The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-13
THE NEW GOVERNMENT.
TIE PRESIDENT OF THE SPANISH Re.
PUBLIC.

First Republican Deputy to tho Corr
tes-EKis Wondr0us El0quence-As Editor
or La Discusion-ais Duel with Colonel
ROdas-His Signature to tho Treaty for
tho Sale OF Cuba.
Nicolas Maria Rivero late President OF the Cortes,
who. In all probability, win be the future President
OF the Spanish Republic, Is doctor OF medicine
and lawyer by profession, and practised both pro.
LESSONS with eminent success at Valencia till he
gave his attention to politics. and was one Of the
republican agitators in Spain when Europe was
convused by the revolutionary upheaval OF lS4s
He entered the political arena in 1856, and by his
impassioned eloquence and logical now Of thought,
second only, perhaps, to that Of CASTELAR,, gained
himself q name and fame. In consequence Of his
advanced republican theories he was elected, in
1858, Deputy to the Cortes from Murviedo,
the ancient Sagunto, where Hannibal was de-
feated by the Iberians, town OF 900 Inhabitants
situated at about dozen miles from his native
city OF Valencia. Senior Rivero has, 1t may be here
remarked, the honor OF being, in 1858, the first
publican representative sent by the Spanish people
to the Cortes and his electors have learned by his
subsequent conduct that their choice was not
mistaken one. Contemporaneous, however, with
Rvero, ana among the early founders Of the repub.
lican party on solid basis in Spain, may be here
mentioned with honor, Jose Maria Orense, Marquis
of AlDayda. Rivero It is needless to say has rep
resented Murviedo since the first time that he
gained the SURFACES of the people Of that city.
AS AN EDITOR.
While at Madrid attending to his Of1cial duties he
was offered the position Of editor OF the recently
established republican organ La Discussion, and
his fearless and acile pen did infinite good to the
cause TO which he had sworn to devote his life and
energies. The position he occupied was difficult
One to say the least for he was beset with enemies
on every side, and the slightest imprudence his
part, as the director would In all probability have
caused the suppression Of his newspaper. But
with his frank and outspoken nature it was dfculr
for him, in spite Of the overwhelming corruption OF
the Court to refrain from calling spade spade.
1t must here be mentioned that although he was
an avowed enemy OF monarcnical rule, greater
expression Of his editorial opinion, than would
have been tolerated n q man less generally re-
spected endowed 1ith such wOndrOus reasoning
faculties. On two OCCASIONS however, he allowed
more democracy and latitude to his pen than the
public censor OF Madrid thought UNSUITABLE, and he
was accordingly cited to appear before the criminal
Courts. He Pleaded his case In person, refusing
any Legal assistance although it was rendered HIM
Madrid possessed. Both charges against him were
dismissed.
In 1858 Colonel dc ROdas, who subsequently be-
came Captain General of Cuba was in command of
his Soldiers Was guilty Of some act OF
ton and was nogged, by order OF Colonel
de Rodas, IN such an inhuman manner that he
died. One OF the minor editors OF La Discussion
reproached Rodas for his barbarity, and stigma
tized him in concluding the article he was writing
on the subject an inhuman monster. Smarting
under the Odium that De Rodas felt he had incur
red he challenged RiverO to fight duel. When
the second brought the cartel to him he imagined
that he would lay the blame upon his subeditOr
and say that he ought to fight or apologise but he
had mistaken his man, for Rivero's reply was,
81 ACCEPT ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY,
and will meet Colonel De ROdas when and where
he wishes" the duel subsequently took place,
anu ood a, S 81 was smoc tne 6oay ana
powerful constitution and good care he subse-
quently rallied and regained his health and
strength, but his system naturally received ter
rible shock.
HIS OPPOSITION TO QUEEN ISABELLA.
During the latter part of 1857 he persiStently at
lacked the corruption OF the prest.rdden Ministry
of queen Isabella, and to him in no small manner
is due the coup d'etdt by which that Bourbon
But Rivero saw that Spain was not yet ripe for q
republican form OF government, and that the ig
basis, and like wise general biding his time, he
consented to wait until matters were ripe for the
realization Of his hoPes and offered NO opposition
and doubtless l0resaw In the horoscope OF the fu.
ture what has just transpired-vlz:, the throne
being made untenable for the young King.
HIS AGE AND DISPOSITION.
Senior Rivero Is man OF about fifty. five years OF
age, Of genial disposition, good liver, and an
"CuBA LrBRE."
He is friend OF the poor and the suffering, and his
mighty voice has Oftentmes been heard in the
Cortes pleading for the manumissiOn Of the slaves
In the colonial possessions Of Cuba and Porto Rico.
On one occasion ne was attacking, In the Cortes,
the cruel and rapacious "v0lunteersn who have
desoated the fair islandof Cuba, when he was viru-
lently attacked by senior Samavon for want OF
patriotism, and duel was expected to ensue, but
Salmavon, 1t is alleged, thought better over the
matter.
AN INFORMANT SIGNATURE.
On the ed OF January last the HERALD published
for the first time In this country, the text Of the
treaty concluded In this city between the repre-
who sent out to this country by the late Gene
raj Prim, President OF the Council OF Spanish Minis
ters For various motives the name OF Nicolas
Maria Rivero was suppressed at the time the arti
Gle appeared In the HERALD; but now that new
leaf has been turned over in Spain and all CON-
mences anew, there is no harm that can be done
in stating that OF the consenting powers to the
treaty in question was River0.