Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-02-20
Rutland 9aitg 9erald.
THE RUTLAND HERALD.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY Il, 1878.
The Spanish Outlook.

We cannot look upon the situation Of
affairs in Spain as gloomy. We see no
reason to anticipate turmoil, civil war
or anarchy; indeed the latest dispatches,
received at Madrid, indicate a general
satisfaction in the result To the care
full stu lent of current history, the tri-
umph Of republican and democratic
principles in Spain was an event conf
IDENTIFY looked forward to. The only
matters Of surprise are, that republic
was achieved without c0mmotion and
the int rfprcuce of armed hosts; that
the revolution was bloodless, and the
first and last step were taken at almost
one and the same time. 1t seems to MS
that the reasons alleged for the UnCon-
ditional abdication Of AmadeLs is mere
protcxt. The mere fact that Ilidalgo
was promoted to an important command,
40 spite of the wishes of the army, is not
and cannot be considered a sufficient
reason for the King to renounce his
adopted country and his throne. There
may have been, and undoubtedly was
a difference Of opinion, as stated, be
tween him and his ministry. Such dis
agreements are common to all countries,
lnl never have been the cause of any
trouble save, perhaps, a change of min
fstrv. The vote of the Spanish Cortcs
ON the question of a future form Of gov
rrnment, undoubtedly indicates the tru"
reason that led to Amadeus course, The
vote was nearly unanimous for repoh-
lie. only thlrtv-two members recording
themselves in opposition. Amadeus is
n man Of brains and pluck. His whole
course, from the date of his election to
the throne down to the very hour of his
voluntary dethrnement proves it. The
accepting of his kirgly office over the
Head body, as ii were, of Prim, his warm
,.st adherent, the strong, yet gentle and
-.rady. hand with which he has held the
rims of government, all go to show that
So. was Il man nf no ordinary nerve and
talent Being such, he must have been
a close observer of the signs of the time,
and only took himself out Of the way,
when # seemed to him inevitable. One
of the first essentials in the ''diyine right
of Kings was wanting in his case
Without this, the tenure of his hold on
the throne was but feeble thread at the
best. The Salic law, under which TIN
Spanish Kings claimed their divine right
to rule, was abolished some forty or more
years ago. With it went all the time
honored and traditional rights of sncc's-
sion. This was accomplished at the re-
quest of Ferdinand, the seventh of that
name, by vote of the Cortes The
right to change the order Of succession
carried with it all the sacred traditions
of birth. If the people, acting through
the Cortes, could change the order 1T
succession, they could also change the
government into an elective instead OF a
hereditary monarchy. This was, natur-
ally, the second step, and it was accom-
plished by the choice of Amadeus. These
were all concessions to the people. They
knew and understood it. The transition
to the last step was natural and easy
The people were ripe for the change,
and Amadeus must have seen and known
it. His abdication shows that he appre-
ciated the situation. The act of the
Cortes proves that the people were pre-
pared for republic. The growth OF
10 in
rope for the past few years has been i'm
mense, and nowhere have these princi-
pies been further advanced and more
heartily adopted than in Spain. Not
withstanding the turmoil, bloodshcd,
tyranny and despotism to which Spain
has been subjected, prior to the days of
Amadeus, yet to some portions thereof
republican principles and republican in
stitutions were reality. CASTELAR, tells
as that Eat this day one of the nations
most fitted for the federation is our
Spain. This is, doubtless, true. And
it is rendered possible from the fact that
for years, in the north of Spain, there
have existed, and still exist, whole prov
inces which, in their real independence
and republican form of government,
have similarity to Switzerland. Every
town, if such they may be called, is.in
fact a republic of itself, and is governed
by officers elected by their own suffrages.
The provinces have confederation to
which representatives are elected from
the several towns. These representa-
tives make and amend their own laws,
elect and displace officers, and, although
in fact subject to Spain, have an inde-
pendent existence by themselves The
ideas which had their birth among these
people have been constantly spreading
and Increasing, until the whole of Spain
is imbued with them. While the acts
of the several occupants of the throne
and of the Cortes have been constantly
disassociating the idea of legitimacy
from that of sovereignty, the minds Of
the people have been constantly enlarg
ing and expanding with the idea of theii
own sovereignty. 1t is but one step
and that a short one-between an elect
i've, constitutional monarchy and ar
elective, constitutional republic. Ths
reverence for a monarchy is destroyed
the moment the people are allowed Il
look upon the King as creature of theil
own creation. Amadeus, undoubtedly
apprshsnded this and forced on the cri