The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-23


Spain and the Pretenders.
The London Times reprints from the Paris
Journal DIES Debats a statement apparently
based upon authority to the effect that the
German Cabinet is now considering the advlsa-
bility Of permitting Prince Frederick Charles,
the famous leader of German army, to accept
the throne of Spain. According to this mar
rative Prince Bismarck has become ssuneasy
at the rivalry and not very friendly feelings
which have long existed between the Prince
Imperial and his cousin, - and has accordingly
suggested to Frederick Charles that he could
take the Spanish Crown and found an
'Iberian empire" with Portugal as a COM
ponent part. Frederick Charles, according
to the Times, is no ''carpet knight
and not ito be bundled out of Span
like Amadeus. On the contrary, he is
''a stern dsciplinarian, with an iron
hand, and be will revise the military power Of
the nation and make the Spaniards proud Of
themselves and of their Emperor The
Journal DIES Debats, remembering Macmillan
and Amadeus, would not object to seeing
Prussian Prince try his fortunes in Spain.
''There is proverb," it adds, t'that the air Of
Madrid is so subtle that it kills a man,
although it does not put out candle" The
German Prince is reminded that Napoleon,
when sovereign of Europe, found the beginning
OF the end when he reached the Pillars Of Her
cules. If Prussia, which initiates Napoleonic
conquest, chooses to follow him in destiny
resembling that which came to him in Spain,
France is not the country either to oppose or
complain.
The German newspapers deny this story, but
we may take any liberty we please with official
demas. 1t is not pleasant to those who love
Spain to see her crown hawked from capital to
capital by the gang of unprincipled adven-
turers who, thanks to the cannon of Pavia,
now control the destinies of Spain. As
q measure Of restoration the Serrano gov
eminent has re-establshed the nobility and
the orders of knighthood. These had been
abolished by the Republic, after having
become SO much Of scandal that no quiet
person could journey through Spain without
mourning the risk of being made "a knight
Of Charles Ill" Even apothecaries and coach
men have been ribboned and decked in sump-
tuous manner. Serrano, duke, is anxious
to find a king who will make him q prince
while Sagasta, who always wants money,
would prefer monarch like the Duke of Mont
pensier, who is one of the richest noblemen in
Europe. But Montpensier belongs to q fam
lily which loves money too we'll to pay
even for crown, especially crown that
has the mercurial qualities Of that
of Spain. 1t does not surprise rs
to learn that he has refused Sefior
Sagastas solicitations. # Prince Frederick
Charles is brave enough nothing would be
more satisfactory to Germany than his corona
ton as the successor of Charles V. What
satisfies Germany will be most likely to satisfy
Europe.
In the meantime Serrano is fighting the
Carlists'' and sending glowing dispatches
about his ''victories" to the London news
papers. The meaning of these dispatches is
that Serrano wants money, and it is necessary
to inspire the confidence of English capitalists
in his government What seems probable
now is that the Republic will perish from
inaction, that it will die the moment its
death is necessary to the interests or the am
bition Of Serrano. The power which dis
solved the Cortes last January at the point OF
the bayonet can stife any Republic The
thoughtful, the enthusiastic, the noble men of
Spain are silent or in exile or under control
When Serrano says he is waiting to ''consult
Spain on its destinies," it means that he is
looking out for the best bargain and waiting
until that fertile and accomplished politician,
Sagasta, has the machinery necessary to elect
an obedient and congenial Cortes. This is,
| indeed, sad situation for the Republic
which came into life year ago with so much
enthusiasm and promise But the Spanish
Republic is not dead. 1t only waits Nations
move slowly, especially nation as old and
conservative and as securely bound by tradi-
ton as Spain. The wave recedes as often as
it advances but only to advance again. Nov
we see the receding wave. When it comes
again we sincerely trust it will not bring
storms and crested pillows and desolatine
foods.
THE RECIPROCITY TREATY WITH CANADA, &C
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