lives i'll
case OF an attack by the Carlists or Intran
sigentes. Tie canaiUe have taken to arms
for possible plumber and diurnal rations and
pesetas The few who have really enlarged
and patriotic motives are like cream on
skinned milk. are always outvoted by the
others, and are forced to stay behind or
proceed on pillaging raid with the cdadilte.
They generally prefer the former. This
explains your observation of having
seen towns and villages a mile or
two distant from each other alter
nately occupied by Carlists and volunteers,
each quietly remaining in their districts, the
volunteers because they only want to defend
their families and houses, The Carlists be-
cause they do not wish to lose their lives in
attacking barbados and strongly fortified
houses. As Tor the army-or what is called
by courtesy the arlny-the few officers in
command do not resign because they have
no private means, ard are forced to remain.
There IS not,a single Spanish officer of re-
publican opinions. The men serve for their
pay OF two pesetas day and possible pill
lage, and would just as lief shoot their own
officers as the Carlists. There you have my
view OF the republic; and, mind, | am as
liberal myself as the most liberal man in
England. But there is only one way of
governing Spain, and that is by the stick
Weld II well, and WELD it Justly, and Spain
would be as quiet as England"
And do you think Don Carlos will ever
be the man 70 WELD it, inquired.
''lou have seen the Carlists yourself" he
replied, both in Catalonia and Navarro;
you have seen what they have done with
everything in their favor. In every serious
affair they have won the day-at Monreal,
at Berga, Eraul, Secumberri, Alpens and
lgualada, yet you see them return to the
mountains and stay there like a spider in
its web until some unfortunate fly of
column tumbles into their power They
did not advance into the country, because
they know they would be beaten in the
plainss where oil the people are against
them. In Leon. Arragon, CASTLE and Es-
tramadura even the children cry out, Kill
them " as, on the contrary, they baWl out,
Viva Carlos VIII in Navarro. They
based their hopes on a reaction in their
favor on the part OF what remained Of the
army on the fail OF Amadeo. When theysaw
that they were mistaken they deferred their
hopes TO the day when the soldiers were dis
missed TO their homes. Tnen they were
equally disappointed, Tor those who did not
return to their homes-because they had
none-remained for pillage and pay, SO
thoroughly was the army disorganized by
the resignation of all the officers who had
anv authority and energy Thus the Car
lists were thrown entirely on their own re-
to VII: on forces that will not and
can not fight out of their own provinces,
and on such funds as are contributed bv
private persons, or levied in the country
they are running. As to the possible dura-
ton OF the war, il Will continue till all the
funds are exhausted and the provinces tired
out. 1t viii then degenerate into brigand-
ism, which the people themselves will have
to combat Rest assured, Carlism has as
much its natural limits as the vine or the
palm. 1t can not 90 beyond. For. besides
personal antlpathy, Don Carlos has TO fight
against the conviction which has been
steadily gaining strength that the Jesuits
are making Spain their last stronghold; and
backward as SPAN may be, she will never
place herself under Manterola"
Then, Don Carlos and the republic be-
ing impossible, there remains but one alter
native-chaos, or Don Alfonso, the son of
Queen Isabella ?"
His party" replied Espartero, lis GER
tainly the most widely diffused, as il is also
the most influential; but it is a party thai
will only use constitutional means to attain
power Ny own days of action are over.
but the traditions of lifetime can never be
etfaced. l speak to you with my heart upon
my hand. l would welcome any regent
VINO would give peace to Spain. but know