New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-23
TIE CASTELAR, GOVERNMENT.

TIE CASTELAR, GOVERNMENT
The Spanish Republic still refuses to crafty
the prophets of reaction by dying. The Cas-
telar Government is gradually getting the
better of those elements of disorder which a
few months ago seemed about to annihilate
the entire social system of the country. The
Cortes have adjourned, previously passing
law authorizing the President to suspend at
his discretion the constitutional guarantees.
Senior CASTELAR, has made prompt use of this
authority, and the whole country is now under
martial law. This action, which in ordinary
times would have caused intense excite
ment, is now, after the wearisome
turmoil of the last year, hailed as a sign of
peace and produces everywhere good effect
When this measure was adopted under Prlm,
the Republicans, CASTELAR, at their head, after
a protest full of eloquence and dignity, left
the Chamber, and even the earnest and pas
siOnate appeal of the Marshal himself had no
effect to delay them 1t is one of the most
striking incidents of the time that the leading
Republican of that secession is now compelled
to resort to the same extreme measure to restore
peace to distracted and anarchic country
and army. For the moment, the prospect Is
on the whole favorable. The instruction at
Cartagena is apparently in its agony The
insurgents who started out with the lofty am
bitiOn of forming new nation are now seek
ing terms of surrender which may save their
necks and their vanity. They want amnesty
for themselves and desire that Gen.
Martinez Campos shall not enter their
Murcian capital in triumph. 1t is not
unreasonable to expect the speedy surrender
of the city, and this will virtually close the
Cantonal rebellion. Malaga has already been
occupied by the National forces under Gen.
Pavia, and there was no opposition to his
entry and no disturbance afterward. The
Carlists have abandoned the siege of Olot, and
have been handsomely repulsed from Tolosa.
Altogether, it would seem that the appre-
tensions entertained by many that the resig-
nation of Salmeron was to prove the ruin OF
the attempt at democratic government In
Spain were not well founded. 1t seemed dis
astrous that this energetic and capable leader
and administrator should feel himself COM
PEELED, on a mere matter of opinion, to leave
the Government to which he had brought so
much strength and prestige He had so long
held and avOwed such strong views In favor
of the abolition Of capital punishment in all
cases, that he found himself unable to remain at
the head of the Government when majority
of the Cortes disagreedIwith him in regard to
the application of this principle to cases OF
mutiny or disObedience of orders on the part
of enlisted soldiers. When he resigned and
DonlEmilio CASTELAR, was made President in his
place. it was of course to be expected that the
no mil 70 bof
brilliant orator and scholar was of too fine a
temper for the rough work of government.
But as Salmeron left the Presidency on pure
question of conscience, and still gives the iDfiu-
ence of his name and support to his former
colleagues, assuming the place at the head OF
the Cortes which CASTELAR, relinquished to be-
come President, there was no essential change
of policy, and no resulting panic in Madrid
or the provinces. The conditions upon which
CASTELAR, insisted before taking the Presidency
were all reasonable and necessary, and were
at once accepted by the Cortes. The entire
Reserve was called out, 10000 young men at
once responding, as telegram from
Madrid 10 London informs us, and
the extraordinary loan he asked for
was granted. With all these advantages the
eloquent tribune of Spain begins his efforts to
govern the Republic he did 80 much to found.
So far as he is concerned there is very much
in his favor. He is universally respected and
esteemed. He is known to be honest, intelli-
gent, and disinterested. He has that rare cour-
age which enables him to tell his own
party of their faults. He is as much
attached to order as to liberty, knowing
that one cannot exist without the other.
He is equally popular with all classes, except
the enemies of law and the enemies of Re-
publicanism, and even in the army and among
the aristocracy he is less Objectionable than
almost any leading Republican. All this is in
his favor-but against him are the inherited
diseases and woes of centuries of royalty and
bigotry, and while we hope for the best no one
will predict the result.
ID A