The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-11-07
Will Make no Pledges.

If Don Carlos spoke as the latest American
correspondent who interviewed him represents
him as having spoken, he has, whatever his
chances for reaching the Spanish throne, estab-
lished a fair claim to be considered a sensible,
honest man. One would suppose that an aspirant
for royal honors, having, too, a government to
fight and overthrow, might be profuse of promises
to the people as a means of inducing them to join
his standard 1t is so easy to make promises
and the ignorant masses in Spain are so liable to
be gulled by them that the temptation to a man
of Don Carlos pretensions to paint a roseate
picture, as a bid for their services, must be very
strong. This temptation the valorous Don has
had the courage to reject. He tells the cores
pendent that he can promise nothing with the
certainty of fulfllment, and therefore he will
make no promise at all, beyond that Of doing as
well for Spain as circumstances may permit him.
50 would, - says be, " like to guarantee Spain n
great deal in the way of a liberal and progressive
government, but l am not sure of being able to
carry it out. Things that seem easy now, may
prove difficult or impossible when | come to the
throne, and while the word of the King is sacred
times are too uncertain"
This is a discreet and manly utterance. The
recent history of Spain shows its truthfulness, for
though there have been abundant promises made,
fulfllment has not kept pace with them. AS
Don Carlos brings to mind, Amadeus when placed
upon the Spanish throne published a very fine
programme of his intentions. Being a well dis
posed monarch he made most earnest efforts to
carry it out but the spirit of disorder was more
violent than ever before, and there was no posi-
bility of his being able to secure what he bad set
before his eyes on ascending the throne. Every day
also, his life was in peril. Attempts to assassi-
nate him were made in the streets. Without the
means of doing anything for Spain, simply risking
his own person by longer continuance at Madrid,
he abdicated. Outside of Spain there was a gen
eral sympathy for Amadeus, but among the
Spanish people there was very little. He had not
kent his nrOmises- They did not care to ascer-
tain that their own turbulence was what prevent
ed him. They only knew the fact of his failure.
So Of the Republican leaders who followed.
We do not recollect how many times ministers
have changed places, and cabinets been turned
inside out since the Republican form of govern
ment was inaugurated. but it has become quite a
common sort of amusement at Madrid. The
trouble there is largely due to the fact that these
statesmen on taking their places at the helm
promise too much. Their confidence in their
own capacity leads them into the Issuing of pro-
s~peetuses which they are not able to verify. One
has a plan for crushing the Carlists, and pledges
himself to put it into successful operation, and
bring it to a successful climax in a certain period.
The plan may be all right. but unexpected OBJ
structions are encountered, and it does not work
as speedily as anticipated. The Minister is pro-
nounced a failure and set aside, that his place
may be given to another, who III q few weeks or a
few months more, finds a similar experience.
CASTELAR,, the brightest of all Spanish Republi-
cans, fell by promising too much.
1t is sensible, therefore, on the part of Don
Carlos to promise nothing specifically. lie may
never reach the throne-but If he does get there,
be will find himself unembarrassed by pledges,
and free to do what circumstance suggest as
being best for the people. The phantoms of
broken vows will not haunt him as they haunted
sors in the government of Spain.-PinsblTg Dis
patch.