The Portland daily press., 1873-02-14
The Spanish Republic.

a The fact that king abdicates his throne Of
his own desire is marvel. The fact that or.
assembly by tradition and teaching devoted
to monarehical principles, oyerthrows a mon.
archy ana almost unanimously builds upon
the runs, in twenty-four hours, a republic is
a miracle. 80
ltmay be that the leaders of factions are
paraiyzed by the suddenness of the crisis and
the boidness of the real republican, in the
0oftes. Possibly the representatives of the
people OF Spain conclude that their only hone
IS IN giving the people free government and
aI once absolving them from the grievous
burdens that monarchy always entails.
But that this should be accomplished without
popular tumults and the assassination that is
SO linked to the historic Spaniard is worthy
OF being styled a wonder.
Is The history of Spain the past ten years is
one Of interest. After long contest the
downtrodden people detllrone Queen Isabella
in the fall 1868 and break the equally CALLING
letters that the church had centuries ago
riveted upon them. Then there was an in
terval of provisional government while a con-
sti.ution establishing limited monarchy was
adopted and the Cortes went a hunting
among the efete royal families for some one
to wear the crown. .f.
1t will be remembered how long and
: tedious task this was-how the crown was
refused by two pei sons of loyal descent and
how at length the young Duke of Aosta,
against the wish of his father King Emanuel,
reluctantly accepted the crown, but not I'M
til the popular voice and the representatives
CT the ancient nobility united in calling
him. bis4 .Ua4
II the people of Spain wanted king, they
could not have selected better than Amade-
us, for he displayed in a high degree the vir-
tues Of courage, firmness and devotion to the
kingdom to which he was called. Assuming
p the crown January I'd, 1871, he applied him.
self to the arduous task of governing that
people. He not only declared his purpose to
devote his energies to the good and prosperity
OF the Spanish people, but there is every evil
denee that he did his utmost in that direction.
On the assembling of the Cortes the follow
ing April, the young King delivered a speech
in which he expressed an ardent hope for the
pacifcation of Cuba and recommended many
wholesome reforms in the government. But
his efforts were not seconded. In the Corte.
and in the cabinet there were the most
shameless exhibitions of treachery and selfish
ness. There was treachery in counsel and
lack OF support everywhere. Popular tu-
mults followed and the kingdom was on the
verge of anarchy. The King is sho. at
though he escapes injury. The second year
is only worse, as the King has been virtually
powerless. Abdcation then was the only
resource left to Amadeus if he wished to be
more than mere figure head.
1t must be confessed that there is little hone
Of the success Of Republican government
If the leaders are those same men who have
conspired to neutralize the good intentions of
the young king and have thrown every obsta-
Gle in the way of his purpose to bring about
reforms, the principal of which was the abol-
ton of slavery in the Spanish provinces. 1t
Is feared too, that the intensely aristocratic
prejudces of the Castilian gentry and the
superstitious devotion of the peasantry to the
church viii prove serious obstacles to the
success of the republic.
The new republic is surrounded by great
perils, even if its own leaders are sincere.
Europe is filled with throne seekers. The
Bourbons are not yet dead or their admirers
few il numbers and without power. The
power of great church will be arrayed
against il. In view Of these immense diff
culties the success Of republic in Spain will
be a most brilliant triumph
y 1t is not to be forgotten that Spain has
some illustrous and devoted Republicans of
which CASTELAR, is representative. If it be
true, as he says in recent paper that citi-
zens of the Spanish provinces, '.give neither
tribute nor blood to the kings; their fresides
are as sacred from the invasion of authority
as those of the English or Americans; every
town is republic, governed by council
elected by the citizens at the SUNNI ons of the
church bell," there can be no doubt of the
success of the Republic that has so auspi-
ciously been established upon the over
thrown Monarchy. .T -.
To be entitled to the name it has assumed,
as soon as possible, the Spanish Republic
must abolish slavery in Cuba and its other
dominions. -4U3