The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-26

are Sucn as we nave seen inspired by bOurDohs
and Bonapartes we must not be surprised
with the guillotine standing in the Place
de la Concorde and the library of the Louvre
in flames.
The return of any of the aspiring princes
would mean simply the triumph of one
party and the determination or Danish
ment of the other. The men sow in
power would fly To- Portugal or France if
they escaped death or Imprisonment. Ali
the revenges and disappointments taking
root in the hearts Of the royal partisans would
demand satisfaction. This has been the law
of reservations. First we have the intoxica-
ton of success, then the enjoyment Of
revenge We are happy to win, but
none the less happy to punish those who
interfered with our winning before. This is
one reason, perhaps, why RESERVATIONS are
rarely permanent The tide of revolution
recedes when its force is spent, only to come
again with renewed power. Charles
Ii. led to William I'LL, Louis XVIII.
to Lamartine in 1848 and Theirs in
1870. 1t might be demonstrated, we
think, that when q nation deliberately over
turns form of government that has existed
for ages, and has all the prestige of antiquity,
tradition and power, there is reason for it
80 deeply planted in the national heart that no
permanent restoration is ever possible. We
fear very much that the only effect that can
attend the return of Don Carlos or Don
Alfonso to the throne of Spain will be rev.
olution as terrible as any known in history.
The reds have felt this, as their threatening
demonstrations testify, and the government
feel it, as their preference to throw themselves
into the arms of the red revolution rather than
foster what had the smallest suspicion of the
reaction proves.
It is difficult not to see this. The Spanish
quality is more conservative and more patient
than the French; but it is quality whose
anger becomes terrible. We saw this in the
war against Napoleon, when every man and
woman took arms and assassination was made
patriotic duty The Republic has come natu-
rally to Spain. No law has been broken. None
The men who control the Commonwealth
are among the worthiest citizens. Many new
problems have arisen, and, while their discus
sion has not been as thorough as we would ex-
pect from Mr.. Mill or Mr.. Bastiot they have
been honestly met They have made mistakes
but the tendency of the Republic hitherto
has been wise and prudent and patri-
otto. Every step it has taken has been I'M
usually difficult. With Carlism in arms in
the field and reaction conspiring in the Cortes;
with an Assembly which loved it not and
would have rejoiced in its downfall with
a sensitive, badly-informed suspicious
easily-moved following, apt at any time to
fame out terror and strife with Europe look
ing coldly on and no friendly hand but that
Of America, and America not the most well
come on account of its Cuban reputation, we
cannot imagine situation of graver difficulty
When we further consider the internal
state Of Spain, supposing all other
conditions satisfed-the want of order in
the army, bankruptcy lowering over the treas
ury, instruction in Cuba, abuses in civil
government and the necessary reforms, every
one of which will summon new enmity-we
can understand how the stoutest heart in
Spain would quail at the responsibility, and
how sincere Mr.. CASTELAR, must have been
when he said that he would regard him as his
best friend who would relieve him of power
But nothing that lives is born without sor-
row and travail. This law Of our nature is also
o law among nations. The men who rule the
Republic cannot abandon their work nor
avoid the responsibilities. If they fail now
they must leave an example to those
who will be called upon to resume the
work under happier stars. We hope they may
not fail. We pray for their success, at
the same time feeling that success can only be
attained by efforts and sacrifices and patient,
sturdy labors that have no parallel in history.
The gravity of the present situation will test
all their qualities Anarchy or bloody reac-
ton would be the alternative Of their failure.
Ocean Telegraph Cables-Progress and
Monopoly.
We hail with pleasure every fresh develop
ment and progress made in cable telegraph
communication, for both the press and public
are deeply interested. Not only are more
facilities required to meet the increasing de-
mand for communication between distant
nations, but accidents may occur to existing
cables at any time that might leave us in the
dark and seriously interfere with business
We need, therefore, more cables between
America and Europe, in order to accommodate
the public and to prevent any interruption to
the transmission of MESSAGES in the avept nc
accidents. We want more, too for the sake of
competition and to make ocean telegraphing
as cheap as possible. 1t is gratifying to
notice, then, that the Telegraph Construction
and Maintenance Company is about to lay the
new French cable, as it is called, and that the
steamer Kangaroo, in the employ of that COM
pany, left New York harbor on Thursday for