The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-24

i've or ten thousand citizens, who stood
resoute, only a growl now and
for the hour. The republicans them
selves were men OF tact ana genius Although
minority in the Cortes they had always put upon it
severe pressure The best parliamentarian and
lawyer was Figueras-the best orator was CASTELAR,.
To these two men was entrusted the command Of
the campaign.
ABDICATION ACCEPTED.
Immediately upon the opening Of the Cortes the
Secretary read the formal abdication OF the King.
TINS grave, eloquent, manly document was heard
with silence almost painful 1t was the formal
seal upon the act that had been In all mems minds.
AT once resolution was adopted without dissent
accepting the abdcation, and a committee was
appointed to write the address of the COrtes In
reply. This task was assigned to CASTELAR,. An adj
journment was had to give him time for the
work, and upon reassembling he read the address
from the tribune. Never monarch addressed
in terms OF such grateful aud gracious rhetoric.
Never was ruler hOnOred as sincerely and with
such complimentary phrase. And when, finally,
CASTELAR, concluded by saying to the King that
although Spain could no longer offer him crown,
il could offer him the higher dignity Of citizenship
in free and independent republic AZ a man
whom that republic would never cease to honor,
the COrtes broke into roar Of rapturous cheering.
committee was appointed to carry this to the
at once arose and offered proposition declaring
the Republic. Here came an interlude which shows
how these Spanish legislators, so wise In many
ways, are children In Others
zoRRILLA MAKES DESPERATE EFFORT TO SAVE
THE CROWN.
As soon as the Kings abdicatiOn was read Zor.
rilla and his colleagues left the Minister'S bench
and sat among the Deputies. There was, there
fore, no Ministry and no government. The Senate
had come from Its Chamber and now sat with the
representatives, as one body, ''the sovereign
Cortes OF Spain" ZOrrIla, who seemed to be IN.
spred by the spirit of mischief or revenge some
evil impulse which in one day undid all the fair
achievements OF celebrated and busy life, arose
and asked the Chamber where was the govern
ment, and what would be done In the case OF dis
turbance, and who would open despatch an
nounciHg the capture OF a town by the Carlistsf
Considering that this Minister and his King had
abandoned the government, and that the COrtes
was about to supply their places, the speech exas-
perated the members This was what ZOrrilla
meant. 1t was his last despairing chance. II he
could provoke a tumult-if the Chambers
could be prevailed upon to do an act OF
indscretiOn or violence, there would still be hope
for the reaction. The republicans, VINO were not
disposed to lose their temper, kept quiet, although
they cnaied under the challenge But the Presi-
dent OF the body was something of goose, and he
had made up his mind that upon him devolved the
cares OF the State-that the Congress was
sovereign and he its President, he was therefore
the sovereign head OF Spain. so instead OF listen
ing to Z0rrilla and passing into business, this
foolish, vain RiverO began discussion with him
said he was the head OF the State. and being man
who always calm and knew what to do in
most excited moments, it was proper he should
be chief Then came an uproar even more
took another foolish step. Finding the Cortes not
disposed to listen 70 mis- newborn pletensions he
suddenly turned to the Ministers and ordered them
to take the ministerial bench and there watch over
Spain. This was even more exasperating and the
Chamber broke into renewed murmurs. ZOrrilla
declined. He was Minister OF the King, and would
not serve now that the King had gone. MartOs
said he had not left monarchy to pass under q
despotsm. The temper Of the Chamber grew
higher. The President, winged and quiverng with
the dart Of Martos left the chair and the President
of the Senate took 1t. Again Zorrilla pressed his
fpont, and IN the most offensive manner, taking
care to expressly irritate the friends OF Serrano
and Isabella. who had been quiet heretofore.
"vIvA LA REPUBLIcA"
nyOu have seen public assemblies at a fever heat
all passions bubbing, seething, running Over-a
cooi master OF debate like Zorra deliberately feed
ingit; in the chair abs urd, vain old man the gal
leries crammed with eager, hoping men and
women, their faces pale with the tension upon their
nerves; outside the mighty democracy OF Spain,
its war coming now and then upon the ear, like
the roar OF distant angry sea-impatient for the
Republic-and the benches filed with the first men
OF an electric, sensitive, passionate race easily
moved to tears and from tears to blood, you can
fancy the scene when this incident broke upon the
Cortes like threatening cloud, boding disaster to
the Republic. Men OF res0ute soul and cool Saxon
blood, who wished well to SPAIN and sat watching
the birth OF this new commonwealth, told me
their limbs grew cold and the heart sick az they
saw this incident and feared what might come.
word, hasty speech the slightest imprudence
from man with the eloquence of CASTELAR, to the
crowd, and there would have been scene rivaning
the blo0diest day OF the French Revolution, ana
spreading It's sweep to the distant mountains and
seacoasts Of SPAIN This was what Zorrilla wanted
He stood in the Chamber cool and daring as
Mephistophees He could not rule Spain, and he
would ruin the new Republic. He meant to leave
public life, and like Samson, he would pull
down the temple in which he was no
longer high priest But the republicans held their
forces in hand. Martos arose. He was sorry, he
said, II he had wounded any one in his remarks.
As for the Ministry assuming place on the bench,
that technically. The Ministry, all bur
Zorrilla, would act through their under secreta-
ries, and so doing he and his friends had only to
say they would vote the Republic This was tine
breaking OF the cloud. ZOrrla's purpose was
foiled. Mart0s had lead his party away from him.
The Marquis of sardoval, warm friend OF the.
King and m0narchist, followed Martos, and said,'
in behalf of himself and other noblcmen with whom
he acted, they would vste for the Republic. This
they did, not because they had changed their con-
victions In favor OF monarchy, but because they
believed republic was the only form Of govern
ment that could save Spain. This carried tho
day. The Republic was sure. The debate con-
tinued for some hours, to allow deputies to favor
support it. In this debate the republicans took
no part The vote came at last, by yeas and nays.
Fer the Republic there we're 25s vOtes against it,
80, and the President, in . voice OF emotion.
and amid cheers, which filed the Chamber and