Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-06-26
The spanish Conflict.

The New York Herald, June goth,
contained letter from its correspond
ent now among the Carlists in Spain.
This letter gives an interesting account
of the Cure of Santa Cruz and General
Lissaraga, both prominent guerilla lead
ers. Both of these men, it is stated,
possess similar yet widely differing char
acters. Both are intensely religious;
but while the religion of the Cure of
Santa Cruz has deepened into morbid
fanaticism, which makes him gloomy
and severe, and causes him to regard all
things simply as instruments to forward
the interests of his church, that of Lis
saraga is Of more cheerful kind, and
is regarded by him rather as a means OF
supporting the troubles of this life and
as the most powerful factor in enabling
a man to do his duty. The character of
both men is imprinted on their faces.
The Cure of Santa Cruz, who has en-
tirely dropped his clerical garb, and is
dressed in the common costume OF the
peasants of the country, with leather
ieggings and canvas sandals, wears a
full beard, which, with his lowering,
bushy eyebrows, gives his naturally
hard features still greater intensity OF
gloom. His only arms are stout oak
sapling and a field glass, so that the
sensational pictures of Carlist priests,
in full clerical costume, with pistol IN
one hand and sword in the other are
entirely due to the invention OF special
artists, none of whom have been seen
among the Carlists.
As for General Lissaraga, he is OF
medium hight, stoutly built, and pos
sesses most massive head, covered Tar
down the neck with stubborn white hair.
His eyebrows, also snowy white, over
hang the bluest eyes ever seen. his
complexion, of the ruddiest color, Is
heightened by the two rows Of dazzling
teeth, which his merry lips are continu-
ally disclosing, and altogether he pre-
sents an appearance of the most engag-
ing kind, though he can by no means be
called handsome In short, he is one OF
those persons who bring good humor
and cheerfulness in the most gloomy
society. He is a devout Catholic, and
often in the middle of march produces
his rosary and repeats Paterncster or
Ave Maria, his example being followed
by all his men, who adore him.
The letter also gives an account OF
the trial by court-martial of the Cure OF
Santa Cruz, who, having been accused
of disobedience and wanten cruelty, had
been condemned to death by Don Car
los Lissaraga, to whom the order was
intrusted, having heard exculpatory eyl-
dence, decided to take no steps in the
matter, but to refer the matter to a court
martial. The charges against the Cure
were that he had shot woman and an
old peasant without sufficient cause;
that he had been guilty of disobeying
certain specific orders, and finally had
used language disrespectful to his sqpe-
riors, and especially so in regard to Don
Carlos.
The Cures defense to these charges
was couched in sonorous Spanish, and
had a wonderful effect upon the court
martial, which fully acquitted him, and
= was sent back to his old command.
Tb;s ~ result was the more wonderful since
tba m Cn-e is regarded with considerable
;ne ;ne,onsv @ Nv the regular officers. In
pIa;o words he is intractable, being ad-
pp;rabIe as the chief of a guerilla band
bnt a continual embarrassment as com
mander of a company in c9ain Oi ou''
posts.