The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-30
The Carlist Movement tn sPain-Its
Insignificance and Significance.


are achieving triumphs over the armies of
Spain-triumphs which Amadeus may have
considered certain before abdicating the
throne. What may be the result of these vic
tories time only can reveal but the HERALD's
special dispatches this morning show them to
be victories of no insignificant magnitude
| Hitherto the followers Of Don Carlos have
been only scattered bands of adventures
among the mountains; but these successes
give them something like the appearance and
authority of an army. With the fall of Berga
they will have in their hands the key of Cata-
lona and will be able to operate with increased
force and effect. What vigor the Republic
may be able to show in opposing them is
another problem of the future. 1t is not I'M
likely that parts of the army are disaffected.
The interminable Cuban war has depleted
Spain of much of her fighting material. The
latest report from Madrid announces that the
government attempt at levy en- masse in
Catalonia has failed completely, and that the
Minister of Finance has proclaimed officially to
his colleagues that the Spanish nation is on
the brink of absolute financial insolvency.
tend to make everything uncertain and chaotic.
Circumstances over which Senior Figueras and
his associates of the young Republic could
have no control have made the task of the
republicans peculiarly arduous one; but, in
spite of Carlist successes and of base in
trigues at home and abroad, we believe the
Republic will succeed, and that its success
will be the first great step toward the triumph
of republican Europe.
1t may be set down as an axiom that there
are no longer settled ideas of government any
where. Even in the United States the croak-
ers predict despotism and the imperial power
| of the one-man rule. In England the intell-
gent part of the laboring classes detest the
limited monarchy, and poverty and discon-
tent will inevitably overthrow the throne of
the unsympathetic German princes. Ger
many, cemented as it is under the sway of the
present Emperor, is certain to yield more and
more to republican ideas. France is repub-
lican, but the final triumph of the French Re-
public depends in some measure upon the
success of the Republic in Spain. Both may
fail, but failure now will be only another step
toward stability in the future. In all civilized
countries republcanism must triumph in the
end No sane American, free from crotchets
and free from ridiculous worship of foreign
titles and customs and institutions, believes
the American Republic in danger. 1t is an
article of his faith, born into his very blood
and bone, that republicanism must become
the political creed of the world, and yet he is
SO conservative in his beliefs that it is seldom
he becomes propagandist. The American
republican says to himself, ''We can wait
| We can afford to smile at English
averments in regard to the stability of
British Institutions, knowing the discomfort
that is undermining the monarchy. We can
regard with moderate complaisance the sue
cesses of royalst factions in France and Spain,
! because in both countries the downfall of royal
or imperial rule is always followed by the
Republic Chaos is always averted by repub-
licauism, and no longer by the terrible ordeal
of the first French revolution. When Louis
Philippe abandoned his throne the Republic
saved France from anarchy. When Napoleon
I'LL and his empire fell together at Sedan the
Republic again interposed, subdued anarchy
and conquered peace. When the shameless
life of Isabella ii. made even the Spaniards
disown her the Republic kept the peace and,
last of all, when Amadeus abandoned crown
he had too hastily accepted it was again the
Republic which kept Madrid in order The
people of Europe are dependent upon repub-
licanism for the preservation of their nation
alities when their tottering monarchies fall
No greater compliment could be paid to repub-
| lican endeavor nor could there be any more
certain sign of a universal republican triumph.
Viewing the conflict in Spain from a stand
point so dignifed and so philosophical we can
find nothing in the successes of the Carlists to
cause uneasiness. The royalist factions
whether they are the followers of Don Carlos
or Prince Alfonso or of some other pre-
tender to the throne-must be met and beaten
in the field before there can be peace for the
Republic. Whatever accessions of strength it
is possible for any Of them to gain they must
gain now. If they mean to conquer they must
conquer now. A series of slight successes will
amount to nothing unless the result of them
as a whole is overwhelming and immediate.
The command Of province like Catalonia is
not the control of Spain. Madrid rules, what
ever Catalonia may desire; and unless prov
ince after province falls into the hands of Don
Carlos time will weaken him and strengthen
the Republic If he is checked and driven
back among the mountains from which he has
just emerged he will be as good as beaten.
The number of his adherents, augmented by
circumstances, is few at best Other factions
are as much opposed to him as to the Repub-
lie. There can be no hearty and permanent
union among the friends Of monarchy in
Spain So far as we can see the chances are
with the Republic, and it only requires pru-
dence and vigor in the republican leaders to de-