Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-02-21
THE LEADING MEN OF THE
SPANISH REPUBLIC.

| ican experiment. The French hbera
papers applaud and encourage, whil'
the Monarcihst, of course, condemn ant
depreciate. The American see it il
an almost certain promise of Cuba1
recognition and independence. Th.
tone of many of the Northern papers
shows how mems views are biassed by
personal interest.
The Herald says that the establish
ment of the Republic must put an END
to Spanish coercion in Cuba. 1t adds
"Will the new Republican Government
of Spain grant to the Cubans the same
right of self-government that it claims
for Spaniards? To do so would be
logical and just" Yes, they have dis
covered that it is logical and just to
recognize the independence of this
colony, which has never been anything
but the creature of Spain; but it was
rank rebellion and treason to hint OF
acknowledging the right to self-gov.
ernment of the sovereign States of the
South.
The New York Nail says: "If the
Spanish Republic does not Immediately
recognize Cuban independence-and
we do not believe she will-she will
prove false to her principles from the
start"
First, as to the chronology of these
Spanish events.
On the 3Oth of September, 1868,
Queen Maria Isabella, II, daughter OF
Ferdinand, VII, having wearied out
the patience of the Spanish people by
her profigacy and misgovernment,
was driven ont of Spain. A provis-
ional government administered the af-
fairs of Spain until the election of
Amadeus.
June 25th, 1870. Queen Isabella
renounced the Spanish throne in
favor of her son Alphonso, Prince of
the Asturias, (now taking the field as
s pretender).
November 18th, 1870. The Spanish
Cortes elected Amadeus of Savoy, Duke
of Aosta, king of the Spaniards. ="
December 4th, 1870. The throne
was formally accepted by Prince
Amadeus.
December 9th. Marshal Prim,
who had been the chief instrument
of the election Of Amadeus, was shot
aud mortally wounded by assassins
the very day the new King landed on
Spanish soil,
April 1871. King opened the Spanish
parliament.
April 30, 1871. Carlist manifesto
against the "Savovard government.
July 18th, 1871. -Ntempt to assas-
sinate the King and Queen at Madrid
August 30th, 1871. Returns of the
votes cast at general election; out of
about three millions of electors, sixty
per cent, 1888, 97O voted as follows :
/, 1899, 1873 voted for the King 1856, 794
voted for republican candidates, the
rest being Alphonsists, Carlists, &c.
After this vote Amadeus had good
right to consider himself the choice of
the Spanish people.
Since that time, the history of Spain
is one Of continual dissensions about the
finances which are bankrupt about
Cuba which has swallowed up n hum
dred thousand mcn and Il hundred mil
lions, ending in the Carlist insurrcc-
ton and the Kings abdieation.
As to tho men who are now by their
position and the force of circumstances
the leaders of tho present movement.
He ~ho is probably best known out
of his country, is Emilio CASTELAR,, the
world-celebrated orator. He is among
th.. earliest of the Spanish Republi-
cans. Born in 1881, his reputation as
an orator sprang full fiedged in one day
from his very first effort, at the age of
twenty-five. He has been editor of
several papers--lastly Of "La Dcnoc-
racia." In 1852 he was elected Pro
feasor of Literature, in the University.
After the insurrection Of 1866, he was
sentenced to death by court-martial,
but escaped to France, whence he
returned to Spain after the overthrow
of Isabella in 1863, He became Il
member of the Cortes, and his elo'
quence gave him great influence in
that body. He is the present Ministe,
of Foreign Affairs.
Nicholas Maria Rivero--about fifty
fve-a physician and lawyer, having
practiced both professions with sue
cess. A man of wondrous eloquence
Said to be the first republican Deput,
ever elected to the Cortes. Editor o
the republican journal "La Discu
cion." Was very influential in pro
noting the overthrow of isabella il
1865. Vas desperately wounded in
duel by Captain General DeRodas
who challenged him for structures tina
appeared in his journal in 1868. He i
the late President of tie Cortes. au'
the probable first President of tn
Spanish Republic.
Estanislas Figueras, President o
the Council of Ministers, Born il
1919. One Of the earliest lorogrcsista
and Republicans. 4 member of tn
Cortes SINCE 1851. For many years NJ
aditor of liberal paper. His career ha
had all the string incidents of arrests
prosecutions, &C., which inevitabl,
fall to the share OF patriots on the con
tinent.
General Fernando Fernandez de Coz
doba, Minister of War. A veteran sol
der having seen much active service
and strong personal friend of Gas
telar.
Pi y Margall, Minister of Interior
a htcrateur and an editor, early mad